Have you ever felt like God’s word to you was on repeat?
Everywhere you look, everything you read, seems to reflect the message He is giving you.
A friend gives you an encouraging word. A stranger says something spontaneously accurate.
When you finally think Okay, Lord. I think you’re speaking to me, you scroll through Facebook to see a picture covered in the same message to, yet again, reiterate what you’ve been hearing.
And if that’s not enough, God smiles down at you lovingly and answers,You think?
God is speaking to us. He’s giving us words for the year and messages to carry out. In 2017, I believe He wants us to not just hear Him, but to respond.
There are two kinds of responses to His nudges….
Those who analyze and those who actually go and do.
I’m usually the former type, who analyzes things to death. By the time I finally quit analyzing, I’ve lost interest in actually doing the thing I was prompted to do.
Which type are you?
Do you overthink situations until you’ve thought yourself into circles or do you just go do it?
It’s amazing to me how much God loves me. Seriously.
He actually loves me so much that He graciously surrounds me with wonderful friends who are Go Do It Sisters. They don’t spend precious time considering every.single.aspect of the situation, they just do it. They push me out of my fears (the real reason I’m hearing, but not doing!) and point me toward my destiny.
So this year, in 2017, I’m refusing to just listen… I’m choosing to take the words that God gives me and go and do them. I’m laying down all the fears and insecurities. Many of the the Bible greats had to do the same thing to fulfill the calling God had for them.
I immediately think of Peter.
So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
You have to love Peter. He was definitely a Go Do It Brother.
There was no holding back for him.
If it came to his mind he said it. If he held it in his heart to do it, it was done.
He wanted to walk on water with Jesus, so he stepped out of the boat and began walking.
He did first and thought later.
Notice when he began thinking, he began sinking.
Sometimes we just have to trust and not analyze. I know that’s hard for some of you, it is for me.
But…
Tweet ThisThe fear of failure, the main reason we don’t step out, can completely hold us hostage if we don’t push past it.
Why do we worry so much about failure?
It will happen to all of us at some point in our lives. It’s a fact. Perhaps we need to change the way we see it.
My pastor once said:
And it’s true.
When we fail, God lovingly wraps His arms around us and reminds us of who we are and whose we are. It’s what He did for Peter. When Peter heard the cock crowing 3 times, knowing he denied Jesus, he came close to giving up on his destiny. He went back to fishing. But Jesus came to him and reminded him of what he had been called to do. He, in essence, was saying, “Peter, go for it! Don’t let one failure ruin your destiny! I have a plan and a purpose only you can fulfill.”
He is saying the same thing to you and I.
Go For It.
What is keeping you from stepping out? Is it fear, failure, something else? Don’t let these things rob you from the abundant, adventurous life Jesus died to give you. In 2017 I challenge you to step out of the boat my friend, keeping your eyes on Jesus. Once you do, you’ll never want to get back in!
I’m praying for you.
Alisa
Guest Contributor:
A native of Virginia, Alisa Nicaud currently lives just north of New Orleans, LA with her husband Philip Nicaud, their five children and their dog, Roux. She owns a boutique coaching practice and is the founder of the blog, Flourishing Today. Alisa’s willingness to be transparent gives her a unique advantage in relating to women from all walks of life and leadership. She freely shares helpful hints and practical encouragement rooted in Biblical truth in her posts and resources. Her passion is to equip women to overcome any limitations preventing them from leading a flourishing life. You can learn more by visiting her blog at www.flourishingtoday.com
AMEN!!! Beautiful words!
Thanks, Liz!
This post is filled with beautiful words and wisdom. I want to be a ‘Go Do It Sister.’ Thank you so much for contributing to this series.
“By the time I finally quit analyzing, I’ve lost interest in actually doing the thing I was prompted to do.” – This is totally me! Thank you for this post. I’ve been struggling with this with a project lately. I’m pushing past the post-over-analyzing discouragement with determination (& God’s grace), but it’s a constant rollercoaster. Thank you for the encouragement!
Good for you, Michelle! I have to make that decision all the time. I literally have to stop myself from analyzing and just trust!