Thresholds

Sometimes God brings us to turning points in our lives -- critical junctures where we make the choice to either cross a threshold in faith & obedience, or to cringe away in fear. Points in time when God is challenging us to move out of our comfort zones & make some BIG changes in our lives. I am currently facing such a threshold in my own life.

I can usually feel these coming. Lately, I’ve had that telltale {twinge} inside that some sort of “sea change” is heading my way (sort of like a freight train!). It’s almost like a Siren of myth, calling me forward into the unknown. These aren’t easy times for me, & I must admit that, at times, I cringe a bit & think “What does He want of me THIS time?”

In fact, because I tend to have really STRONG emotions about just about everything, these times of change & submission & obedience are also times of major spiritual warfare for me. These times of transformation entail a GI-NORMOUS laying down of self, which immediately kicks my old “sin nature” into overdrive! Oh yeah -- Romans 7 to the max!! That old “sin nature” part of me doesn’t want to make any changes, & certainly doesn’t want to obey! My flesh is SOOOO wanting to go along with the “sin nature”, so it’s a tumultuous time for me.

There have been times when I have refused to cross a threshold He has placed before me. I don’t recommend it! Not a pleasant thing, to walk away from obeying our Lord! When I’ve walked away, the Holy Spirit in me has done a really EXCELLENT job at nudging my conscience, reminding me of this call to change, keeping me in constant emotional & mental conflict until I either smother it with something (food works sometimes!), or kneel in submission to Him. The latter is DEFINITELY the better choice!

“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me, and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him...If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” (John 14:21,23, NAS)

There is real freedom in crossing a threshold God has placed before us. Knowing that we’re walking in obedience to Him gives birth to a peace inside that is truly exquisite! In time, as we cross more thresholds for Him & experience His peace, we come to understand more about seeing as He sees, & loving as He loves.

It’s with that knowledge that I confront this new threshold and “gird my loins” to move forward. It’s been scary & difficult for me this time around! My stomach has been in knots, to the point of physical discomfort. Crossing won’t be easy, but NOT crossing is unthinkable!

So, I guess I’ll see you on the other side...

The gate is wide, the road is paved in moderation.
The crowd is kind and quick to pull you in.
Welcome to the middle ground -- it's safe and sound and
Until now, it's where I've been.
'Cause it's been fear that ties me down to everything!
But it's been love, Your love, that cuts the string!

So long, status quo! I think I just let go --
You make me wanna be brave!
"The way it always was" is no longer good enough!
You make me wanna be brave! Brave! Brave!

I am small and I speak when I'm spoken to,
But I am willing to risk it all!
Say Your name, just Your name,
And I'm ready to jump, even ready to fall!
Why did I take this vow of compromise?
Why did I try to keep it all inside?

So long, status quo! I think I just let go --
You make me wanna be brave!
"The way it always was" is no longer good enough!
You make me wanna be brave! Brave! Brave!

I've never known a fire that didn't begin with a flame,
And every storm will start with just a drop of rain,
But if You believe in me, that changes everything!

So long! I'm gone!

So long, status quo! I think I just let go --
You make me wanna be brave! I wanna be brave!
"The way it always was" is no longer good enough!
You make me wanna be brave! Brave! Brave!
Brave! Brave!

~~"Brave" by Nichole Nordeman (Album: Brave, 2006)