Listening to God

Today I did something completely out of my comfort zone. I prayed- out loud- in a microphone- in front of the entire congregation. Now this may not be important for some of you but as someone with social anxiety and somewhat new to busting out of my comfort zone, it was big deal. While practicing with our praise team I had that feeling and an idea. You know what feeling I am talking about. That feeling when God is telling you to do something and then you realize how far out of your comfort zone you would be. Those nervous butterflies that make us sick to our stomach. I protested for a second and then another member asked who would give the call to worship and I knew I had to say I would. I knew that if I did not it would be yet another instance where I did not listen to God. As the song we were singing came to a close I knew it was almost my turn. The butterflies intensified and closed my eyes tight and just prayed that I would not make a complete fool of myself! And then it was over. And the words just flew out of my mouth and it was over. I had made such a big deal in my head over this and it was nothing!

God will never call us to do something we cannot handle. Even though we think we are to weak or to shy or to anxious, God knows we can do it. For me, singing and worshipping on stage is no biggie but ask me to speak and its completely different. We need to go into our calling with confidence and not just have confidence in our gifts. Does this mean I will volunteer every Sunday to pray? Absolutely not! Just like these devotions I will when I feel led. I do not have a plan for this little blog. I write what and when I feel led to write. I had actually started a devotion about Job and perseverance when I had to stop and write this. Great things do not come from staying in our comfort zones and I am discovering this day by day.

"Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” John 8:47

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." James 1:22