One of my significant pitfalls is distraction. I allow myself to be easily distracted from the work I need to do. I grow weary and begin to doubt. This opens the door for Satan to exploit my heart and attack my character. You know what I am talking about. Paul said it like this, “For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do^.”Romans 7:19. I am unsure if it is a distraction or if I am running from the call. Oftentimes, during my quiet time with God, I’ve heard the whisper of the Holy Spirit say “Speak”, “Speak to my people”. And then He gives me the words to say. I am sitting at my desk in awe of what I have experienced. I literally hear myself speaking the words He has given me to people. Words that I surely did not come up with it. Okay, so the distraction held me back from the work I was doing.  Now it gets even better. This is what happens.

I was speaking to a friend. She is my prayer partner and so much more. A woman of great faith who encourages me in my spiritual walk. When we have fellowship, I am left with a thirst and hunger for more. I am pumped up with a new zeal for God. How many of you have such a person in your life that you relate to in this way? If you don’t, I pray you will find someone. She told me she had a dream about herself and me. God was calling both of us out to action. For me, I was to stop appeasing people, get back to the work, and go speak. Stop standing in the way of what He wants to do with my life, and stop being my worst enemy. Now get this. The very next morning after her dream God placed it on my heart to call her to share what He had revealed to me during my morning devotion. God spoke to me by the Holy Spirit saying, “Stop quenching My Spirit, don’t fear, get back to the work I called you to do.” He said, “I will speak through you, I know your heart, and I know your desire to disciple and encourage other ladies toward spiritual growth.” “Speak!”  Wo! What a confirmation.

Now you might think I am crazy, but when you have an intimate relationship with Jesus, He will speak to you through His Word, in meditation and visions. Even the Holy Spirit takes control of your words when you pray, and you get confirmation from other spirit-filled believers. If you have never heard the voice of God, I say, “Go deeper.” Intimacy with Jesus will bless and rest your soul. Yet, I was still making excuses asking God, “why me?” I am not equipped, there are many other great women speakers. Is this really what you want me to do, Lord? Okay, hold it. Stop Sybil. Be obedient. So, Sybil, what will it be, My way, God’s way, or the byway? And the answer is, I surrender my will and control to His will, His way.

God has blessed us with the gift to choose. The world floods us with choices. What we choose will affect our entire life, good or bad. We know God desires us to choose Him above all else: our interests, family, jobs, or money. He wants to be included in every decision and aspect of our life. We are so accustomed to taking control of our lives, we fail to submit to God.  We compartmentalize. We place God in one little compartment. We hold on to all the other things in our life that may not be so pleasing to God. For me, allowing distractions moved me in the wrong direction. Doing things our way often leads to chaos or disaster. Leaving life’s issues at the Byway accomplishes nothing. Our lives are fulfilled and blessed when we walk in God’s way. (Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) Walking in obedience and godly wisdom, we avoid unnecessary havoc and troubles. He wants full access to our life. He is a jealous God who died for us to give us life. Our bodies s are His temple and belong to Him, to be used for Him, not for ourselves to do whatever we want to do. That is blatant disobedience. When I began to view Jesus as an intimate person and as my Father, it changed how I related to Him. Just like a natural mom and dad, you don’t want to hurt them and you obey what they tell you to do, (at least most of the time). I have that same relationship with the Father. I communicate with him as I would a friend, or spouse does in marriage. You don’t want to hurt or offend, so you do the right thing. God is asking us to walk in obedience, trust Him with everything, and He will bless us beyond measure.

Going deeper is a desire I have for all believers to fully surrender to God so He can transform the believer’s life. We miss the fruit, the rewards, and His presence when we do life our way. Our lives are superficial because we don’t know the Word which is the truth. The truth guides us and transforms us to be more like Jesus, which is why He created us in His image. Too few Christians are being transformed. I hear people say things like “she is a Jesus freak or that is just too Christianity (whatever that means.) I call it loving Jesus so much you don’t want to hurt Him, so you obey His every command by laying down your flesh, and your emotions and allowing Him to replace them with His character. Amen! There is nothing wrong with full surrender to God. Did he not call His church out to be a “peculiar people“(1 Peter 2:9) “unspotted“(James 1:27), and separated from the world?  We should be different. Nothing compares with knowing Jesus! His “love is better than life”, Psalm 63:3.

Why do we drop the ball after we become saved? Years go and we don’t know our calling, for the plan God has intended for us. Do you want to know your God-given purpose? The question is who are you following? Are we following independence or Jesus? Put another way, are we following the world, Satan’s domain, or Jesus empowered by the Holy Spirit?

What am I saying here? Go deeper. In discipling believers, we model and teach toward a deeper love for and obedience to Christ. We do it in love. I am an instrument in the Saviors’ hand desiring to move believers to the next step. When we all take our transformation seriously, allowing God to do the work in us, then the Church becomes a powerful witness to the world. We will make a difference. Things will change. Let me ask you a question. Does your life influence others around you for the better? What they notice will it inspire them to follow Jesus, or comfort their animosity or disinterest?

Scripture presents the most powerful force on the planet, a force that transforms and leads us toward spiritual maturity. Let’s open it and read it out loud, asking God to ignite our hearts. He promises that the words He’s spoken “will not return to Him empty, but will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purposes for which He sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

My prayer is that each of us will allow Jesus to do this: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2) Pay it forward if you walk obediently and relate to what I share. Find others to disciple and carry along the way. Let’s grow our church to make a difference in society. Love, have a servant’s heart, be a beacon of God’s light, and deny yourself. Being a child of God is not about our wants and needs, (God will provide), it is about loving others and doing His will. It’s not easy, but the rewards are far beyond the world’s materialism. Proverbs 16:16 states, “Get wisdom- how much better it is than gold! And get understanding – it is preferable to silver.” The more you read, the more understanding he gives you on how to live. Studying Proverbs will give you wisdom for life. Wisdom, understanding, and application are ingredients for obedience and growth. This is pleasing to the Lord and where transformation begins.

Thank you for another opportunity to share God’s light for your life and mine. It is good to be back in the place He called me to be. All glory and honor to the Almighty King of Kings and Lord of all. Alleluia!