Learn to Do #Write28Days

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24

I recently heard this scripture preached. I laughed out loud when it showed up in my devotion today. On Monday, I had jokingly said to the person who taught on this scripture that God must be trying to get her attention or there is something she needs to learn. My comment was in response to her saying that the theme of our Monday night women’s meeting sounded like something else she had heard recently. God has always used repeat messages to get my attention, I just wanted to make sure she was aware He might be trying to get her attention too.

So, I laughed, and then I asked God what He was trying to get my attention about. I was looking for a fresh revelation to this scripture. What do you want me to learn Lord? My word for this year is “Stepping Out”. I realize it is two words, I guess I have graduated. I re-read the passage with eyes looking for how it might relate to where God has me focusing this year.

Hearing the Word of God is not an issue in my life. I read and listen to God’s Word daily. I meditate on it, and look for how it applies to my life.

I am not building a house. I know my foundation is solid and it is Christ. So I knew that was not where He was trying to get my attention.

So, as much as I didn’t want to hear it, I knew He was speaking to me about “Doing the Word of God.” That is pretty much where the stepping out comes in anyway, I need to not just apply His Word like a seal of approval or sticker, I need to get out there and do it. I need to do what His Word tells me to do. I need to obey His still small voice when He is giving me instructions.

I recognize there is still an internal struggle in me to step out in eternal ways. At times I can easily identify what is holding me back, but I am still learning to step out anyway. Before I moved, I had given a few people permission to push me out of my comfort zone. I trusted their spiritual guidance and knew that despite any discomfort I might feel in the moment, they were only helping me to learn to use the gifts that God placed inside of me. There were even a couple times, I stepped out with only the prompting of the Spirit, and a few moments of trying to tell God why I couldn’t do what was being asked.

I realize that it would be easy for me to take a step back and not continue in the growth of doing the Word that I hear. My Spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak, it prefers the comfort of playing it safe. However, I have learned that going against God is never safe. I know when the prompting comes, I will feel worse for not obeying than any discomfort I might feel stepping out.

I looked up a few scriptures to learn about what the Word says about doing things.

Everything I do should be done in the name of the Lord.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

It is easy to think I need to be doing something grand for God, but when you look at the people that God used, He took them out of mundane activities. David was a shepherd before he slayed giants or became the King. Moses was in a basket when the Lord saved him, and walking in the wilderness when He called him to deliver the Israelites. Gideon was hiding in a winepress threshing the wheat. Elisha was tilling the land. Peter was fishing. Paul was walking down the road.

In God’s strength, I can do all things.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

God will never ask me to do something that He does not strengthen me to complete. I can rely on His strength if I feel too weak to do what He has asked of me. The other thing this scripture tells me is I can do ALL things. There is nothing He will ask me to do, that with Him I will not be able to do.

Regardless of what I am doing, the work is for the Lord, not men.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men Colossians 3:23

It is easy to get wrapped up in the approval of man. If I am looking to man for praise, I will also fail or fall when no one recognizes me for what I am doing. It is so easy to start to complain when no one says thank you. If I am looking to God instead of man, I can recognize that my reward may be eternal and not in the here and now.

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 6:1

When I feel God’s promptings, it is sin if I fail to obey.

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. James 4:17

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. James 2:10

I can come up with excuses about why I shouldn’t step out, but at the end of the day if God says to do something and I don’t, it is sin. I may be the only one besides as God that knows I am sinning. I have had people justify my excuses because everything on the outside I am doing still points to Him. I am doing some things, but sometimes the things I am doing are keeping me from the things that He has called me to.

Prayer– Lord, my heart’s desire is to do your Word. I want to learn to obey You first, without excuse and without hesitation. Remind me that what You call me to, you will equip me for and that even if You are the only one who sees what I do, that is enough.

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This post is part of a 28 days series on Stepping Out inspired by the #Write28Days Blogging Challenge by Anita Ojeda.