Hi guys!! It's been a while since I put out a new blog post. Just to give you a quick update on what's been going on in my life, I've basically just been writing and recording as much as I can through this quarantine. If you came to my house and watched me every day (in a not creepy way...), you'd probably find my life to be pretty mundane!
But, getting back to the whole, "It's been a while" thing! One thing that I've struggled with during this crazy season is consistency. Maybe that's you, or maybe you thrive on structure and couldn't have it any other way. I find myself putting off my daily responsibilities to get out of the house or try something new or go for a long drive because I'm just trying to avoid the work that needs to get done lol! I guess that's the enneagram 4 in me, that just wants to feel anything but the ordinary. I sometimes find myself so fixated on the big things I want to see happen in my future, that I try to pass up the small opportunities that are part of growth. But God is teaching me during this time to not just sit around and wait to be obedient in the big stuff. He wants me to be obedient every day, and in everything.
I think 1 Corinthians 10:31 sums it up best, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." This is such a convicting statement!! Do EVERYTHING to the glory of God. That's a pretty high standard, and I'm so glad I don't have to strive to live up to that because Jesus already did on the cross!! So, what does daily obedience look like then? I think a great example is found in the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah. I just started reading through Luke, and I can't get this story out of my head.
This is really a story of divine interruption. Zechariah had received a high honor and would be performing his duties in the temple for two weeks, burning incense and proclaiming the familiar blessing over the people from Numbers 6:24-26. In the midst of his duty, he was interrupted by God's divine plan. Although I'd like to think he accepted this good news that he and Elizabeth were going to have a child with eagerness and joy, he actually faced it with skepticism. Because of this, he was met with a mild and somewhat comical punishment. He would lose all ability to speak until Elizabeth had given birth to their son, John. You know, just the John who baptized Jesus, and paved the way for His ministry. Nothing big!
As I was reading through this story, the Spirit laid this idea on my heart. Would I be willing to be interrupted for the purpose of God's plan, or would I rather Him pass me by at the moment to not be inconvenienced? Nothing about what Zechariah was doing when the angel came to him was wrong. He was fulfilling his duty in the temple, and serving God's people! But God had something less conventional in mind, and He wanted Zechariah's trust at that moment. His wife was going to give birth to the man who's name literally meant "Prophet of the Highest", but he was so focused on his duty, his life's work, that he felt inconvenienced by God's interruption.
Why is this such a convicting thought to me? Well, I've always been a dreamer. Since I was a little girl of only 5 or 6 I wanted to be a singer and songwriter. I can remember sitting in the sandpit on the playground at school making up songs in my head and singing them to express how I was feeling. I've had this dream for so long, it's almost like it's a part of me, and it takes daily surrender for it to not become my identity. So, if Jesus showed up at my back door and directed my path elsewhere, would I be excited and ready to go? Or would I feel like it was an interruption to MY plans? Let's face it! Jesus doesn't often just show up at our back doors. I've personally never had that happen! It's more often the small voice of the Holy Spirit convicting, guiding, and giving just enough insight for us to trust. So, the question is, are you willing to be interrupted in your duty to follow God's greater plan?