JUMP OUT OF THE BOAT!!

Have you ever felt an urge inside of you to step out of the boat and walk on water? Ha, Ha...I could not resist this picture! Jesus is NOT LAUGHING!!

 Okay, maybe not walk on water, but an urge to do something out of the ordinary? Maybe you love challenges and have had an urge to jump out of an airplane or go zip lining! Maybe not. How about jumping off a cliff into the deep waters of the unknown? It may sound like a great idea until you reach the top and your heart feels like it is going to leap out of your chest! Then, it's either say a prayer and jump or struggle getting back down the cliff (No experience in this whats so ever!! Ha!) Or maybe it is on a different scale where you have had an urge to speak up, despite the persecution to follow? How about an urge to give to a stranger who was in need even when you were scared to death to approach them due to rejection? Or maybe, an urge to take a new job, start a new career, or step into ministry? Sometimes we sense this  voice that tells our spirit...."Get up....Go....Do it.....trust ME!" Yet, we plug our ears and say "No way, He's not talking to me! Is He?"

Beth Moore started the second day of the conference with her fourth statement of being prepared. The fourth statement is "He who PREPARED for us calls us to be PREPARED for Him." What does it mean to "call"? It means to demand, to cry out, to summon, or to command!  Basically, it is an order for us! This is not an option ladies! He demands for us to be PREPARED for Him!

In the book of Ezra, the captives from Judah were allowed to finally return to their homeland to rebuild the Temple of the Lord (Ezra 1). They had been held captive for 70 years and were now being told by King Cyrus that they were able to finally have freedom and were released to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their Temple. He also told them that their Lord would be with them. You would think that all of them would be jumping for joy ready to return to their homeland!! Finally, after 70 years they had freedom!! Many of the original 12 tribes that had been taken captive had been so broken and dispersed that they were unsure of their heritage and homeland. They were scared of the unkown! They feared the challenges that were ahead of them! So instead of trusting that their Lord would be with them, they chose to stay in their captivity!!! Does this sound familiar to anyone out there?

Two tribes, Judah and Benjamin, were humble and open to hear the calling of the Lord to return to their homeland. They didn't know what was in store for them! But they were willing to jump ship and trust the Lord for the calling upon their lives! The Lord began by stirring the hearts of His people! They were open to listen to His calling and they were willing to obey despite the uncertainties and unknowns and challenges that laid before them!! Have you ever had a stirring in your heart?? What was your response?

If we move forward to Ezra 7, we will see a man, named Ezra, who returned to Jerusalem eighty years after the first group who returned in chapter 1. Ezra was a man "well versed in the Law of Moses"(Ezra 7:6) and the Lord was upon Him. He took a 500 mile trip which took him 4 months to travel. I don't know about you, but I look at Ezra and think " He is on a mission!" This man was determined to get to Jerusalem and to follow the Lord in His calling! Was Ezra prepared? It says in Ezra 7:10 that Ezra was "determined to study and obey the Law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel." STUDY, OBEY, TEACH! Beth Moore used the words "SOUGHT, DID, TAUGHT"! He was on a MISSION and it began with his diligence in the Word of the Lord! Through Ezra's study of the Word of the Lord, he began to prepare his heart for the mission that the Lord had for him. I am sure that this did not happen over night! A matter of fact, as I write this I am realizing that it took him years of study! Have you ever heard people say "it is a process?" Ugh, those dreaded words! Anyway, Ezra remained in Babylon for years before making the trip to Jerusalem. He waited patiently for his time to answer God's calling for his life. He didn't "go" right away, instead he waited by being diligent, intentional, and determined to be PREPARED for the journey ahead of him! OOOH, is anyone getting spoken to right now? I am...as I am writing! OUCH!

It all boils down to decisions! Will we take that step? Will we jump? Will we reach out and touch someone in need? Will we listen to the voice that says "Do it"? Will we trust when we hear that still small voice say "I will equip you"!? In the book of Ezra, God called Ezra to study His word! Ezra was diligent and devoted to planting the Word into his heart!  Then he OBEYED by traveling out of captivity and into freedom despite the unknown and the dangers of the trip! Once he made it to Jerusalem, Ezra was obedient by teaching the decrees and regulations to the people of Israel! Do you see the process? STUDY, OBEY, TEACH!

What is God calling you to? Where is your heart? Is is broken? Is it scattered? If it is, it is your decision to bring your broken heart to HIM and allow HIM to work in you. Let him heal your broken heart and mend your soul. Allow Him to teach you, to mold you, to purify you so that you can move forward in your journey of obedience with Him. It may take a while to heal your broken heart, to learn to trust in His ways and in His truths! But, He promises to bring you back to the Promised Land- full of milk and honey!

Where do your desires rest? What goals to do have for your life? What is hindering you in accomplishing these goals and desires? Lay them before the Lord. Don't hold onto the things that weigh you down! Give them to the Lord! Check out these two verses that Beth gave us....

Joshua 7:13 says "Get up!! Purify yourself in preparation for tomorrow! Hidden among you are things set apart for the Lord. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you."

2 Corinthians 8:10-11 says, " It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. Now you should finish what you started."

What is God "calling", demanding, summoning, commanding, you to do? Are you PREPARED? What is your first step in following this "call"? NO, it is not running away!! The first response is to come to the TABLE! The next response is to come with an OFFERING- an open and thankful heart! Then, come to PREPARE YOUR HEART...purify yourself and remove the things that slow you down! Fear? Doubt? Insecurity? Brokenness?  Prepare your heart by hearing,studying,and pursuing the Word of the Lord! Prepare your heart by walking the long, weary, and maybe rocky and unknown road by trusting the Lord for his provision and direction and love along the way! Prepare your heart by listening and having a teachable spirit!!

Lastly, 2 Timothy 3:16 says "God uses His word to PREPARE and EQUIP his people to do every good work"! In order to follow His calling for our lives, we must have an active and ongoing relationship with our Heavenly Father so that we can recognize the voice of His Spirit and the direction He has for us. We must be able to hear His encouragement as well as His warnings so that we can be PREPARED in advance!

Lord, thank you for the gift of speaking from Beth Moore and for your Word that is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword! Your word is alive and powerful! Each time I dig into your truth, you mold my heart and help me to see your path!

....Next point, "Those who are MIGHTIEST in battle have PREPARED for it"...oh, it is getting even better!