JUMP


Can I get real with all of you for a minute? Have you ever been scared to give God your life?  To truly, turn it all over to Him and start listening and obeying His Word?  To quit being lord over your own life and doing whatever it is that you wanna do and to actually set it down before Him and walk in his ways? What would that mean? What would that look like for you? What would you have to give up? What would you have to “add-in”? Who would you have to love? Who would you have to forgive? WHAT WOULD IT COST YOU?

There was a point in my life many years ago when I had to confront this fear to give God my all.  I was fearful of what following God would cost me so I started to shrink back on my commitment to Him. I started to think twice about what I was doing with my life and I had the impulse to turn around and go back to my old way of life.  The enemy’s voice started to mess with my mind…”Ya know Michelle, it means you’re gonna have to suffer!! You don’t wanna suffer do you?!?! It means a life of pain and sacrifice.  DON’T DO IT!!” Fear rushed in at full speed. And I got scared.

When I brought this fear to God He so lovingly encouraged me to give Him my life.  To serve Him with everything I’ve got. And He proceeded to tell me why….


Deuteronomy 10:12-17 (The Message)

  • 12-13 So now Israel, what do you think God expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love Him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations of God that I'm commanding you today—live a good life.  (the NIV says “observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good)

  • 14-18 Look around you: Everything you see is God's—the heavens above and beyond, the Earth, and everything on it. But it was your ancestors who God fell in love with; he picked their children—that's you!—out of all the other peoples. That's where we are right now. So cut away the thick calluses from your heart and stop being so willfully hardheaded. God, your God, is the God of all gods, he's the Master of all masters, a God immense and powerful and awesome.


Has it ever crossed your mind that God tells us to follow Him so we can live a good life? Has it ever occurred to you that the plans He has for you are GOOD?!? That the paths He’s set before us to walk in are good? That he is a GOOD God abounding in loving kindness and showing us favor to the 3rd and 4th generation of our family and children? Has it ever occurred to you that following God, listening to Him, loving Him, and giving Him your life WILL NEVER lead you down a wrong way street?  God wants you to live a GOOD life, and that’s why He tells us to turn it over to Him and follow Him.

The other point He made to me gave me a good chuckle.  God knows our tendency to be self-preserving and self-centered.  And while He calls us to be otherwise, He knows that unfortunately, it can be a struggle.  So the second point really hit home to tackle my selfish, prideful, I-know-what’s-best-for-me side….basically, He was leaving me without ANY excuse to follow Him.  The NIV of verse 13 says to follow Him for our own good. God was so sweetly and tenderly telling me in a way that only a dad can say it: “Michelle, if you can’t do it for me, do it for you.  Do it for yourself.  Follow me for your OWN good.  I have good things in store for you. Don’t you want good things?”

The bottom line….giving God your life will cost you your life.  But in the end it’s a win-win situation for you, God, and the people around you.  You will never lose out when you give God your life. NEVER EVER NEVER EVER NEVER. So what are you waiting for?  JUMP!!