It has taken me nearly 30 years to realize that I don’t need anyone’s permission to live my life. I don’t mean in the sense of following rules or asking permission to do something that is outside of my realm of living. For example, asking permission to do something as simple as spending the afternoon by myself or as drastic as, dare I say it, living a life in full pursuit of Jesus, abandoning everything I have and know just to be closer to His heart. These things I don’t need permission to do, but these are things I have looked for others to give me permission for
Now, asking permission or approval is different from seeking Godly council. The World Race was probably one of the first big things that I have ever pursued and didn’t ask permission, but Godly council. It is biblical to seek Godly council! Proverbs talks about it often. For instance, Proverbs 12:15, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.” Or Proverbs 13:10, “Through insolence comes nothing but strife, But wisdom is with those who receive counsel.”
I asked someone who knows me all too well not too long ago about something so simple. It was whether or not to post something in particular to social media. Mind you, what I posted was not harmful – on the contrary – it was very necessary! I was afraid to ask anyone for support or put myself out there and face the possibility of no one responding. So, after I asked her, she responded with a very simple “what do you want to do?” Followed by “you don’t need anyone’s permission.” Why has this been so hard for me to comprehend??
I’ll tell you why – Its simple. The enemy likes to keep us bound up and he will do that any way he can! If he can’t keep us stuck in our past or in the things that keep us from close and intimate relationship with the Father – that place where we realize and understand who we are and Who we belong to, he will keep us bound by fear if possible. Fear is a murderer. It will ruin and steal your life from you. If you stay in fear, you run the risk of forfeiting your destiny. We have to be brave enough to step out even if it is uncomfortable.
It was after that very simple statement, “you don’t need anyone’s permission,” that I realized I have been living and allowing my life to be dictated by what others thought, wanted, and even demanded of me at times. And when it has come to my relationship with Jesus, if I was the only one chasing Him, even if I knew that I was in the right and could live my life the way I knew in my heart I was built and created to live it, I would justify, somehow, not pursing Him with EVERYTHING that I had.
My biggest excuse – I didn’t want to leave anyone behind.
HA! That’s a total copout! Fact is that I was afraid. I was afraid to live my life in full pursuit of the Father because I knew that it would change EVERYTHING. And it has! For years I went back and forth. I would be all gung-ho on living a life in pursuit of Him, but I wasn’t actually really truly pursuing Him. I would let compromise take control too many times. Before too long, that compromise would be bigger than I knew what to do with and I would just eventually give up. Then I was a failure and why would God want a failure?
Well, that’s over. That lie has been shipped back to hell where it belongs! Fact is I am not a failure. I may fail, yes – I AM human, but I am not a failure. I may mess up, but I’m not a screw-up. I may fall flat on my face, but I PROMISE you I will get back up!
I will not compromise and I will not ask permission to chase after Jesus abandon and in full total surrender and pursuit ever again! I will not ask permission to dive into the deep places He is calling me to. I will not ask permission to live out my destiny, to anyone. And I will not apologize for not asking permission.
Too many times in my life I have bowed down to everything and everyone but the One I should be laying my entire life down for, Jesus. Too many times have I made excuses for why I cant do something or why I am not good enough.
I AM GOOD ENOUGH. I am called and I am chosen. THAT makes me good enough. He calls us all to a place of total and complete surrender! It may not be easy, but He is worth it!
Never before have I wanted something so deeply as I want to see the heavens open and the Fathers glory revealed on the earth as I do right now! I will be FIERCE in my pursuit to chase after the One that chased after me!
HE WILL BE MADE FAMOUS!
I will not look back, I will not back off, and I will not cower down – fear has no authority and is no longer welcome in my life!!
The line has been drawn in the sand and I will choose the One who chose me, NO MATTER WHAT IT COST ME!
I refuse to put down my sword anymore! I will stand on the front line and with weapon in hand fight with all that I have. I was born for this; built for this time in history!
Joel 2:28-32
It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, blood, fire and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.”
May dry bones come to life throughout the entire earth and every knee bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord above all else!
I will pursue Jesus passionately and with everything I have because He is the One my soul loves. He is my God, my lover, my best friend, and the One in whom my identity lies. I will not compromise and I will not waver. I pray that in everything I do, He would be glorified!
So, I refuse to put down my sword…EVER AGAIN!!
