"But you didn't give me a chance," I said to my son.
My son wanted something that was mine. Instead of asking me, he snuck it away and hid it in his room. I was upset by his actions. But I wanted to know why he chose to steal instead of simply asking me for what he wanted.
"Why didn't you just ask me for it?" I asked.
"I didn't know if you would say yes," He answered.
"But you didn't give me the chance to," I said to my son, "You assumed I would say no, but you never gave me a chance to give you an answer; instead, you chose to bypass me to try to get what you wanted on your own."
As the words left my lips, I knew they were not only for my son.
Sometimes, the LORD has a funny way of disciplining me -- while I am disciplining my children. In my heart, I heard ABBA loud and clear. I was given a choice, like my son, to listen and learn from this moment.
I contemplated my beliefs, knowing that my actions are only the fruit of what I believe and value.
How often had I been at the edge of something new, but I slowly backed away while looking for other paths because I was afraid of the unknown territory that I was being led to?
Too often.
How often had I pre-determined in my mind the consequence of walking this unknown path before even stepping on it?
Too often.
How often have I forgotten to remember that I do not have to walk this path alone, so I chose the path that I knew I could do independently?
Too often.
Why do I do what I do?
It boiled down to fear.
Fear can be a crippling agent that causes your dreams to be aborted even before they begin. Suddenly, everything that could go wrong, like your deficiencies and your past failures tower over you, trying to convince you that your dreams are too big to achieve. Believing this (and to avoid the inevitable disappointment) you do what you know you can do easily and remain 'safe.'
However, how 'safe' is it to lose the chance of living in the abundance that God has planned?
Read this next part slowly and allow it to simmer in your soul.
"Why didn't you just ask me? You didn't give me a chance."
What if ABBA God were to pose this question on the day we stand before him while he shows us his masterpiece plan and all that He had envisioned for our lives? Do you hear his heart as He grieves the fact that His child didn't trust him?
How would you respond? How would I?
This question is not easy to answer. In fact, I am quite speechless when faced with it. So, let's make the choice today to begin renewing your mind and God will redeem any lost time. God wants you to ask Him for His help in completing the plans he has designed for you. Not only does he want you to ask, but remember He wants to help you fulfill all the plans He was written for you. He desires for you to lean on him and trust him to keep his word to you. God's plans for you are good.
However, we often forget and think we are alone in it, so we do not ask for the help we need. Maybe we think that God will say no, or maybe we think He will not answer at all. But all these beliefs result in an action that leads us away from fulfilling God's envisioned dreams. So, as my son did, we try to find another path to take. But there is only one path that we can travel where we will accomplish all that we are called to do, and that is on the path where Jesus leads us to.
Isaiah 58:11
The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
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