Have you ever thought the great men of the Bible were nothing like us? Today, I think I understand them a little better.
Whenever a man heard God speak, what was his reaction? Did he jump for joy, full of excitement that the God of the universe had chosen to speak to him? If you study the Word closely enough, one thing stands out as a common reaction when God speaks.
Fear.
For a very long time, people have told me that God is calling me to something. My greatest challenge is: I can't see what everyone else seems to see. All I see is a man who continually struggles with his self-worth, a man who is obsessed with the opinions of others, a man who fails more than he succeeds - and I succeed quite a bit.
I may not be able to see very clearly, but this morning... I heard. Four words. "It's time to surrender." I heard them while listening to a friend affirm me by sharing a vision of God's plan for my future. Immediately after God spoke, I knew it was real. My reaction wasn't joy. It wasn't excitement that God had finally spoken. All I felt was... fear.
I'm amazed at what I said after that. Trying to explain what I had just heard, the words that came from my mouth were not mine. "In order for me to be fully in the Lord's will, it requires for me to surrender - not to achieve." What difficult words for a self-acclaimed perfectionist to hear!
Lord, continue to bring clarity to my understanding. Brave men are not fearless. They are willing to give everything they have. Help me to give it all. Help me to surrender.