Saying “Yes” One Day at a Time

ad·ven·ture  noun   \əd-‘ven-chər\  1) a: an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks  b: the encountering of risks   2) an exciting or remarkable experience   3) an enterprise involving financial risk

How many of us would define our lives as an adventure?  Do we even want an adventurous life if by its very definition that means risk or danger?  Isn’t life more peaceful and a lot less bumpy if we choose a safer route? 

Sure it is!  But “safe” isn’t very exciting.  So just how much risk, or danger, are we willing to accept in order to find REMARKABLE?  All of us search for purpose and meaning in life.  But are we looking in the safe places ~ or will we open the door to an exciting ~ maybe even remarkable life?  

I am convinced that by following our own vision we will only – ever get to “safe”.  Even when we choose to take risks, purposely attempting to live exciting or adventurous lives, our meager definition of those terms straps us securely into the seat of a slow-moving “Kiddie Ride” compared to the thrills God has planned for those who trust Him and allow Him to direct their adventure! 

Choosing the risky path is not easy.  We want to be in control.  We want to see exactly where we’re going and how we’ll get there.  But God says, “Trust Me!  I will show you the way ~ one day at a time!”  What?  One day at a time?  How can we live our lives that way?  How can we “let go” ~ not knowing what comes next?  Isn’t that irresponsible?  I thought we were supposed to be “good stewards”.  

We are!  But does that mean we make our own plans and ask God to get on board?  Or does He perhaps have a better way?  God asks us to trust, to believe He is taking us in the best possible direction, even when we can’t see the end of the road!  And He is faithful.  God will get us to the goal ~ His Goal ~ His perfect purpose for our life!   In his 1999 song “Whatever” (click HERE to listen!) Stephen Curtis Chapman says it perfectly!

WHATEVER

I made a list, wrote down from A to Z
All the ways I thought that You could best use me
Told all my strengths and my abilities
I formed a plan it seemed to make good sense

I laid it out for You so sure You’d be convinced
I made my case, presented my defense
But then I read the letter that You sent me
It said that all You really want from me is just

(chorus)
Whatever, whatever You say
Whatever, I will obey
Whatever, Lord, have Your way
‘Cause You are my God, whatever

So strike a match, set fire to the list
Of all my good intentions, all my preconceived ideas
I want to do Your will no matter what it is
Give me faith to follow where You lead me
Oh, Lord, give me the courage and the strength to do
(chorus)

I am not my own
I am Yours and Yours alone
You have bought me with Your blood
Lord, to You and You alone do I belong
And so whatever
(chorus)

Whatever!  I seem to have been saying that a LOT lately!  As I build this full time Christian Life Coaching practice, I feel like I’ve left the shelter and security of my kiddie ride, and climbed not-so-fearlessly onto the grown-up thrill ride of “whatever”!  After leaving the safety of the corporate world and weekly direct-deposits, I am finally doing what I love.  God gave me this vision long ago, but I had to make the choice of obedience and “adventure” instead of safety.  And since then what a ride we’re on!  

One day at a time, I find myself saying “yes” to opportunities and Divine Appointments that I can’t explain.  I meet with a priest I don’t know for reasons yet to be revealed to me.  I schedule an appointment with a colleague who helped me get started in coaching, even though I don’t really know why I’m there or what I am going to say.  I fly 700 miles to Chicago to meet with a friend I haven’t seen in 30 years.  Why?  Am I just bored, or am I following someone else’s “plan”?   Is there a real-life drama unfolding in which I play a part, but haven’t been given the whole script yet? 

I believe there is!  God is surprising me all the time ~ giving me new opportunities for ministry that I never would have imagined ~ churches and neighborhood groups asking me to teach the Joy on Purpose Bible Study, Life Coaching Groups forming and growing, individuals reaching out for help.  I don’t know all the ways God will use my Divine Appointments but I do know that He isn’t finished yet!   One day I will know the whole story and see how the individual pieces fit into the puzzle.  In the meantime, my job is to say “yes” to the things I believe God is asking me to do ~ one day at a time.  Life is far too short to miss the good stuff.  I don’t want to miss ONE opportunity that He puts in my path!

So, what does it look like to say yes – one day at a time?   Saying yes means not always knowing the why or the ultimate goal of the things we choose to do.  Our personal goals and God’s plan are often not the same.  He sees a much bigger picture!  Saying yes means wanting what God wants more than what we want.  It’s trusting that His goals and purpose are always better!  It’s praying ~ asking ~ listening and then obeying, every single day.  Excuse me? You want me to “listen” to someone I can’t really “hear”, and “obey” someone I don’t get verbal or written “direction” from?  How? Why?  

Let’s talk about WHY first.  Because life is supposed to be an exciting journey!  Because the One who gave us this life has had a custom plan for each of us since the beginning of time.  Because when we listen and follow His leading we go on the BEST adventures!  When we say yes to His “still small voice”, life becomes so much more meaningful and energizing than when we follow our own predictable plans.  Because when we say yes to something and Someone bigger than ourselves there is a reason to get up every day!  A reason much bigger and more purposeful than the job we hold, or the plans we’ve made or even the friends or family we love.  Life has eternal meaning when we choose to say yes to an eternal God!  A life of listening and saying “yes” to God, one day at a time, is an exhilarating, heart-stopping RIDE! 

What about the HOW?  How do we know we’re saying yes to God?  How do we hear His “voice” when he doesn’t speak audibly?  Here are a few ways I’ve discovered.  You’ll probably add lots more when you begin to really think about it and try it yourself!

1)  Make yourself available to hear Him.  God can’t speak if we don’t have a “conversation” with Him!  So make time to talk to Him ~ pray!

2) Get into His Word.  The Bible speaks to every situation in our lives!  It is a book of great wisdom, knowledge and insight that has been proven over thousands of years and generations of people seeking to find Truth.

3) Choose to trust Him more than you trust yourself.  God has the eternal view.  He already knows the end of the story.  Let yourself trust that He loves you and has a better plan for your life than you do!

4) Take baby steps.  As you were getting ready for work or praying this morning, did you have a fleeting thought that you should call a certain friend?  Did that thought come back again as you went through your day?  Do it.  Say yes.  Find out why God wanted you to call that person.  I can’t tell you how many times, when I’ve finally made that call, my friend would say “I’m so glad you called!  I’m having a hard time right now and I really needed to talk to someone!”

Go ahead ~ try it ~ then add to this list!  As you “hear” God’s direction and say “yes”, write down what you were doing that helped you to hear His voice.  I’d love for you to share your successes with me and the rest of our readers on the JoyBlog Website.  We can all use each others help to say yes more often ~ and make our lives an “Intentional Journey to Remarkable” ~ one day at a time!