Last Sunday a former racer and I were talking about fundraising – how mine is going and how hers went. She recounted a story about a deadline she was up against while in the field. For those who don't know, fundraising for the World Race is done on an as-you-go basis. At the time of departure you must have raised roughly half of the total trip expenses, about 75% at the end of 3 months, and 100% by the end of 6 months.
She was coming upon the end of month six and faced with the possibility of going home if a large chunk of funds didn't come in within the next four days. Her thinking, she said, went something like this : if the money comes in it comes in, if it doesn't it doesn't. It's in God's hands. In response to this thought, she said, she heard the Lord asking her, "What do you want in your heart? Do you want to stay or do you want to go home? Make your choice and trust Me."
This stirred her up, pushing her to the place of addressing the desire of her heart. She thought to herself, I signed up for eleven months, not seven. So she told Him, "I want to stay! I'm staying and I'm going to need you to make a way." She made her choice and put her trust in the Lord in a very specific way. As she told me this I got a picture of the Father's face lighting up with joy, "Yes! She's going to give Me the opportunity to show her how faithful I am!"
"Whoa!" I thought. "Whoa!" According to His kind and humble love He has given us the freedom to choose. He values choice and wants us to practice choosing…hopefully in healthy ways. It's a good and perfect gift He's given us. This may seem elementary to many folks, but it hit me like a jolt of electricity. Everything is not black and white! Good choice vs bad choice! God's will vs not God's will! Right or wrong! Don't get me wrong, sometimes things are very black and white. However, sometimes we are faced with multiple good choices and the Lord is saying, "What do you want? Pick one, put both feet in and trust Me."
I hear the Father saying, "Haha! Choose! Do so in freedom, faith and humility, trusting me to be your help, your way and your provider. Trusting Me to be who I say I am. I'm a good Father! I want to demonstrate it to you again and again! Will you give me the opportunity? Give me the chance! You won't be sorry! Make choices for love's sake and apart from fear. Choose in boldness of action, not in passivity! Choose in humility, not out of entitlement! Choose in trust and excitement, not fear and pessimism. Choose in joy and hope, not with the expectation of failure and regret! Choose and trust Me in your choice. I am with you as you go. I am your help! Choose and look to me! I have grace upon grace to offer, strength upon strength. And don't worry! If your choice is not so good, I am faithful to lovingly correct and direct."
That's good news.
So she chose, making her desire known to the Lord and trusting in His faithfulness. She posted a blog laying out her need and before long the funds began to come in. By deadline day her need had been met! Wooo! Days later funds were still coming in to the point that the administrative office contacted her asking her to tell people to stop sending money! Haha!
The Holy Spirit is blowing my mind with this revelation. There is a standing invitation from the Father to His children to choose and trust. Let's accept the invite and step out in faith. As we do I believe we give Him room to demonstrate His faithfullness and His love in new and wonderful ways…and I think He absolutely loves to do this.
