OKAY...let's dive into chapter 3 of our YES to GOD Tuesday study of Lysa TerKeurst's book, "What Happens When Women Say Yes to God".
CHAPTER 3: When Obedience Becomes Radical
Besides the Bible give away on the airplane in chapter 1, Lysa's experience with God in the hotel room just made my heart beat to a different beat. I loved when she said this about our God:
"I didn't doubt God, I doubted my ability to really know if God was speaking to me. I doubted my courage."(pg 44)
Don't you just wonder what we miss out on from God when we put our confidence in ourselves instead of Him? I don't even want to know what I've passed on because I can't see past my nose.
I really loved Lysa's obedience from not watching television to putting her home up for sale. What a display of true obedience and love for Jesus.
This is one of my favorite Lysa lines ever:
"One thing you can be assured of is that God has already worked out all details of what your obedience will accomplish---and it it good. We need not fear what our obedience will cause to happen in our life. We should only fear what our disobedience will cause us to miss." (pg 45)
To KNOW that when we say "Yes God", the itinerary is already planned out for us from morning to night, is just SO exciting to me.
So why do we say "no thanks" instead of YES GOD with no hesitation? I think Lysa hit the nail right on the head when she said, "We tend to want to see the big picture complete with all the details before stepping out in obedience to God."
Before my sweet husband had surgery last week we spent an entire day in pre-op appointments the week before. We talked to nurses, doctors, watched videos, looked at x-rays, MRI's, Cat scans and were shown the rods and screws that were going to be put into his body. When the doctor said "Do you think you want to have surgery Gene?" he didn't say "YES DOCTOR!" and away he went to surgery. Instead, we had to see the big picture first. Gene got on line and did research of the surgery. He talked to my friend's brother who had the same surgery done a few years ago. And when the time came last Thursday for Gene to lay down on that surgical table we knew what to expect. We had seen the big picture.
With God it's not like that at all. We just have to trust and say YES GOD and then follow.
I love the story of Abraham that Lysa mentioned on page 48. Of anyone in the Bible Abraham showed us what true faith is all about. I don't know if I could've done what God asked Abraham to do. Tough stuff and yet without an ounce of hesitation in his bones, he said YES GOD!
Lysa tells us that "God is not interested in half of our heart". I know with me there are things I just don't want to let go of. I want God to work around what I want to keep. You could call me a pack rat of junk in my life that prevents God from doing all He desires in my life. OH, I miss out on a lot. Darn it Lelia...COOPERATE!!!!
As Lysa tells us at the end of this chapter...ladies we HAVE to remain in God to be able to hear Him. There is so much we face in our days and nights that wants to lure us away from God.
Remain in Me.
That's what He wants us to do.
I loved the prayer on page 52...the prayer of my easily swayed heart.
Here are a few things that touched me at the end of the chapter from Lysa's heart:
*I love saying yes to God and going to the secret place with Him.
*Obedience is the key that unlocks this secret place with God.
*Obedience becomes radical when we say, "Yes, God, whatever you want," and mean it.
and my favorite:
*Soon, saying yes to God will no longer be a discipline of your heart but rather the delight of your life.
(page 53)
When I was younger and would go to the swimming pool on those 100 degree dog days of summer, I would have to feel the water first. I'd hang on the edge of the ladder forever while slowly allowing my feet then my legs get used to the cold water before finally dunking myself under the water. It drove my friends nuts. Now that I'm older, I just trust that when I jump into the pool it's going to be refreshing for me and cool my body down so now I race my little girl to see who jumps in first. I want to be like that when God asks me to do something. I don't want to stand on the water's edge dipping my feet in the water and seeing if this is something that will benefit me. I just want to trust and jump into the pool of the unknowing and trust God to have all the details worked out for me.
Oh let it be Lord that saying YES GOD isn't anything I even have to think about, but instead I dive into it with the expectation of being soaked in your Presence.
In the Bible study of the chapter, Lysa instructed us to
Comment on this statement from the chapter:
"We need not fear what our obedience will cause to happen in our life. We should only fear what our disobedience will cause us to miss."
Please leave your comments below and if you have more on your own blog...then sign up under the Mr. Linky's area. I LOVE reading what you all write. You are some really incredible women of God.
See you next week and hopefully I'll have some baby pictures to share!
~Many Blessings~
Lelia
17 comments:
Lelia-each chapter keeps getting better doesn't it? I have been feeling some conviction about this radical obedience. I will post more on my blog site but Lysa stated on pg. 45 "...there may come a time at some point in your life when you will need to decide between your will and His". Don't you find that this is a daily decision? Don't you find yourself seeking this...sometimes hourly? If we want to reflect Christ in our life we truly have to live in radical obedience. And when we fail, we have to admit it, give it to God and move forward. It is only through God that we can change, be transformed, but we have to be open and willing to Him. We have to say YES Lord and mean it!!
I am glad you are back and we will continue to keep you, Gene, Alyssa and little Amiyah in our prayers!!
In His Graces~Pamela
I can't believe that by morning you may be a Granny!!!
This chapter is the where the rubber meets the road! I just hope mine meets!
Jen
This is BIG stuff! I know exactly what she means, in this chapter. I experienced it all in the adoption of our daughter from China. I was not yearning to have another child, and thought adoption was only for people who couldn't have children of their own. Boy, was I wrong. God told me what he wanted me to do. I had no doubts about that, only about my ability to do it. It has been such a journey. Not always an easy one either, but saying "no" to God in this, would have always had me wondering, "what did I miss?" Thanks for your insight. Hope that baby shows up soon : )
Great post again, Lelia.
In response to Lysa's statement....I have had to face that fear in my own life.
Where the rubber met the road as Jenny just commented.
I wanted out of my marriage, but God had made me a promise concerning my marriage...I knew that if I walked out on my husband, I would be forfeiting everything the Lord had promised me.
So I chose to stay.....there was no "physical" reason for me to stay, no immediate evidence of change, but God gave me His Word. I chose to risk looking like a fool in my life as far as others were concerned.......I was less afraid of that than I was about missing out on God's promise for my life and the lives of my family.
It did not come about immediately, but God kept His Word to me.
My husband changed. I changed. He restored our marriage. We are in a place now, that I could of never even hoped to be years ago.
I am married to my best friend.
It is scary to think where I would be or where my kids would be today, if I had not trusted God.
He is faithful!
I will humbly tell you that I was feaful at first in obedience, but I would have been terrified in disobedience.
I don't know if you have ever read Pilgrim's Progress(It's about a man named Christian and his journey through life to Heaven), but there is statement from that book that I wrote in my Bible. It encouraged me during my "doubting" periods of waiting on God's timing (which was much slower than my timing.)
It goes like this:
A key called "Promise" is what you need to unlock the doors of "Doubting Castle".
I held on to my "key". God is faithful. Faithful beyond all imagination, dreams, or desires.
Obedience may be painful for a while, but disobedience will hurt for a lifetime.
God Bless!
Amy:)
Great thoughts. I can't wait to peruse what everyone has said.
I wish I didn't let my fear get in the way of having radical obedience. I suppose the essence is, "How much of what I hold dear am I willing to give back to God?" I want to be able to say "everything" but I don't know that I am there yet. But I want to be! Intellecutally, I know there couldn't be a better place. Emotionally, it is a bit harder!
I'm praying for you and that Alyssa has an easy and safe delivery!
Love your pool analogy. Like many women, I certainly think fear can impede my path to radical obedience. I am enjoying reading about how the book is impacting everyone's lives.
Glad Gene's home and you made it home before Amiyah arrived. Looking forward to the baby pictures.
"We need not fear what our obedience will cause to happen in our life. We should only fear what our disobedience will cause us to miss."
Powerful quote! Thinking...Am I faithful to my ideas of Jesus Christ or faithfrul to Jesus Himself?
I was reading a devotional at the same time as doing this chapter and it said, "Our obedience is not about us, but God." In Acts 21 Paul writes, "The issue in Jerusalem is not what they do to me, whether arrest or murder, but what the Master Jesus does through my obedience."
Oswald Chambers writes, "Will we remain faithful in our obedience to God and be willing to suffer the humiliation of refusing to be independent? Or will we do just the opposite and say, 'I will not cause other people to suffer?' We can disobey God if we choose, and it will bring immediate relief to the situation, but it will grieve our Lord. If, however, we obey God, He will care for those who have suffered the consequences of our obedience. We must simply obey and leave all the consequences with Him. Beware of the inclination to dictate to God what consequences you would allow as a condition of your obedience to Him."
As our example, even Christ's obedience to His Father cost others - see Lk 8:1-3 and Matt 8:28-34
Beth Moore writes, "Obedience to God in a difficult situation will ultimately bear fruit, even though it might immediately cause hardship."
As Lysa writes (pg 49) "God wants to know if we're willing to give up what we love to Him who loves us more. He desires for us to open our fists and trust Him with absolutely everything." (Posting a story about this on my blog today.)
This is a step I'm taking right now as God has said, 'Come', and I'm trusting Him like never before. In my fear, I'm following. I don't know how He's going to provide, but because it is Jesus who called, I'm answering.
As John Ortberg writes in his book, "If you want to walk on water you've got to get out of the boat", "Getting out of the boat (obedience) was Peter's gift to Jesus, the experience of walking on the water was Jesus' gift to Peter."
Getting my feet wet,
Joy
love what I am reading ladies! just feel like I am learning much from all of you
That was my favorite quote of this chapter. Wow - why is it so easy to be swayed by fears of "what will happen if..." instead of living in the fear of GOd? He has so much to give and we should be afraid we'll miss out!
My dear, you have so much going on! I had no idea your hubbie was going through so much, but you have been in my prayers! I'm so enjoying following the study. Can't wait to read the book myself. I'm still doing, If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get out of the Boat by John Ortberg and am enjoying it a lot too. It is a lot about obedience, as well! I'll keep checking back on baby status! still praying!
I have not been able to participate in the study but am blessed by all the comments here.
I often think that if God gave me His Will in black and white,I would have no problem obeying, because I know what His Will is. But He does not seem to be working that way with me. Nothing is 'clear' and He wants me to come and seek, persist until the 'clutter' disappears... and thus is my journey...
Added to this is a quote from Beth Moore--'Modified obedience is disobedience'--my kids do it all the time to me--and I understand how I do that without realizing it...My God is a lot more gracious than I am...thankfully!
Oh, Lelia, praying for all you have on your hands right now...take it easy...praying for you all..
Love, Sita
I've been writing a paper for my class non-stop lately, but as soon as I read up on this chapter, I will SO be posting :D And catching up on what everyone else has been saying...
Best wishes and many blessings,
Samantha
http://timidchristian.blogspot.com/
Great stuff. I am not reading the book yet, but have gotten a lot from your overview. I really liked the part about our lack of courage. I know that I often find myself in hard situations when I doubt my identity in Christ.
I keep checkin' for that baby! You are a good student of the Bible, Lelia.
"We need not fear what our obedience will cause to happen in our life. We should only fear what our disobedience will cause us to miss."
When I read this sentence, my heart stopped for a moment in awe of the truth of it. Why is it that I don't think about the consequenses and missed blessings of my disobedience when I am faced with a radical obedience decision, but the fear sometimes stops me in my tracks. In my walk with Christ, I have experienced both...choosing radical obedience, like Lysa in a television sabatical that lasted nearly 10 years. Part of what the Lord planned in that "Yes" was the chance to say "Yes" again when my husband and I became part of a church plant. That was scary, but the blessings were unbelievable. Those are some of the "Yes" moments. The "No" moments, the times that I was disobedient, have not been fun and ofcourse I don't know what I missed because of my disobedience. But what I do know is this chapter challenged me and encouraged me to to say "Yes, God, whatever You want." It is my desire that saying "Yes" will be the delight of my life!
I loved this chapter and the book just keeps getting better and better!
Blessing to you all. I am learning so much through your responses. Thank you!
I really enjoyed the section on having a purified heart.
Lysa's statement:
God wants to purify our whole heart so we are prepared and mature for our calling.
Yolanda's thoughts....we can either think more highly of ourselves, or think much less. Both are pride issues....if we will only get real with Him and ourselves....then He can beging the cleaning process.
Oh how simple....truly, if we will just get real. Simple doesn't mean it isn't hard at times, it does mean that His ways are best.
And honestly, isn't that we all are after? HIS VERY BEST!
Love,
Yolanda
PS, I posted this on Pamela's blog, but thought it might mean something here also.
The 3 fruits I listed are:
Love
Patience
Gentleness
And really with all three fruits this one particular scripture seems to be screaming at me:
Philippians 4:5
"Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near."
Interchange gentleness for the other fruits, and it just speaks so strongly to me.
Lovingly,
Yolanda
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