My recent posts have fueled such an assault on all that stands against the knowledge of God in me (2 Corinthians 10:5). His sovereign rule over my life attacks all of my doubts and fears. In my post, “Yes to the Pain,” I wrote about how God had been recounting to me many painful situations in my past. As He showed them to me, I wept and heaved because each was just so brutally painful. After weeping for some time, the Lord said to me, “Just say yes. Just say yes to it all.” I did so without hesitation, even in the pain, and once I did the pain lifted.
As I related this encounter to Martha, I realized the most amazing part of the whole thing. While I was in the moment, I heard the Lord’s words as a command: “Just say yes.” But I later saw that it wasn’t a command or a demand at all – it was a beckoning plea, beckoning me to come. The Father was saying, “Will you say yes to it all? Will you say yes to how I chose to bring my Life forth in you?” He was wooing me, not demanding a response from me. I had a mental grid in place that removed His loving touch and voice.
I told Martha of the Lord’s beckoning to my heart, and as I did, His very lips softened towards me! My awareness of His kindheartedness came alive. Yes, He always was tender but now I could see it! Where at first I heard, “Just say yes,” now it had become the soft words, “Will you say yes to Me?” God was validating my process. He wasn’t condemning me or shaming me. He was instead validating the steps He used to bring me forth. He was assuring me of His chosen process. The Father was speaking to me about His pleasure to use what He chose to form me, and now was graciously asking for my “yes” to the whole thing.
I know the Lord doesn’t tempt us with evil (James 1:13-14). But what I also know is He doesn’t shy away from putting in place circumstances that will draw the evil out of us. We’re accountable and responsible for all our choices in this life, but circumstantially, God uses all things to unearth our hearts.
God formed me with His sovereignly chosen circumstances and now asks for my yes to all that He used to break and crush my independent pride. If I maintained the erroneous belief that the Father only uses delightful, happy situations to bring about His plans…then I will be sorely chapped by the actual reality.
Our wonderful Father made us wonderfully and formed us in Divine wisdom to make of us vessels of His glory. My embrace of His ways – so much higher than my own – gives me the freedom to live with joy in His brilliant plan. At the end of every day, He is God and I am His to do with as He pleases. My yes to how He brought it about gives Him the freedom to fill it with Himself.
For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery]. Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them. How precious and weighty also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I could count them, they would be more in number than the sand. When I awoke, [could I count to the end] I would still be with You.
Psalms 139:13-18 AMP
•Here is a video I enjoyed after writing this, I hope you enjoy it too.
What amazes me is that He loves me through it all. Some choices are a result of immaturity. He loves me. Some places I am not ready to deal with yet. He still loves me. Some things I say yes to, that I don’t have His mind yet on how to carry it out. He still loves me. He is the kind One who is so patient with me. He woos me along. He is so alive! The spirit of welcome is all over Him. I can always come just as I am. He loves me.
Tears and more tears. This touched my heart as very little else has in a long time. Thank you, John, and thank You, Jesus for moving me with Your message once again.
We have got some GOD!!!!! Bless you, John.
This post really blessed me. it has been a difficult road and I think the last few years I have been struggling to say yes to what I have gone through. IT IS freeing to know He is in charge and His love is ever strong.
Lift up your heads o you gates: yes lift them up you age abiding doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory! Once again thank you John, thank you for your Yes that affects us and rocks the universe. (Eph 3:10-12 amp…and oh how that passage leads into that enormous prayer to know and experience Christ!) Oh yes and amen
Why am I crying over your post. It is so precious and the video is endearing as well. Lord is telling us
to say “yes” to the mess? Thank you Bless you.
“But what I also know is He doesn’t shy away from putting in place circumstances that will draw the evil out of us. We’re accountable and responsible for all our choices in this life, but circumstantially, God uses all things to unearth our hearts.”
Oh, John. This is so painfully… and joyfully true.
Thank you for the joyful video as well. 🙂