HOW TO SAY YES TO GOD

I am going to say YES to what God wants me to do and NO to what others think I should do.

That was so easy for me to write…the words just flowed effortlessly onto the page.

But now? A little more than a week later? Let me tell you, the reality of doing this is way, way, harder than I thought or imagined.

So, I had to take some time and really consider that bold statement.   Did I really know what I saying?

What does it really mean to say YES to God?

I have been thinking a lot about that the past few days.  I have been praying, seeking God, and going back to the Bible for some answers.

PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE WHO SAID YES TO GOD

I started by making a list of all the ordinary, flawed, messed up, scared, and insecure people in the Bible who said YES to God not knowing what was up ahead or what that would mean for their lives.

•  Noah said YES when God asked him to build the ark.
• Abraham said YES when God asked him to sacrifice his only son.
• Joseph said YES when God asked him to forgive his brothers who beat and sold him into slavery.
• Moses said YES when God told him to go to Pharaoh and ask him to let the Israelites go.
• Rahab said yes when asked to hide the Israelite spies and risk her own life and the lives of her family.
• David said YES when God asked him to fight the giant Goliath with only a slingshot and a few stones.
• Esther said YES when Mordecai told her to go to the king to save her people.
• Daniel said YES when God told him not to bow down and worship other idols.
• Mary said YES when the angel told her she would carry God’s son, Jesus.
• The disciples said YES when Jesus asked them to leave everything behind and follow him.
• Paul said YES when God asked him to deliver the good news of Jesus to the Gentiles.

I am sure you can add many more to this list as well (please list them in the comments below!).

HOW SAMUEL SAYS YES TO GOD

I also went back and reread one of my favorite stories in the Old Testament.  It is the story of Samuel and how the Lord calls him.  If you have time, please go back and read the story for yourself in 1 Samuel, Chapters 1-3.

Just to give you a little background information on Samuel…

His mother was Hannah who was barren for several years.  One day, while praying and weeping in the temple, she begged God for a child.  She made a vow that if God would give her a son, she would give that child back to the Lord to serve him all the days of his life (1 Samuel 1:1-11).

God answered her prayer and gave her Samuel.

And Hannah fulfilled her promise by bringing Samuel to the temple when he was just a young boy.  He lived with the elderly priest, Eli, in the temple and served him and the Lord, growing in both favor and stature (1 Samuel 1:24-28; 2:18-21,26).

The story of the Lord calling Samuel takes place in Chapter 3 and I love it because it is so real.  It is just so easy for me to picture the scene.

At this time, Samuel is a very young teenager. He is sleeping in bed when he hears someone calling his name.  Thinking it is Eli who might need him for something, he gets up and goes to Eli saying, “Here I am, Eli.  What do you need?”  Eli tells him that he didn’t call him, so he should just go back to bed.  Samuel goes back and hears his name again, so he goes back to Samuel.  Very much like Groundhog Day. Eli again assures him that he did not call him and that he should go back to bed and get some sleep.  When it happens for a third time, Eli takes notice and realizes that it is indeed the Lord who is calling Samuel and tells Samuel to go back and respond to the Lord.

And Samuel does.

When the Lord calls Samuel for the fourth time, Samuel responds, “Speak Lord, for your servant hears.” (1 Samuel 3:10)

You can go on and read the rest of Chapter 3 to learn more about what God asked Samuel to do.  It was not easy.  Especially for a young boy.

But Samuel said YES to God.  And I think there are lessons for us to learn from him.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO SAY YES TO GOD?

1) We need to BE READY & PREPARED.

Samuel was in the temple learning, serving and growing.  What are we to prepare ourselves for when God calls?  Are we serving others, are we praying daily, are we reading the Bible, are we surrounding ourselves with wise people?

2) We need to BE LISTENING.

Yes, Samuel was in bed where it was dark and quiet.  But his ears were open.  Our lives can get so noisy. We can get so distracted.  Are we making time and space for quiet and solitude so that we can hear God when he speaks?

3) We need to BE OPEN TO WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY.

What God told Samuel to do was difficult. God asked him to deliver a very tough message to Eli, a man he loved and respected. But Samuel was obedient.  He said YES before even knew what God was calling him to do.  What about us?  Are we willing to say YES no matter what?  Or is our YES dependent on what God wants us to do?

WHAT WILL IT MEAN FOR US IF SAY YES TO GOD?

In looking at Samuel and all of the others I have listed from the Bible, I think we can conclude three things about saying YES to God:

• IT MAY BE HARD.
• IT MAY BE UNPOPULAR.
• IT MAY BE UNCOMFORTABLE.

Hard stuff, but my heart longs to say YES.

I want to be faithful and obedient.

I want to say that I am all in no matter what.

I hope you do too, friends, because then we can encourage and support each other when God calls us.

So grateful to have you alongside me on this journey!

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