A habit of stepping out

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews‬ ‭10:24-25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Stepping out takes courage. Being connected to a body of believers and making a habit of drawing on that support can help stir up those good works. I was reminded of that this weekend. Then I was shown why I needed to break the habit when it comes to stepping out.

I left my church family of twelve years, two months ago when I relocated half way across the nation. It is easy to take for granted what we have, as the saying goes “you don’t know what you have until it is gone. I have connected with other believers here, but it is easy to allow routine to become habit. There were people in my previous church family that would, with my permission, call me out of my routine and hold me accountable to keep growing, to keep stepping out and using the gifts given for God’s glory.

Last night I was talking to one of my spiritual mothers. She was calling to keep me accountable. She wanted to know how I have been, yes. She also wanted to know that I was continuing to pour out what was inside of me. She has imparted a lot into me and wanted to know that I was sharing it. She had spoke some pretty specific words over me before I left. I let her know there were already people calling on those things.

I also let her know my hesitancy to make the commitment. I have been sharing, it comes naturally when I can be on topic. God’s Word is alive and real in my life. It is easy to share from the heart and all that God has taught me in my walk with Him. Making a commitment to step out in the specific manner that we had discussed, is another matter.

She shared a scripture with me, that I know was a word given to her by God. It is one I am familiar with, but she asked me to really meditate on it.

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I have a habit of reading the Scriptures. I can quote a lot, but do I really let them sink in and live them? This one was no different. As I sat and meditated on the words in this passage, I knew that God was trying to show me something not only about myself but about stepping out.

I went through each of the words in the Blue Letter Bible. It was simple and yet profound. I only made it through the first sixteen words, and knew that God was already talking to me about my habits.

I realize as much as I am in the habit of asking God to give me eyes to see others as He does, I have never asked to see myself through His eyes. I have never stopped to see His reflection in me. I only look on the surface and see Jackie with all her flaws.

God needs me to see myself through His eyes. Only when I do, will I recognize it is Him not me that steps out. “So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” John‬ ‭5:19‬ ‭ESV‬‬ That I how I am called to live, to do nothing of my own accord, but to only do what the Father is doing. I have to let His step out through me.

He also showed me that I was developing a habit of expecting others to tell me where I would behold His glory. It is my unveiled face, looking in the glass. I was expecting others to tell me where to look, where to step, not trusting the voice of God and what I see Him calling me to.

Not that I can not seek Godly counsel, but I can not sit back and wait for someone else to confirm every move that God has told me to make. It is a bad habit to develop. I am called to follow Him. I am called to let Him lead. I was creating an unhealthy habit when it came to stepping out, a precedent that He never meant me to establish. He calls me to look in the glass and see His reflection, not a second hand version. It is personal.

I have to develop the habit of stepping out, in the fellowship of believers. The habit of listening to His voice and obeying. The habit of trusting I hear His voice. The habit of seeing Godly counsel as a confirmation not permission. I need the habit of stepping out with Him, for Him, and by Him.

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