Who Is The Better Driver?

“By day the LORD went ahead of them in a column of smoke to lead them on their way. By night he went ahead of them in a column of fire to give them light so that they could travel by day or by night.” (Exodus 13:21)

Although the Israelites packed up with plans to follow Moses as they began their freedom march out of Egypt, God actually led the way.

He was their GPS.

And regardless if it was day or night or what direction they were going… God determined their steps.

Oh, I love this visual because it demonstrates the perfect position that God should have in our lives – no matter the circumstance.

But so often, we leave Him in the dust as we find ourselves wandering without a map.

We take matters into our own hands.

We make decisions based on emotions and desires.

We lack wisdom and discernment in some areas.

As I look back on my life, I see countless times where I was so far ahead of God.

Sooo.  Many.

You, too?

And had I stopped to locate the position of God in my situation… I’d have seen He was barely visible in my rear-view mirror.

In those times, I decided to handle things my way…

Sometimes it was a purposeful veer in a different direction out of rebellion… and other times I didn’t even realize I was the driver.

But I’ve learned that when we are intentional to let God to lead, life is just better.  Now better doesn’t always mean easier.  It doesn’t mean “problem-free.”  It rarely means comfortable.

But it does mean He will keep us on a straight path.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

When we submit… it means we follow.  And when we follow… it means we trust.

• His direction.
• His will.
• His way.
• His timing.

The backseat becomes a comfortable position, and we can rest knowing Jesus is at the wheel.

But when we choose to take the driver’s seat instead, we find ourselves without a GPS… unable to navigate the unknown terrain… in danger of making the wrong turn… and desperate for direction.

… Every stinkin’ time.

Sisters, let’s be women who allow God to lead.  Let’s choose to follow Him rather than see Him over our shoulder.

Let’s get comfy in the backseat.

REALITY CHECK:  What keeps you from handing over the keys?

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© 2012 careyscotttalks.com

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The Next Level

It was time for a change.

Sara was ready to leave her Sleeping Beauty Pink walls and Tink Pink trim behind and graduate to a more “big girl” color in her bedroom.   So at her request, we painted our 9-year-old daughter’s room over Christmas break.

This was a familiar feeling.

We’d repainted this room many times before, each change in hue reflecting a new stage in her life.

As we rolled the new color over the old, it made me a little sad to see her leave yet another phase in her life.  Sara had been the biggest Disney Princess fan, but it was time to say goodbye.

She was ready to move on.

But as the new color began to overtake the room, my sadness quickly changed to excitement.

I realized how much I’ve enjoyed watching my daughter blossom.  Sara is maturing into a wonderful young lady.

To be honest, she’s doing exactly what she’s supposed to be doing.

She is growing up… maturing… taking that next step.

Oh, I am a proud mamma. 

I love who she is becoming. 

I enjoy walking through life with her. 

I admire her courage and boldness to embrace life to the fullest. 

I’m proud that she learns from her mistakes rather than crumbles under them.

And you know what?  I think God feels the same way about us.

He loves to watch us in the infancy stage that all Believers go through, learning and growing in our faith.  He’s patient when we make rookie mistakes.  He enjoys our excitement and enthusiasm.

But when it’s time to leave that chapter and move to the next level of growth, God is ready to walk through it with us.

As a matter of fact, He’s already been preparing us to step into this next level of maturity through difficult life experiences, wise friends, and faith-growing times.

While God loves us no matter what stage we’re in, He desires for us to gain the necessary maturity we need to tread into the deeper waters with Him.

He doesn’t want us to stay where we are… comfortable and complacent.

He doesn’t want us to sit on the sidelines… watching the game from the bench.

Nope.

God wants us to do things that help us grow in our faith… things that help us work towards that next level of maturity.  Things like…

• Trusting Him when life changes courses without notice.
• Learning more about His character by spending time in His Word.
• Getting involved in your churches, serving and leading.
• Practicing grace and forgiveness rather than judgment.
• Developing a rich prayer life.
• Being wise with what shows you watch and music you listen to.
• Seeking His will for your life and your circumstances.

And when you have a deeper understanding of who God is, you will find a new level of maturity in your walk… in how you handle hard times… in how you see yourself… in how you care for others.

It’s God’s heart for you.

With a willing heart… good tools… a little time… and a lot of hard work, Sara’s new wall color turned out great and it no longer looks like a little girl room.  It’s been upgraded.

Is God calling you to take a step to the next level?

Will you say YES to His desire to promote to a new chapter of maturity in Him?

REALITY CHECK: Step out of complacency and into your calling.  Take that next step by saying YES to God!

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©2012 careyscotttalks.com

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Stay In Today

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  (Matthew 6:34)

Sometimes that is easier said than done because our problems don’t always end when we go to bed.  They often spill over into the following day, week or month.

How can we not think about what those problems might look like in the morning?

But this verse isn’t telling us not to think about tomorrow.  It’s telling us to not spend any time worrying about tomorrow.

So, can we set goals for tomorrow?  Yes.

Is it okay to figure out carpool and doctor appointments for tomorrow?  Of course.

Can we make plans to meet a friend for a Pumpkin Spice Latte tomorrow?  Duh.

Careful planning isn’t the issue.  Chronic worrying is.

We need to stay in today and pray for God to handle our tomorrows.

If we don’t, fear creeps in… trust in God goes out… and we begin trying to work things out in our own strength.

In my world, it looked like this:

When my husband lost his job, I looked ahead and began to panic:

• How will we afford private school each month?
• Will we lose our house?
• What if our air conditioner goes out?  (can anyone say “hot flashes“)

When I was diagnosed with cancer, I began to think past that moment and got scared:

• How will my kids grow up without me?
• Will my husband be able to hold down the fort after I die?
• Who will fill my role in the family?

When we discovered the details of my son’s bullying, I walked ahead of God and started worrying:

• Will he be able to make good friends at school?
• What will the lasting effects be, if any?
• How will his heart heal with all he’s been through?

I began to look way down the road… months and years even… and my fear and worry increased immediately.

But God tells us to stay in today.

To not get ahead of ourselves and our problems.

To leave tomorrow alone… for now.

To trust Him in the troubles we are facing… today and tomorrow.

Corrie Ten Boom once said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

So… how do we do that?  By remembering.

We remind ourselves of all the times God came through in our circumstances.  We think back to all the times He worked all things for good in the lives of our friends.  We recall His goodness.  We recount His faithfulness.

Do you remember?

Sisters, God is trustworthy.  He’s been involved in our lives since the beginning of time.  He knows all our fears.  God knows our struggles.

Let’s give our tomorrow-worries to Him, and choose to stay in today.

©2011 careyscotttalks.com

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Peace Is A Weapon

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.  (Romans 16:20)

One of the strongest weapons in your arsenal is peace.

And the Enemy knows it.

He wants to not only ruin your life, but also to get you in such a tizzy that you’re in a constant state of chaos.  In his estimation, if he can keep you freaked out and fearful you won’t have the energy to fight back.

You’ll be your own worst enemy.

It’s a good plan, actually.  How many times have you been so overwhelmed or angry or scared about a situation that you just gave up?  You waved the white flag of surrender.  You found yourself paralyzed, unable to make a move.

When things come at me in warp speed, I sometimes find myself sucked into a whirlpool of self-pity.  Rather than rising above my circumstances, I am eye-to-eye with them.  And when that happens, I feel anything but peaceful.

Score one for the Enemy.

But when we maintain a sense of peace, trusting God in our circumstances, we punch Satan in the gut.

• When we refuse to freak out when oppression comes our way…
• When we are unshakable in our faith that God will provide…
• When we speak His truths and promises over our situation…

… Satan loses.

Score one for us.

Because of Christ in us, we have authority over the Enemy.  Wait… I didn’t hear an “amen” so maybe you didn’t hear me.  Let me say it again…

WE have AUTHORITY over the Enemy!

And when we show peace in the face of adversity, we prove it.

How do we do that?  How do we show that kind of peace?  It’s simple.  We refuse to see our struggles with human ears and eyes.  Instead, we see them as opportunities for God to rock our world.

We trust that God is who He says He is.  And we believe that God will do what His Word says He’ll do… which is to crush the Enemy under our feet.

Translation?  We win.

Yes, sisters… peace is a mighty weapon, indeed.

Use it.

©2011 careyscotttalks.com

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Fear Is A Four Letter Word

Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety. (Proverbs 29:25)

Can I just tell you how much I love small towns?  I remember speaking at a tiny church in Wyoming a few years ago.

This annual tea was a big deal for the church and it’s community.  Girls as young as six and women as old as one-hundred showed up in their best clothes.  The husbands and sons, dressed in tuxedos, served the tea.

Oh it was quite the shindig.

As the coordinator began to introduce me, I noticed an odd sound in the room resembling a steady beat.  It kept getting louder and faster but I couldn’t find the source.

This noise was so distracting!  I knew it was going to drive me nuts while I was trying to speak because it was loud.  So slowly I looked around, trying to place it… but no luck.

And then it hit me…

I realized that the sound resonating throughout the room was my fear!  The microphone was clipped to my lapel and located right over my heart which was pounding out of my chest with anxiety.

Quickly, I moved it over to my other lapel vowing to never place a mic over my heart again.

There was no hiding the fact that I was afraid.

• I was fearful they would hate me.
• I was scared they wouldn’t think my jokes were funny. (I am funny)
• I was concerned I’d put people to sleep. (done it)
• I was anxious that I’d talk too fast and a bad word would slip out instead of scripture. (seen it happen)
• I was freaking out thinking they’d hate my clothes and I would see judgement on their faces.

Sometimes people scare me.

But God tells us that when we let them, it’s a dangerous trap.

Why? Because when we are fearful, it can affect everything we try to do.

• We don’t invite others into our homes because they may not like how we decorate.
• We buy dessert from the bakery rather than bake it ourselves because those women are better in the kitchen.
• We never agree to lead a Bible study because people may not sign up for our group.
• We don’t speak up with the answer because it might be wrong.
• We don’t step into our calling because we might fail publically.

Fear of man can be such a driving force.  It can be a part of every decision and every choice, every day.

You know what else?  It taps into our sense of value, making fear of man even more dangerous for us.  You see when we function out of that kind of fear… we forget.

• We forget that God created us for a specific purpose.
• We forget that we are beloved children to the One true King.
• We forget that we are already accepted, significant and secure in Christ.

And if Christ is for us, who can be against us?

Well, I’ve come a long way since those early days in my speaking ministry.  Yes, I still get all nervous in those few moments before I open my mouth.  But now I know that when I give into fear, it’s a breeding ground for the Enemy.

He loves to see me paralyzed in my fear.  The enemy loves to see the same in you.

Sisters, you are precious to God.  Stand up for yourselves!  Don’t allow fear – a classic tactic of Satan – to win.  Just stare him down.

Because you see… when we refuse to listen to the Enemy and instead trust God, we are kept safe under His divine protection.

And I’ve seen that promise kept a million times.

©2011 careyscotttalks.com

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