Where are we drawing the line in our lives with God? Are we willing to do anything He leads us into doing? Do we only want to do the fun stuff? Are we living our life the way we want and promising we’ll do what God wants later?
Paul was a tentmaker. Everywhere he went, he preached and he made tents. He wasn’t a full-time missionary living off his sponsorship dollars. He worked. And he did what God called him to do.
At the same time.
I don’t know about you, but many times I promise God that I’m all in for Him, whatever He wants from me, I want to do it. But I think I have a whole list of parameters for what that really looks like.
I remember a time where my husband was really struggling with some career issues and I wanted so much to help him. I was praying relentlessly, “God show me how to help him. Show me what he needs to know or do and I’ll help him do it. Whatever it is God, I want to help.” (I think I had some pretty heroic, dramatic ideas about how God would answer those prayers.)
I felt like God said, “Keep the house clean and have dinner ready for him each night when he gets home from work.” (insert sound effect of record needle being pulled across the record!)
What?! What did you say, God?! I’m sure I heard you wrong. I was asking how I can change my husband’s life, his very future, his happiness!! You’re telling me to be a 1950’s housewife with a cute apron and a vacuum???!!!!
I’m pretty sure I prayed again with a greater level of devotion, aiming for a much different answer. But God didn’t change what He said.
Where are we drawing the line in the sand with God?
This is what I’m willing to do for you, God. This but not that.
See the answered prayer about my husband flew in the face of the agreement I’d made with my husband when we got married. I told him explicitly, “If you are marrying me with the expectation that I’m going to cook for you and clean for you, you better find another wife. I don’t like food and I don’t like cooking. Don’t marry me thinking I’m going to change my mind about this. You will be very disappointed.”
I’m not even kidding.
That’s what I told him.
So isn’t it ironic to think that God asked me to do those things for my husband? (or perhaps just mean?) Lol.
But guess what?
I began to work really hard at keeping the house clean and having dinner ready for my husband. My husband received the message not only that I love him, but that God loves him enough to cause a major change in his wife.
(side note: my husband is Italian and adores food! He also can’t relax if there is clutter or messes in the house.)
So God’s request wasn’t arbitrary, it actually spoke to the very heart of my husband.
I had a choice: Honor God’s guidance or do what I wanted.
All in for God or sectioning off the parts I was willing to give Him.
I’m telling God, “I want to bring change into the hearts of women across the world!”
He says, “Great! Can you mop the floor first?”
I say, “Lord, give me the words to speak that bring healing into people’s lives!!”
God says, “I will. Can you go to the grocery store for the second time today to get the ingredient you forget the first time?”
Yes, Lord.
Yes, Lord. I will because you are good and I trust you.
Yes, Lord. I will because I will lean on your words, not my own understanding.
Yes, Lord. I will because I love you.
I’m choosing to do what God asks because I truly do want to be all in for Jesus. I want Him to have full reign in my life because I know his plans are good for me.
Now, don’t be fooled into thinking I’m always responding immediately, with joy in my heart. (I’m still working on that.)
But when I really know what God is asking, I’m aiming to do it.
In the big and the small ways, I’m working to honor Him.
What about you? How’s this going in your life? We are all on a journey and none of us have arrived yet, but how’s the journey going?