Isaiah 1:19-31

I grew up in a church where my uncle was the pastor.  I was a member of that church for 23 years.  Many times I heard him tell a story of a little boy whose pastor was coming for a visit that afternoon.  The pastor arrived and little “Johnny” decided he did not want to sit down.  He actually stood in the middle of the room.  Johnny’s father said, “Johnny, sit down.”  Johnny stood as though he heard nothing.  Again, his father repeated himself and asked Johnny if he had heard him.  “I heard you”, was Johnny’s reply.  “Johnny, sit down this minute or you are going to face consequences!”  Johnny never moved.  Finally, Johnny’s father stood up, gave Johnny a swift swat to his backside and sat him in a chair.  Johnny looked at all in the room including the shocked pastor and announced, “I may be sitting on the outside, but I am standing on the inside!”  Johnny was finally obedient, but he was letting every person know he was in no way willing!

Many times we can be like this when God tells us to do something.  I remember Reverend Ken Hagin, Sr. telling of a time God told him to go to a certain town and pastor a church.  Brother Hagin really did not want to go, but knew better than to disobey God!  He went and for six months the church did not grow, the Spirit of God did not move as he was used to seeing Him move, nothing was happening!  As Brother Hagin prayed in the church office one day, he asked the Lord about it.  “Ken, I told you to come pastor this church.  You were obedient, but you weren’t willing.  Because of that you have not seen the blessing you normally see.  Get willing and you will see a different atmosphere.”  Brother Hagin quickly changed his attitude to one of willingness, not just obedient!  When he did, the church began to grow leaps and bounds, the Spirit of God began to move, and miracles began to happen!  Why?  Because Brother Hagin put down his flesh and became not only obedient, but willing it opened a door of blessing for the church he was pastoring.

Recently, God spoke to me and told me certain doors would be opening and I was to go through them.  Now you would think I would be ecstatic about an open door from God!  I was not!  In fact, I was the opposite!!  These open doors would take me in areas I had long forgotten about and I was perfectly content to stay right where I was,  doing what I was doing!  Suddenly, the story of Brother Hagin came back to me.  “You have to be willing, Juliana, not just obedient!”  God said,  gently yet at the same time firmly.  I knew better than to disobey!   I had every intention of obeying, but I couldn’t get my “willingness” to cooperate!

When times like these hit me I have to stand in front of the mirror and give myself a good lecture.  I told myself, “You ARE going to do this!  If God wasn’t going to equip you to do it, God would not have told you to and you will be certain to depend on Him and not yourself!  You have never been rebellious and you aren’t going to start now!!  Like it or not, you ARE going to be obedient and this is the last of this thought line you are going to have!”  I know this sounds kind of crazy, but sometimes I just have to have a good talk with myself and straighten myself out!  It works so I don’t over think it;  I just do it!

Sure enough, a door opened.  Here came the unwillingness knocking on my heart’s door!  I told this person who asked me to do something to let me pray about it.  I was stalling!  Before I could get the first word out of my mouth in prayer the Lord spoke to me and said, “You already know the answer.  You are to go!”  I put my flesh under and told the Lord I would and I would willingly.  It wasn’t a week until God had filled in every single “incomplete hole” I was tense about!  God is so good and He truly goes before you!

Is there an area the Lord has dealt with you in, a calling placed upon your life precious reader?  Has the devil told you how unqualified and incompetent you are to answer the call God has placed upon you?  The blood of Jesus has made you worthy and the Holy Spirit has equipped you!  You are just the one God is looking for.  You are already humble so He doesn’t have to take precious time to chip away arrogance!  He knows you realize full dependence has to be on Him, therefore you will obey when you are told to!  You are perfect for the call!  You need to realize what God knew long ago!  Be willing and obedient!  He is going before you to make the crooked paths straight and will show you exactly where to walk and will get you ready while you go.   You may not know exactly where the road leads but it will be wonderful;  You can’t lose!

Blessings to you, dear reader!!  Now, get out there and fulfill your destiny with God!  See you soon!   Juliana