I began my journey with really trusting God with my life when I was 21. I knew God, I traveled for Him, but it wasn’t until I was 21 when I decided that I was done trying to blend in with my environment. And I haven’t looked back. It has been a process and as I continue this journey with God, I am continually convinced that being a follower is embodied in two words: Simple Obedience.
God calls. We answer. He leads. We follow. He instructs. We obey. It’s simple. We are not in charge. He is. He knows what our life is meant to be. He knows who needs us, where we can be used, and how we will impact the world. We must trust Him. But it’s not easy.
It’s not easy to trust someone else with our brokenness and ugly parts. It’s not easy to hand over our dreams and desires. It’s not easy to walk away from the familiar and step into the unknown. But it’s simple and it really is the baseline of Christianity.
Jesus didn’t lay out all these criteria for his disciples in order for them to follow. He said “let’s go” and they went. God didn’t lay out a game plan for Moses on the timeline of the freedom of the Isrealites. He said “go” and Moses went. God told Noah to build the ark. Noah listened. God told Jesus it was time, and Jesus came here.
If we are to be like Jesus, if we are to follow God, we much give up everything and simply obey. It doesn’t necessarily look like leaving everything and traveling the world for a year (although for some, it does). God cares about the small things because those small things set up the next thing and the next and the next. Sometimes simple obedience looks like not watching the rated R movies. Sometimes it looks like spending time with a friend and not catching up on housework. Sometimes it looks like praying for someone and trusting God to speak.
I’m learning about the small things in my fundraising on this journey. God keeps emphasizing the words “relationship” and “peace” when it comes to fundraising. My planning mentality wants to set up fundraisers and sell shirts and pick up a second job, but I’m putting into action Simple Obedience and only doing what I hear God saying I should do. And the result? God is showing up. People aren’t just donating, but I’m getting to hear their stories. I’m getting to be blessed with hearing what I mean to people. I’m getting prayer and encouragement and support. My green line is moving, but more importantly, my heart is being filled, and I’m seeing God in the middle of all of this.
So I challenge you. Listen closely and hear what God is asking from you. Take a step and simply obey.
