INSPIRATION ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. .
of its owner. So what does Brodie do? Instead of wandering around blindly (literally), Brodie sits down and waits to be found by its owner. I guess Brodie figured it would be easier that way, yet Brodie was a dog!
GLADYS FAMORIYO is a speaker and author of ‘Quit Hiding, Start Living!’, ‘Healing A Discouraged Heart’ and ‘Overcoming Emotional Baggage’. .........................................................
‘Being still can be a challenge for many of us. Yet it is a strategy God has urged His people to do throughout time, despite it seeming ridiculous in the moment.’
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t’s amazing that when we don’t know which way to go, many of us still choose to blindly forge ahead on full throttle perhaps even calling it ‘taking steps of faith’. It seems we replace God’s words and wisdom with what seemingly appears to be ‘God ideas’, which can take the form of what we see others do; what others encourage us to do (eg. well-meaning friends, family, mentors, leaders, media, etc) - all which are a recipe for disaster when God’s own voice is missing from the equation. Couple this with our own impatience, ambitions, personality types, and it becomes a hodgepodge that renders us ineffective, and moving us further from God’s plans for our lives. So, have you found yourself running around like a headless chicken, trying to make things happen with man’s wisdom and in your own strength? Perhaps you are exasperated, stressed out and have since lost your peace looking here, there and everywhere for an answer to a situation. If this is you, I have a suggestion: Be still and simply be for a moment. Press Pause Have you noticed that your efforts have probably not produced the outcome you strived for? You have pounded Heaven with your prayers and fasting; you have had hands laid on you and prophecies galore in your prayer journal - yet nothing. The answer? Strangely, it is not in doing more but less. Be still, take a respite and consult your heavenly Father. I know for sure that He has a word or two for you. Quit The Christian Rat Race Being still can be a challenge for many of us. Yet it is a strategy God has urged His people to do throughout time, despite it seeming ridiculous in the moment. Pondering on why God would ask us to be still, I am fully persuaded that it is a call to a deeper relationship with Him; greater levels of trust, and a complete and utter reliance on His grace. When we comply, our journey becomes easier. By this, I don’t mean there will be an absence of challenges. Instead, we forge
After reading this book, the penny finally dropped. More importantly, it opened my own eyes to the nature of my relationship with God. Did I trust Him enough to sit still and let Him find me, or was I going to forge ahead even if it meant I stumbled blindly into the path of an oncoming car? I tell you, Brodie taught me a lesson or two.
Being still before God Are you striving to fulfil God’s purpose for your life but experiencing difficulty doing so? If so, Gladys Famoriyo writes that maybe it’s time to be still before God to get guidance on with a different attitude, outlook and a deeper reliance on God. We get specific strategies from the One who knows the detailed plan of our lives. If I try to emulate someone else who has a similar calling, I will fall flat on my face. Why? Because God has a plan of action for each of us and for a specified time. Have you not noticed the victories David accomplished when he not only ‘inquired of the Lord’ but obeyed, too? They were astounding! I am also convinced that the times Jesus set aside for prayer were times when He got instructions and all He needed for the day ahead. Yet somehow, we lose sight of this - especially in a world full of noise and distraction every waking moment. Help, Lord, I’m Lost! In her book, The Gospel According to Brodie: Lessons from a Blind Labrador, Jennifer Rees Larcombe shares an unforgettable lesson about dealing with what I fondly refer to as life’s ‘Which way now?’ moments. She talks of blind Brodie’s experience in a park one day. On this occasion, Brodie somehow got separated from its owner. With all the background noises going on, such as children playing; cars passing by a nearby road; fellow park users, Brodie could no longer hear the voice
Wait For God Like blind Brodie, we need to wait for God especially in those fearful or disappointing moments, when we seem to lose our heavenly connection. It’s about being still and seeking Him. And trust me, when we wait, it will be worth it because He has plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11), and it’s His delight to share them with us when we call on Him (Jeremiah 33:3). Trying to do anything outside of God becomes futile. Jesus tells us that, apart from Him we can do nothing. So why strive? I don’t know about you, but I’m opting for the unforced-rhythms-of-grace kind of life that Jesus refers to in Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG). Here is the full Scripture… “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” I pray you receive the wisdom to navigate through life with God, and the boldness to sit still, say ‘No’, or even change direction when necessary. Scriptures to meditate on: Psalm 46:10, Isaiah 40:28-31, Isaiah 50:10-11, John 15. ......................................................... Fore more details of her ministry visit www.gladysf.com or call 0870 750 1969
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