A war is raging from within.
Excitement is screaming from the top of it’s lungs, while stress weighs down every syllable of the victory cry.
Faith is forced to rise, all the while doubt has made itself at home.
Certainty invites a smile on my face, while fear captivates many thoughts.
A mix of emotions I never knew was possible,
but a mix of emotions that has been my reality for the past couple of weeks.
EXCITED to start this journey that I have dreamed of for years, yet STRESSED as to how it will all play out.
Having “FAITH” that God will provide all that I need, but inviting DOUBT to join me as I figure things out on my own.
CERTAIN that I know this is undoubtedly the next step my life will take, yet entertaining FEAR in subconscious ways.
Sometimes God asks us to reach for things that only with His arms we can obtain.
Sometimes God has bigger plans for ourselves than what we can image to be true.
Sometimes God has you blindfolded and says just let me lead you.
Sometimes God calls you to do something way beyond your comfort zone.
Sometimes God pushes you a little further, just to show your potential is unlimited.
AND Sometimes it’s hard.
But NEVER IMPOSSIBLE AND NEVER ALONE.
The World Race is the epitomy of those statements. I have done plenty of preaching, praying, evangelizing, discipling, traveling, living away from home, coming up with finances, and have never had a problem trusting God’s provision and His timing.
However, this time I find myself wanting to question how am I going to raise approximately 20,000 in 10 months? How am I going to pack for 11 months in ONE BAG, when I can’t pack in just one bag for a weekend? How do I know what to take and what not to take? What am I going to do when a huge, nasty, bug lands on my face or rats are sleeping in my bed? Am I going to be able to manage all of my fundraising along with working full time and going to school full time? WHAT? WHEN? WHY? WHERE? AND HOW?
I was reading in John 10 and starting in vs. 1 it begins to say,
“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
It proceeds to say, “Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.”
As I read this the words resounded in my spirit.
A revelation dropped from up above that it’s not about going over the wall, but its about going through the gate,
Jesus Christ.
Realistically, if you think about it. Climbing a wall is difficult, hard, and extremely demanding of endless effort. However, when we choose to go to the Father and enter in through Him and everything that He is, it makes our yoke easy and our burden light.
Let me reiterate the part that mentions, "They follow Him because they know his voice and they won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice."
While God’s voice has been nothing but confirmation in regards to the World Race,
the strangers voice has been nothing but doubt, fear, stress, worry, and lack of control.
I have a choice to the voice.
I don’t have to accept the voice of a stranger that will kill, steal, and destroy, rather I can run in the direction of my father and submit to the leading that His voice has for me.
A leading that made the greatest sacrifice on my behalf.
A leading that provides everything that I need.
A leading that takes me to good pastures.
A leading that enables me to freely be.
A leading that is more than a enough.
A leading that never fails and never forsakes.
A leading that is compelled through love and peace beyond my understanding.
A leading that can do no harm.
A leading that knows everything.
A leading that wrote the book and keeps no records of wrong.
A leading that lives inside of me.
Today as I walk through this choice to the voice. I encourage you to do the same. Whatever it is, whatever the circumstance. Run from the voice of strangers we call doubt, stress, worry, fear, confusion, insecurity, and lack; instead, enter in through Him and Him alone and surrender everything you have at the feet of JESUS.
He’s ready to lead you, for HE IS THE BEST SHEPHERD.
NOW YOU HAVE A
CHOICE.
