Likeminded and Obedient

December 5, 2017

I am always astounded at how God works in the lives of believers who are seeking after Him with all their heart and soul.

The Lord will be working on my life about a particular topic, concern or sin and when I talk to multiple women that I know are committed Christians it always seems like the Lord is working on them about the same things. There are no random events or coincidences with God. He has designed for us to encourage and mentor one another.

Especially as women, we need that communication and time with other women to help us grow in our walk with Christ. That is why the Titus 2 passage is so important. I have had times in my life where I have not had women who were building in to my life and I was not building into anyone’s life. To be honest, that was one of the main reasons we left a church. There were not many people of like mind who my husband or I could talk to. I was one of the only few homeschoolers in the church and we had the largest family by far. There were just no women who could help me where I was in life and not many younger women could relate to me.

I am not saying that you need to find a church filled with women exactly like yourself but a few women are key. We are now in a church where there are a core group of women who speak into each other’s lives.

were created for fellowship. To be the family of God. I am so thankful for the older and younger women in my life who encourage me to walk closer to Christ and to be more like Him.

All of that to say that I had an experience today where I was the tool that God used to solidify something to a friend. I was second person today that recommended a certain book to her for her son. She felt like it was God’s way of telling her to go back to a certain curriculum that uses this book and one other one that was instrumental in William’s life and walk with Christ.

God is so good to send people our way that willingly obey the leading of the Holy Spirit to be instruments to draw us closer to Himself. I have been on the receiving end of many conversations where God used someone to encourage me the exact way I needed. We just need to be willing vessels that are obedient to wherever and whatever the Holy Spirit tells us.

I have been receiving such a blessing from the people who have written my Advent devotionals. These people were just obedient to the Holy Spirit. I am the recipient of blessing from their obedience. You have no idea who the Lord may need touched by what He commands you to do or say.

I have women walk up to me in the store to tell me I was doing a good job raising my kids. These women had no idea that I was probably having a rotten day and felt like such a failure as a mother. I have received so many blessings from the obedience of others. It just makes me realize that when I am obedient, it may not be for my benefit alone. There may be someone else who is supposed to get the blessing.

The writers of my devotionals had no idea when they sat down to write their material that a woman in Angier, NC would be doing their study and be growing closer to God because of their obedience. They were just stepping out in faith to do what God, through the work of the Holy Spirit, led them to do.

How amazing the body of Christ works! What a blessing! We will never know this side of heaven all the people we touch as grow closer to Christ and be obedient.

One of my devotionals this morning asked a question that I have been dwelling on all day.

Heather Bowen from Life of a Homeschool Mom.com asked,

“Can people tell that I have prepared a place for Jesus in my life?”

 Can they? I hope that when people look at me that they can tell that I have been with Christ. I pray that there is no doubt in their minds that I belong to Jesus. My mom always used to ask if I was put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough witnesses to prove that I followed Christ? Who would get up and what would they say about how I lived my life?

A.W. Tozer wrote, “There are rare Christians whose very presence incites others to be better Christians. I want to be that rare Christian.”

That is the desire of my heart. I want to be someone who exudes the character and love of Jesus Christ to everyone she meets. I want people to wonder at why I am so joyful even when things may not be going my way. I am not asking to be perfect. I am seeking to know God more so that I can be a Christian who is bold to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ.

As I prepare my heart for the celebration of Christmas, my desire is that I end up knowing God more and walking closer to Him. My prayer is that as I spend this month preparing my heart that others around me would come to see me as a woman who is bold for the King of Kings and recognizes that I have “been with Jesus,” Acts 4:13.

May you blessed this week and be obedient to what the Holy Spirit is telling you to do. You never know who you may touch with the love of Christ.

Our Church Family during our Fall Retreat