Standing

Our ladies Bible study was great this week. It was all about waiting. I am not good at waiting. I like what I want now and I want it just like I ordered.

This whole study has been about preparing our home, our heart, our life and our spirit to become the woman that God has always intended us to be. I have really enjoyed it and got a lot of new perspectives and ideas on what I need to do to grow to the next level, as well as how to focus in and be effective where I am now.

This week there was this profound moment of clarity for me, and I just figured that everyone was just as impacted as I was. I learned tonight that every one else pretty much passed it over without notice. Maybe I am just that far behind them or maybe it was just my message to receive. Either way, I thought I would pass it on.

The Hubby and I have really been struggling with getting our lives on the correct course. This week in my Bible study featured some verses that really connect to where we are now. They are John 15:1-10. When Jesus is speaking about the pruning of the vine… Wow. That is EXACTLY what God is doing in our lives. Bob and I have finally let go of some things and given them over to God. We have fully committed to changing and following God’s leading. The only thing is, once we did that, our situation immediately got worse. I have really struggled with that this week. Why are things happening like they are? One of my friends said it is like Satan is pushing it right back at us and that is true. It really does feel like he is determined to break us from the commitment we made.

So what was my profound moment? This week, there was a section about standing. It referenced Ephesians 6:13:

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

The day of evil isn’t some vague, distant time. We are in it. And God does call us to stand. We are to give everything to Him, trust Him to be who He says He is, and then stand. No matter what Satan throws at us, stand. No matter how much we want to give up, stand. No matter how uncertain and unseen the future is, stand. Once the commitment is made to God, we have all the power we need to hold our ground and give Satan nothing. But we have to choose to stand, to hold that ground through the power of the Holy Spirit that is already at work in us. To quit acting, and more importantly, reacting, in the flesh.

The end of the verse says, after you have done everything, to stand. So there is instruction there. Have we done everything? Have we prayed about it? Have we given it to God? Have we trusted Him to help us? Have we turned to his Word to receive instruction? Have we done what He wanted us to do? If the answer to all of these is “yes” then we are to stand.

Holding ground until God calls us to advance.

Ready, but waiting.. Standing.