“Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already—you can see it now! I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there” (Isaiah 43:18b-19).
Last night I was at a HomeGroup study with some of my favorite church ladies! It was time to go around and take prayer requests. When it was my turn, my sweet friends turned to me and asked how they could be praying for me this week…and cue the crickets. “Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?” My mind went completely and utterly blank. Is there really nothing in my life that requires prayer right now? That’s a dangerous way to think and let’s be completely honest, maybe I’m in a place where if I started listing my prayer requests I wouldn’t be able to stop. God has woken me up very early the past two days to pray about a lot of different things going on (praising him for the good and definitely asking for his help regarding things that would cause me to worry).
It’s like I’m one of the featured acts in a circus. I’m juggling a lot of balls at the moment. I have several friends that desperately need me to be there to support and listen to them right now because they are going through some things (welcome to the exciting lion attraction)! I’m a mom and a wife and I’ve got a high maintenance family, to say the least, but I’m crazy about them (it’s now time to see the acrobats). We are coming off of Holy week, which is an incredible time and if you work in ministry, you know that it’s also a wild time (Ohhhhh, the strong man). I have this incredible opportunity to write a book series that I couldn’t be happier about (send in the clowns)! I’m in this fun group of women (wow…flaming batons) and we are studying the book “The Best Yes” which is super ironic because I don’t know if I’m even capable of my best yes right now…that’s not true. I do know what things make my best yes. It’s a matter of actually carrying those things out and being ok with telling people “no” because as Lysa Terkeurts points out most of us have a “disease to please.”
Sometimes I’m afraid that if I’m too focused on making everything fit that I’ll miss the new things that God has for me and the opportunity to give my Best Yes! I can’t think of anything worse than the “Ostrich Syndrome” sticking my head in the sand and missing all the goodness God has got for me. God is alive and well and moving in my life in profound ways. AND he is making his presence known. I know he wants me to “watch for the new thing” and not get stuck at the circus mastering my juggling act. This verse from Isaiah is about hope and opportunity and God working for my best future and that of my family. I want to rest in that because that is TRUTH! This is the verse I’m going to meditate on this week because it helps me prioritize what’s important. Through that discernment, I’m able to choose a life that gives me peace, contentment and most of all an obedience to Him. Forget the cotton candy and popcorn I’ve got more important things to focus on. Kingdom things…and that is MY best yes.
Peace out Ringling Bros.
Kristin Lehr 