Enlarge your house; build an addition;
spread out your home! For you will soon be
bursting at the seams.
Isaiah 54:2
This week's goal happens to be a very personal revelation that I've recently experienced... it's been slowly building, but the truth--plain and simple--has finally made its impact! In other words... God's truth has finally set me free. =) Here's the story:
My whole life has been spent living in fear... not of death, or even failure, but I've spent my whole life in fear of truly LIVING! I've never tried anything "risky" or ever ventured out of my comfort zone for fear of what.. I have no idea. But I do know that the WORST feeling in the world for me is anticipation! I HATE anticpation and I HATE being out of my comfort zone where I'm not in control or feel prepared. This fear and mindset has crippled me. God has given me incredible talents and giftings. He's always provided pivotal opportunities for me to use these giftings to make a huge impact for His Kingdom; but because of my fear and inability to release control, I have missed out on these opportunities.
I never tried out for anything vocally/musically, because the anticipation scared me to death. I would think.... "No, I could never do that".... "Stuff like that doesn't happen to me..."; I quit playing basketball for the same reason-- fear of what others would think if I wasn't the "All-Star Mandi McMichael", like I had pretty much been my whole basketball career. Basketball came easy to me.... singing background vocals, or in a choir, came easy to me.... but as soon as things got challenging, or if I had to work harder, I would back out. If I didn't personally have control over the situation, I would quit. All those years, when things would get challenging... I didn't realize that it was the Lord trying to EXPAND my favor and blessings. He didn't want me singing background... He wanted me singing the lead; He didn't want me playing off the bench, He wanted me as the starting point guard (yes... point guard.. because that's what I was being groomed for at the time); He didn't want me to just play high school and college basketball.. He wanted to send me to the WNBA and play in the Olympics (Ha ha! I know... that's a stretch, but believe it or not, I had that dream!); He didn't just want me to have a few good friends... he wanted to bless me with an incredible multitude of BEST friends!; He doesnt just want me to be the usual classroom teacher, He wants me to be the "Teacher of the Year"!; He doesn't just want me to be the "Teacher of the Year", but he wants me to be the Principal of my own school! My point is that God provided me with many, many pivotal opportunities to step out in faith and accept bigger and greater blessings, but I was too scared to accept them. Obviously... That has most definitely changed. =)
In the above verse, it shows us God's vision for our lives. He doesn't want us just living the norm or status quo... His desire for us is to be great!! He wants us to expand our small mindsets, push aside the fears or doubts, and have FAITH that His favor is upon our lives. "For you will soon be bursting at the seams...." To me, that is a promise from our Heavenly Father who loves us and wants to bless us. Everthing in my life is so clear to me now. I can literally see every missed opportunity for greater favor that I chose not to accept, because of my inability to step out of my comfort zone. Literally. God's favor has always been upon my life and I've always known that, but my small mind could never understand the magnitude of that favor. Even when I chose not to listen to Him, or even when I was living in the "haze" of my failed marriage, He still blessed me. His favor was still upon my life and He was still providing opportunities for greatness.
Our Father loves us sooooo much! He wants us to make room in our minds for MORE! He wants us to expand and enlarge our visions! When those scary challenges come along, He wants us to step out in faith and accept those opportunities for greater favor.... because that's what they are. We just struggle wrapping our small minds around that magnitude of love. =) But it's there.. and our Father wants to bless us. If you take a look at great people, who have made a difference in our cultures and past cultures...athletes, musicians, pastors, teachers, explorers, activists, etc., you will see that they took risks. They had to step out of their comfort zones and just go for it! They didn't accept failure, but continuously overcame failures, by having faith and HOPING!
Faith is the substance of things hoped for (my current mantra).... whatever I hope to have happen, I must have faith. Here's how Joel Osteen describes it, "God works and operates by faith. You must believe first, and then you'll receive. Maybe you've been waiting on God to make a move, but God is waiting on you to stretch your faith."
This week..... stop waiting on God to make a move! Do your part.... by stretching your faith, accepting those opportunities for more favor, and then give Him all the glory! He IS faithful!
I look forward to hearing some of your testimonies!
I love you all and hope you have a great week! =)
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