So, this weekend I got baptized and I’m a leader in my church — that’s awkward (LOL!).
This past weekend was my church’s freedom weekend. We dedicate a weekend at the end of every group semester to giving people the space to let go of things from their past that may hinder them and I had the opportunity to be a part of the prayer team. Part of that included fasting and praying before the conference and while we were fasting and praying for that, I felt the Lord telling me that I needed to get baptized! Me and God had a conversation though. I was like “but God I am a leader in my church. I’ve been baptized before. Why in the world do You want me to be baptized?” And there was just this sense of conviction that it was time to turn a new leaf, to grow even deeper and to obey. Now, it didn’t come super easy. There was at least one night of wrestling with the feelings of “what would people think?” But then I remembered this scripture in 1 Samuel 15:22.
Samuel said “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.”
Saul messed up because he did not obey the prophet, Samuel, about conquering a city and that was Samuel’s response to him. Saul was supposed to kill every living thing (yes I know gruesome) but he decided that he wanted to keep alive the “best” things to sacrifice to God. Sacrifice would have been nice but it was not what God told him to do! And it was in that moment I realized I did not want to be Saul! I spent that night wrestling with the thought of what would people think but then I realized looking good in other people’s eyes paled in comparison to honoring God. He’s done too much and had too good of a track record in my life to decide to ignore His promptings now! And over a little water! Ha! But truly God has blessed me with so many things. He is given me the ability and the wisdom to help people grow in SonjaW, through church and through work. I live a full life and enjoy it and ya’ll I just didn’t want to jeopardize that.
So, I obeyed and it was the best decision I could have made. The joy, the shalom (peace, soundness, wholeness) I feel. The reminder of His sweet word–
Then Peter said, “Look, we have left what we had and followed you.” So He said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers or sisters, parents or children because of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more at this time, and eternal life in the age to come.” ~ Luke 18: 28-30
Now, I didn’t leave my family but sometimes those little acts of obedience can feel that big! And real talk afterward, there wasn’t anything really special. I did feel amazing. I felt free-er if that could be even a thing. But fireworks didn’t go off. There was just this assurance that this one little obedient moment will transform everything and I can’t wait to see all that this little act of obedience will do. It reminds me of Matthew 6:33.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
If you feel like God is calling you to do a certain thing, just do it. It may not go off with a bang or maybe it will. But the main point is to be obedient because God is a God who does not change or shift His shadow. He’s one that won’t lie. He’s good for His Word, and His Word over us is good. He will not call you to do something and not show up in it. So here’s to obedience and the amazing things sure to come through that!
Tell me a step of obedience you took and what happened with it? I’d love to hear your story!
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