Just the other day...I was alone in my car, traveling to a speaking engagement. Even a year ago, I would have called you certifiably nuts if you had told me I would be up on stage speaking to anyone, anywhere. In my Christian walk, I've spent the last couple of years gaining freedom from fear (gripping, anxiety-producing, enslaving fear). The change in my heart...the confidence the Lord has given me...is nothing short of miraculous!
One huge jump in the area of boldness and confidence came when I read the book, "Lioness Arising" by Lisa Bevere. The ideas in her book, many of which came out of her study of the lioness, seemed to supernaturally awaken something within me. Suddenly the boldness she spoke of became a craving of mine...something I yearned to possess. I yearned for it not for myself, but so that my life might become something more pleasing in the eyes of my Savior. I knew I had been dishonoring Him by choosing to say "no" to His promptings, all because of fear.
So here I was, headed down the highway towards the women's event, praying and worshiping. I was soaking up the uninterrupted quiet time with my Father. I wasn't nervous, but still there's a vulnerability that takes place knowing you are about to expose your heart before others. It's the same kind of "scary" that happens just before I hit publish on some of my blog posts! The new bold part of me wants to do it, for His glory; the old timid part of me wants to write anonymously and never, ever get on a stage in front of anyone. I still wrestle with the old, although not nearly as much as before. Hallelujah!
I hadn't turned on the radio in my car yet and I had been on the road about an hour and a half. I knew I would be getting within range of a certain Christian radio station that I loved so I decided to try to search for it. Just before touching the dial, I prayed these words out loud...
"God, could you please let me hear my song? You know how much it means to me."
I then found the station and could not believe my ears. Immediately I heard...
"God's not dead,
He's surely alive,
He's living on the inside
Roaring like a lion."
Waahhooooo!!! It was the exact song I had prayed for!!!!
I got so excited!!!
I started singing it to the top of my lungs. The tears started flowing. I may or may not have done a little fist pumping to the beat of the music.
I may or may not have gotten a few strange looks.
Either way, I did not care.
In that moment, God had confirmed in my heart what I knew all along and all of those feelings of vulnerability were washed away!
It's like He was saying, "I've got this, baby girl. I've got you in the palm of my hand. I AM alive. I AM living on the inside of you. Tonight as you speak...I ROAR."
I arrived at the women's event pumped up, kinda like I had been to a pep rally. I was ready to "hunt souls" for the Lion of the Tribe of Judah!
Fearlessly.
And although I searched and searched for "my song" again, I did not hear it one other time during my entire trip, and I was in the car a long time! Simply put, it was meant for me at the time that I heard it. It accomplished what it was meant to accomplish. It's a God-moment I will treasure in my heart forever.
This week, as we celebrate the RESURRECTION of our Savior, I can't help but get excited about this song all over again! What a message we have...GOD'S NOT DEAD!!! Spread it...proclaim it...shout it...celebrate it...and most of all, live like you know it!!!
For His glory,
One huge jump in the area of boldness and confidence came when I read the book, "Lioness Arising" by Lisa Bevere. The ideas in her book, many of which came out of her study of the lioness, seemed to supernaturally awaken something within me. Suddenly the boldness she spoke of became a craving of mine...something I yearned to possess. I yearned for it not for myself, but so that my life might become something more pleasing in the eyes of my Savior. I knew I had been dishonoring Him by choosing to say "no" to His promptings, all because of fear.
So here I was, headed down the highway towards the women's event, praying and worshiping. I was soaking up the uninterrupted quiet time with my Father. I wasn't nervous, but still there's a vulnerability that takes place knowing you are about to expose your heart before others. It's the same kind of "scary" that happens just before I hit publish on some of my blog posts! The new bold part of me wants to do it, for His glory; the old timid part of me wants to write anonymously and never, ever get on a stage in front of anyone. I still wrestle with the old, although not nearly as much as before. Hallelujah!
I hadn't turned on the radio in my car yet and I had been on the road about an hour and a half. I knew I would be getting within range of a certain Christian radio station that I loved so I decided to try to search for it. Just before touching the dial, I prayed these words out loud...
"God, could you please let me hear my song? You know how much it means to me."
I then found the station and could not believe my ears. Immediately I heard...
"God's not dead,
He's surely alive,
He's living on the inside
Roaring like a lion."
Waahhooooo!!! It was the exact song I had prayed for!!!!
I got so excited!!!
I started singing it to the top of my lungs. The tears started flowing. I may or may not have done a little fist pumping to the beat of the music.
I may or may not have gotten a few strange looks.
Either way, I did not care.
In that moment, God had confirmed in my heart what I knew all along and all of those feelings of vulnerability were washed away!
It's like He was saying, "I've got this, baby girl. I've got you in the palm of my hand. I AM alive. I AM living on the inside of you. Tonight as you speak...I ROAR."
I arrived at the women's event pumped up, kinda like I had been to a pep rally. I was ready to "hunt souls" for the Lion of the Tribe of Judah!
Fearlessly.
And although I searched and searched for "my song" again, I did not hear it one other time during my entire trip, and I was in the car a long time! Simply put, it was meant for me at the time that I heard it. It accomplished what it was meant to accomplish. It's a God-moment I will treasure in my heart forever.
--------------------------
This week, as we celebrate the RESURRECTION of our Savior, I can't help but get excited about this song all over again! What a message we have...GOD'S NOT DEAD!!! Spread it...proclaim it...shout it...celebrate it...and most of all, live like you know it!!!
"Let heaven roar, let fire fall, come shake the ground with the sound of revival!"
Linking up at:
Women Living Well
Linking up at:
Women Living Well
For His glory,
