Thursday, January 28, 2016

Follow Me


And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”   
And immediately they left their nets and followed HIM.

Mark 1: 17-19


Bonnie Gray set out a challenge to her readers to find one word in the Bible verse she shares each week which speaks to us.  The verse from yesterday is above.  She has beautiful graphic art in which she shares the words, "come,  follow me.  And immediately they left their nets and followed Him."

The word follow touched my heart in its deep crevices.  I realized that I have been forgetting that simple, yet profound, command too often.   I have planned, dreamed, sweat through tears wanting to minister to others,  I have worried about the outcome long before I began the following.  I also looked to fellow servants for direction instead of to the ONE whom we all follow.

As I read her complete blogpost, several thoughts seeped into my heart, soul, and mind.  I don’t have to understand every angle of where I am going, what I will do, how it will work out, what the dangers are, the pros and the cons; because in faith, I follow Him. I don’t set out on my own; I have a guide, a leader. I do life His way, following Him. How freeing it is to let go of my agenda and to trust Him! 

Daily listening and answering the call to follow Jesus, wherever that command may lead me, is a daunting thought and yet brings peace. 



I  DON'T  HAVE  TO  KNOW  ALL  THE DETAILS  TO  FOLLOW  HIM.

 
Peace fills my heart and soul with the comfort of knowing He is my guide, my Shepherd.  I need not fear but only walk in faith with HIM!  

Some other things also spoke strongly to me.   Most of the time I feel alone in my petty peevishness.  I feel like others look down on me or think I am not up to their standards in the ways I choose to serve.  Bonnie shared:  
"And I’ve also been focusing a lot on the critical voices of people in life who do not regard me (or my ideas) as beloved. I’ve been afraid to 'leave' their critical words and just go do my thing.  Because I’m trying to mend the nets — change  their mind — about me or my ideas.

I’ve been working hard to mend myself from my imperfections. And I’m trying to avoid the hurtful imperfections of others. I’m trying to fix and mend things that God doesn’t want me to fix as his Beloved.

Friends, this is not the voice of the Beloved."  
                                                                                                                 ~Bonnie Gray

Two things speak to me in these words.  I worry too much about what others think of me and my ideas.  I spend too much thought, time, and energy desiring to change their minds about me.  She reminded me that I need only rest in His thoughts about me.   How comforting and freeing that reminder is.   I can rest in Jesus as I pursue the path He is leading me on.  I.  Follow.  Him.

The other point I need to always be mindful of is that it is not my job to fix anyone other than myself, not those I minister to, nor those I minister with.  Jesus is the leader and the fixer/redeemer, the ONE we are all called to follow and submit to.   My job is not to lead, worry, try to fix; my job is to follow Him in faith and to invite others to join me on the journey, pointing them toward Jesus as we go.  

And so, I will be pressing on following HIM,

Lisa Ann 

2 comments:

  1. Well said, Lisa Ann! I also can be turned aside at times from "immediately" and "following" from critical voices whose path is not mine! Thanks for this! Visiting today from #Faith Barista Linkup as your neighbor.

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    1. Thank you for visiting and commenting Pam!

      Blessings to you in your journey with Him. He truly makes all things and us beautiful!

      Lisa

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