Here I am Lord......

I've been involved in a riveting Bible Study of late, by Ann Graham Lotz, entitled "I saw the Lord." I've been faithful in doing my lessons each of these past 7 weeks, but unfortunately because of exhaustion due to intense physical therapy sessions I'm in the middle of, I'm often too worn out at the end of the day to make the classes.

I'm sorry about that because what I've learned through the lessons and the scriptures included, has really been an eye opener for me. All through my life of 55 years, over and over again, I've heard God calling to me to step out in faith to Him. I have always felt close to the Lord, but as most of us do, I have often wavered in my faith. When it comes right down to making the choice for God, or the world, too often, the world and the allure of the worldly instant gratification pulls me back in to my life of complacency and comfortable place. 

Why do I do that? Especially when I know of the immense blessings that await for me, if I am obedient to Him! Last week at church, Pastor Chet, was talking about the wavering faith of the Israelites, who saw Moses part the Red Sea, so they could safely get out of Egypt and finally be free from their captors. Once they witnessed that awesome display of God's Mighty Power, they stood in awe, and then the next thing they did was complain to God because they were thirsty!

Isn't that just like us today? If we pay attention, we can see God's Hand all around us performing simple miracles everyday, but then we get distracted and start complaining about something else He hasn't done for us. We're all a bunch of whiners, pure and simple.

Here's an example of stepping out in faith from my life: I had felt God's call for quite a while to begin this blog. Loud and clear I heard it, but for some reason I kept finding excuses. Finally, when He wouldn't leave me alone until I made the plunge, I did. Within a month of starting the GodWatch 365 blog, I learned about CCSVI. The angioplasty surgery for MS that has so drastically and dramatically improved my life. That was an answered prayer in so many ways. Once I got off my butt and did something for the Lord, it didn't take him long to do something for me. I gave, and He gave back in a much larger and much grander scale!He blew my socks off, quite literally.

Here's another example and blessing from stepping out in faith, starting this blog and being in prayer. Our youngest son Jordy has turned from a life of despair and disobedience to everyone and everything he knew and loved to turning his life over to Jesus. That is very simply an answer to our prayers and the prayers of so many for our wayward son. We believed and obeyed, and His listened and answered in an unbelievable way. Way exceeding our expectations. We prayed for Jordy to turn from his life of drugs, crime, laziness and arrogance, but we had no idea that the Lord would answer our prayers in this manner. We were obedient, He provided in an awesome way. You can't out give the Giver of the Universe!

I'll give one more example from a few years ago for those of you who can sometimes be cynical about matters of faith: My husband and I have always been devoted church goers and very involved with our church, but we were not always tithers to the church, we gave money after all the bills were paid, what was left over. God put it on my heart heavily that we needed to make that step of faith and begin tithing, pulling out 10% off the top, before we pay the bills, not after, and trusting that the Lord would provide enough to get us through. My husband kind of reluctantly agreed, but wasn't so sure about this request. Within a couple of months of our regular tithing, out of the blue, we got a refund check for tremendously large sum from a health insurance company. No kidding, we both almost astonished and knew that it was totally from God's mighty Hand of provision. Really friends, how often do any of us get refund checks from insurance companies? We stepped out in faith, and He gave back ten times what we have given Him.

You simply can't out give God. It's that simple. He is our Provider. Our Jehovah Jireh, the one and only, the first and the last. All He wants from us is our obedience. He wants us to step out in faith. To acknowledge Him and to live our life for Him. He wants our ALL, and He will give us His ALL.

Last night, our youngest son was sharing a story with us. A recent Christian who is totally sold out for Jesus, his boss was asking him what his goals were in life and what he wanted to do with his life. Jordy said he told him "I want to live my life for Jesus Christ my Savior, I want Him to direct my goals and paths." He's the one with the plans, not me. I want to be obedient to God, and leave all the details to Him."

What a tremendous statement of faith that is from a young man, who has just recently turned his life over to the God of the Universe. What a simple and pure a way to live, but that is exactly what God wants us to do. He wants to be the driver and he wants you and me to ride shotgun! But we don't want that, we want to run the show, right? But the question is why? Why I earth? When we know that His plans are much better than ours, and we know that we can't out give Him. He is the Giver, He is our Creator!

As I'm encouraging myself to take another step of faith, I encourage you to do the same! God is waiting for you to make that leap! And when you do, stand back and watch the windfall of blessings almost knock you over.

My verse today is from Isaiah 6:8

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?"  And I said, "Here I am Lord, send me."

My prayer for today:

LORD God Almighty,

I know You are calling, help me to still myself and clearly hear Your voice. Help me to step out in Faith for you and for all the world to see. You are my provider. Help me to rely on your perfect timing and your provision in all circumstances and in all things. Help me to be a beacon unto the world.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen