Will you?

When one door closes, another opens. Life has a funny way of surprising you by the changes it requires and if you're lucky enough, you get to prepare yourself first. But, what if God calls you to do something right away? Right at this moment. Right at this time.

Will you obey?


"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6


Sometimes God will ask you to surrender the things you desire the most not because He wants to hurt you but because He has greater plans in mind for you. The danger is when our hearts are not in the right position we ought to find it hard to discern why He needs to take such things in our lives. Pruning is part of the process if we want to grow in our relationship with God. He promised to cut off every branch that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. John 15:2 It might appear more reasonable if God asks you to surrender things that bring you no good but, what if he is asking for things that is delightful to us? 

Abraham, when told to go to the mountain to sacrifice his son Isaac as a burnt offering, strictly followed what God had instructed him to do. He built an altar on the mountain, arranged the wood on it and laid Isaac on the altar to slay him. Abraham never asked God, "Why?". His faith led him to that mountain with a knife on his hand ready to slay his son until the angel appeared and told him not to continue. There will come a time in our lives when God will ask us to do something we have no idea about. Abraham and Sarah waited and prayed for 25 years until God's promise come to pass and when Isaac was given to them, God asked them to sacrifice him. It can get confusing and painful when God takes away some things but we can always trust the Sovereignty of God in our situation. He makes the impossible possible and the unknown known. 


The challenge to us is to obey Him without asking why, to dive in when He asks us to jump, to trust Him even when it hurts and to fully surrender everything to Him. When we fully comprehend who God is, we can have the confidence to claim His promise even if the situation says otherwise.


The question is, "Will you surrender your Isaac to Him?"

- mt

Taking giant steps

When I received a call a year ago that my application to work abroad has been successful, I was ecstatic. This is what I was praying for and now, God has answered my prayer. As days passed by, and my departure date was fast approaching, my feelings changed from the giddy happy child to a worrisome fearful kid. I was happy, yes. I was grateful for my answered prayer but I didn't expect that the same prayer that I was asking God for will entail major life changes.


As I obey and follow God's directions, I cannot come to think that I've made it this far. Of course, all by God's grace. From the dependent spoiled daughter to an independent strong woman, God has showed me that His grace is sufficient in all season. He asked and still asks me to take big steps and like a child, I ask Him each time, "Will I make it?". It's quite funny how I always get the same answer from Him: "My grace will."


See, most of us are afraid of the unknown. We always want to be assured after taking the giant steps that God is asking us to conquer, that it will be greener on the other side. We demand God to give us a sign and a hint that where He is taking us is somewhere where the pot of gold hides. I hate to break this to you but, the pot of gold will not appear in just one giant step. God will require us to take small and giant steps until He sees that our hearts are well-molded and have gone stronger. He will not stop asking us to move forward, may it require half steps or extensive ones, because from there it will reveal how much we trust Him. It is always a struggle for us to trust God's plans because we have laid out beautiful plans for ourselves. I have nothing against people who are laying down plans for the next 10 years of their lives because I, myself, had also visualized what kind of future I would want. But as we laid out our plans before God, we should consider that God's plans will always prevail and we must be ready and willing to accept the changes He will present us with.


He will expect us to step out of our comfort zone. 

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”   Joshua 1:9 ESV


So, I encourage you to take heart and allow God to direct your steps. You can trust that where He is leading You is somewhere more beautiful than the plans you have for yourself. Expect changes and embrace it, nonetheless. Allow these changes to take your faith into a higher level and savor the moments when God will use You. Giant steps may seem hurtful but you will never know unless you cross what is in between. You will survive, young heart. Because of His grace.

Xx,
Maica