How Will You Respond When He Calls?
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV)
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”
We often pray, “Lord, what is Your will for my life?” But do we really understand what that means? God’s will doesn’t always lead to an easy, comfortable path. There will be moments of confusion, seasons of waiting, and even times of letting go of what we thought our future would look like.
Following Jesus means trusting completely that His plans are better than ours, even when we don’t see the full picture. He won’t force us to obey; it’s a choice we must make daily. In reality, the life He has called us to live only comes when we surrender our dreams, our timelines, and our desires to His greater purpose.
I know this firsthand. There was a time when I left the church because I had tethered my walk to people instead of to God. The moment tragedy struck, I walked away. When my family eventually started to return, I realized our maturity levels were different. I was ready to be completely sold out, but it’s a very different walk when both spouses aren’t in the same place spiritually. Having backslidden, we slipped back into our old ways, even down to how we dressed.
When I recommitted, the Lord began dealing with me first, my behavior, my attitude, even the way I dressed. I started choosing modesty, but my husband wasn’t happy with the change. I struggled for a while until I made a decision: I was going to follow the Lord no matter what, even if it cost me my marriage. I remember praying, “Lord, if he leaves me, it will be on You, because I will not turn back.”
It didn’t get easier overnight, but once I truly determined in my heart to walk with Him, people around me noticed the change. And in time, my husband followed. Today, we stand together as ministers for the Lord.
That’s the power of surrender when you decide to follow Him regardless of the cost. He works not only in you, but also through you, touching the lives of those around you.
Prayer:
Lord, I want Your will above my own. Guide me, even when it’s not the direction I planned. Help me trust that Your way is best. I thank You in advance for what You are doing in my life. Lord, have Your way. Amen.
