Stepping Out Of The Boat

I don't even know where or how to start this post. All I can say is that tonight was an incredible blessing in my spiritual walk. I have felt that I've been called into ministry for about three years now but I had kept putting it off and making excuses to not let it be known. About a month ago I talked to my pastor and decided that it was time that I finally be obedient to God. So I told him about my calling and I asked what I needed to do. He had such great advice and was really excited for me. We talked and decided that it would be good for me to do a couple of small sessions of Round 2 or Thrive just to kind of "get my feet wet", so to speak. Round 2 is our church meeting on Wednesday's in which we dig deeper into what Sunday's message was about and then we break off into small groups to discuss some questions that are prepared. I agreed and said that I would take the time to do a Round 2 sermon whenever one became available and tonight was the first night that happened. The message was about Faith, Hope and Love and why Love was the greatest of the three. The main point in the message and the reason we find that love is the greatest is found in Galatians 5:5-6 which says,

But by faith we eagerly await through the spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Our faith is only seen when we use love to show it. Faith and Hope are empty without Love because it isn't visible. It has to be a faith that is put into action through expressions of love.

The whole time I was putting this message together I just kept praying that God's will would be done. I know there are a few things that I need to work on but of course I'm going to be my own worst critic. The thing that pleased me the most though was the fact that I actually did it. For three years I kept making excuses and putting off doing what God was calling me to do. Tonight is the night that I can finally say that I have actually stepped out of the boat instead of remaining comfortable in it and disobeying God. And that is what I am most proud of. When I got home I went straight into prayer and I just thanked the Lord with everything in me that I got to do what I did. I thanked him for his many blessings and I layed my heart out as to what it really meant for me to do such a thing. I have been blessed on this night more than I thought I could be. I know that this is what I'm supposed to do. I'm glad that I've taken my first steps towards what God wants. There are no more excuses! God is the greatest and His blessings never cease to amaze me. We have such a wonderful God and my will is to just obey him and be obedient no matter what that means.