“It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” – J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
Maybe from that quote you know where this blog post is heading. And you may be right. I'm going to be talking about the oh so fun subject of RISK. Brace yourself, this post may be long…hopefully it will be coherent!
risk, noun
- a situation involving exposure to danger.
- the possibility that something unpleasant or unwelcome will happen.
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synonyms: |
chance, uncertainty, unpredictability, precariousness, instability, insecurity, perilousness, riskiness possibility, chance, probability, likelihood, danger, peril, threat, menace, fear, prospect |
Although I LOVE adventure, I have never really been one for risk. Risk implies the possibility of failure–the possibility of doing something wrong or being hurt, neither of which is very fun.
Now, how does this apply to the World Race?? Well, read on and find out.
The hardest part is going! We are afraid. Some of us are not natural risk takers. Most of us would just want to bargain our way out of something that seems dangerous. We think 'instead of going, why don't I start a prayer meeting at church to pray for this?' After all, prayer is powerful and effective–and safer!
This is an excerpt from Kevin Dedmon in the book "Spiritual Java" (its awesome, I'd recommend it). It couldn't be more relevant in my life than right now. It is a lot easier to just sit back and have a prayer meeting instead of going and doing–not that having a prayer meeting is bad, because it isn't. Prayer is powerful! It’s just that sometimes God wants more from us. I believe that we need to decide ahead of time to take risks, to just go ahead and do the things we believe God has put before us, to do the things He has called us to (may be anything from changing an attitude to changing continents). This might mean taking a giant leap of faith, stepping out the door and going on the World Race. This might mean responding to the Lord's prompting and going up to that person in the grocery store and praying for them, or giving a word of wisdom to a co-worker or classmate (things I have to work on)…ya, that person may not get healed right there and then, and your word of wisdom might not be spot on…but here's the good news! God's focus is not on the outcome! His focus is on the risk we take to step out in obedience, trusting Him and following through with whatever He called us to do, no matter how big or how small.
"The new breed of revivalists is willing to lay all down on the line so that the Lord can rise up within them. They push aside selfish ambition, fear, pride, vanity, and loss of their reputation so that others can encounter the touch of heaven. They expect Heaven to show up when they take the risk of inviting people to experience God"
“They will be so confidant in who they are and so passionate about bringing heaven to earth that nothing else will matter. They will believe that nothing is impossible and adhere to the words of Jesus '…all things are possible to him who believes” Mark 9:23.
Excerpts from Jesus Culture: Living a Life that Transforms the World
He isn't as interested in the success of my performance as He is in my courage to act apart from the outcome.
God wants me to step out boldly in faith regardless of the outcome, and that is what I want to do. Everywhere I go on this journey, I, along with my team, want to bring people into an encounter with Jesus. We want to show people the astounding love of Christ. We have the power of Christ in us, and an anointing residing within us to heal the sick, to cast out demons, etc but as long as we stay in our little boat of safety and refuse to take the risk of stepping out, that anointing remains in the boat with us. Anointing is released when we take the risk, when we decide to pray with that person on the side of the road who looks lonely, depressed, or in pain–when we go and play with that little child sitting in the dirt. I may not see every person I pray for healed or saved, but I know a seed has been planted and that God will work through my obedience. Faith involves risk, which is something that I am learning. John Wimber said "Faith is spelled R-I-S-K" and I am beginning to see that he is 100% correct.
Think of Peter, for instance, when Jesus told Him to come out of the boat. Peter had boldness; he stepped out of the boat. All of the disciples got safely to shore, but only Peter walked on water. If we only remember the fact that Peter began to sink, we've missed the whole point. This is a passage of promise! If you respond in faith to God's calling, you can walk on water. But, if you want to walk on the water, you’ve got to climb out of the boat!
I want to see/do miracles, want to do great things for Christ, but yet I haven't been willing to compromise the comfort and safety of my boat because "WHAT WILL PEOPLE THINK OF ME?!?" Ya, I will remain safe and comfy and avoid rejection if I stay put, but I'm missing out on a lot of great things that God has in store. As the quote said above, I want to push aside all of those things so that people can be brought into an encounter of God through His miraculous display of love. I don't want the outcome or what people think of me to dictate what I do.
Before, I would quote “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. “With God, all things are possible” I would say as I sit comfortably in my boat. It's time for me to get out of the boat and put into practice what I preach.
And that's what I am committing to on the World Race. I am committing to the risk (after all I'll be eating who knows what and sleeping who knows where). I am committing to the calling. I’m leaving behind my planned out life and following Him. It’s scary and fear may be the easier thing for me to give in to, but I know that this is what my Father is calling me to. And you know what? Perfect love casts out all fear… because when I rest in His love and who He says I am, there is no room for what others think of me. In that place I am living out of overflow. If each day I am seeking to be so filled by His love, then pouring that out onto others becomes less of an issue of “What will they think of me?” or “What if they don’t get healed?”. All those concerns just fall away. The outcome doesn’t matter as much as the opportunity to just love on people and trust the Lord that He will do something through that act of loving. There is no room for fear of man or outcome, no room for doubt when resting in God's extravagant love. And maybe then, the risk doesn't seem so big.
Psalm 56:11 In God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?
And lastly, here's another one of my favorite quotes…as you can tell, I really love quotes (I’m a quote hoarder…I have a billion more of them)…
History makers are risk takers and radical obedience is key to supernatural fruit
-Jesus Culture: Living a Life that Transforms the World
As I step out in faith, take the gamble, and go on the World Race along with my fellow racers, I pray that in this season the Lord will take us deeper than we can go on our own. I pray that my faith and my trust will be increased. I pray to be so transformed by this experience so that this lifestyle becomes my normal. No matter what the outcome, I want to be obedient in stepping out and doing what the Lord calls me to do and going where He wants me to go. And I know that He has incredible things planned–that I will experience Him in greater capacity, and that others will be able to encounter Jesus and know His love.
So, let's be history-makers and risk-takers.
“…maybe sometimes it's riskier not to take a risk. Sometimes all you're guaranteeing is that things will stay the same.”
Danny Wallace, Yes Man
(A song that I've had playing on repeat for a while)
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will standSpirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
