When God Says Stand

Our granddaughter Stella came up to me Sunday evening and said very quietly, “Wowaw, can you stand up?” I said okay and I stood to my feet. Once I was standing she said, “Okay, now come with me.” I just laughed. It was late in the day and I’m sure she’s requested us to do something or get her something and we’ve all said, “I just don’t feel like getting up right now”. So, she gave me one step at a time! Get me to stand first and then get me to follow her! Sure enough she wanted me to do something for her. It worked and she got me up off the couch and then on to her destination.

God is like this. He doesn’t give us the whole story of our life beforehand. He just asks us to stand. Once we’re standing, He says “follow Me”. And even though we don’t know where we’re going, who we will encounter, and what the plan is, if we follow Him, we will find His destination for us. God has a plan and He’s faithful to give us baby steps so that we’re not overwhelmed with the enormity of our life in Christ.

Oh beloved, God is speaking to your heart this morning. He says “stand!” He knows you’re tired. He understands that you’re tired of getting up and doing things. You’ve been busy and you just want to sit and relax. But God has a plan and you are part of it! Faithfully, as you stand, He will give you the next leg of the journey. You don’t have to fear what that journey is, because God is not only going to give you instructions, He will go with you all the way! Whatever He says, do it with gusto! He will give you new strength and renew your resolve to follow Him. Just stand! Stand on the Word of the Lord. Stand in the love of the Savior. Stand in the power of the Holy Spirit. You will feel your whole being refreshed, redeemed and renewed as you follow Him wherever He says. Will you go through valleys of weeping? Yes. Will you climb mountains of adversity? Yes. Will you get weary of the trip? Yes. But God will be there to give you water in the dry and thirsty lands, sustenance when you are hungry and peace in the midst of it all!

God loves you and He’s for you! All His plans for you are for your good and His glory. You cannot sit and waste your life for God’s plans are your very purpose for living. No life is so blessed as the one who stands in the Presence of God’s Spirit and follows Him all the days of their life! God says “Stand up”. Stand this morning, carry His Word in your heart with a Spirit filled mind and get ready for the rest of the faith trip as you live in the Light of His Glory and Grace!

Exodus 33: 14-17 And He said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then Moses said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?” The Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.”

Isaiah 63:9 In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the angel of His presence saved them; In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them, And He lifted them and carried them all the days of old.

Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” NIV

Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the LORD says– He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine.”

Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. NIV