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Are We Listening, Or Leading?

December 18, 2015 By Chelle Wilson 4 Comments

Paul Mason Quiet

Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth;
Therefore let your words be few. (Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 (NKJV))

Dear Dreamers,

Hear my confession. In my early years dreaming God-Sized Dreams, I took the joy I found in writing and supposed it to be the dream I was to build and dedicate to the Glory of God. I meant well , but I was entirely wrong.

Rather than listening in the quiet to hear God’s call, I was rash. I took things out of order.

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I forgot that He was God alone, supposing instead that I could partner with Him. I was not listening to be available to do His Will.

I was trying to lead and getting in His Way.

An innocent mistake, I see now that it took me journeying along in the wilderness much like the Children of Israel, who wandered 40 years out of the way on a 40-day trip. So desperate was I to make sense of my “exile,” I reasoned that God determined me to be an outsider.

I began to make peace with a life in the wild. It was dishonest, but it offered contentment.

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Or so I thought.

It usefully distracted me from my on-going misery about the fullness of joy lacking in my life. I was always mad, disappointed with God that the Joy and the Peace I knew so many experienced eluded me. What’d I do wrong?

The wrong was all in the doing…

My testimony is not so much that I was lost and now am found, but that I was dying spiritually, disconnected from The Vine, busying myself. I was longing for intimacy with God beyond anything I’d ever achieved previously. Or at least I thought so. I was reminded once again that God is always working in the background. Despite the appearance of wilderness, death, and dry bones, there was a Holy Ghost riot happening at the roots of my soul. Finally, it is good to return to the land of the living.

How did I return, you ask? I stopped fighting God. I stopped being angry, stopped filling my time, and quietly waited upon God. Oh, and there is one more thing. When God called, I simply said Yes.

What happened? Not the things I thought might. (and this is not a happily wrapped story ending, as God is not through with me yet). New things. New adventures. New perspectives on the world. New relationships, and yes, new calls from God.

I am more joyful than I’ve ever been, and while everything is not rosy, my perspective has changed (Perspective is key). I worry less and rely upon God more. And, when I get nervous, I remind myself, sometimes audibly, that He has Never Failed.

Here is the takeaway-let’s agree that dreaming is hard. Let’s concede that it takes a certain foolhardy bravery that is part faith and part stubborn tenacity. Anybody putting forth that much effort just to get to the starting line deserves a full serving of Grace.

And there is one other thing.

Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Listen more, and lead less, if at all.

(He doesn’t need your help.)

Shared by: Chelle Wilson

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Filed Under: Community, Laying the Dream Down, When Dreams Change, When Your Dream Hits a Roadblock

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Chelle Wilson

About Chelle Wilson

Bios tell readers who you are. She prefers that you engage her and decide for yourself. She clutches inherited pearls while tossing dreadlocks. Contentedly enigmatic, read her words if you really want to know who she is. What’s on her playlist as the rhythm of her soul? Hymns, anthems, jazz AND jazz vespers, hip-hop, Gospel and Gregorian Chants. Her gorgeous Boxer Sando taught her so much about Faith, Love, and Trust that she wrote a book about him. Her first love married her nearly 25 years ago, and together with God, they made two beautiful people and a life.
Find me at Treat Me To A Feast:Notes From My Abundant Life, on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and at Amazon.com. I am a regular contributor and founding writer at God Sized Dreams. For four months last year, you could find me on NBC’s Today Show. Who knows where I'll turn up next??

Comments

  1. AvatarLani says

    December 18, 2015 at 1:38 pm

    Ah, this is why I love you! Real and gutsy and shoulder to shoulder with the rest of us that get in the way of ourselves!

    Reply
    • Chelle WilsonChelle Wilson says

      December 18, 2015 at 3:37 pm

      Lani,
      You know me, one of the few times when I have no shame is sharing what I’ve learned for the Glory of God. Maybe someone else won’t have to stumble so hard for so long that way.
      Thanks, sis.
      Christmas blessings to you and yours.

      Reply
  2. AvatarDebra S says

    December 18, 2015 at 7:51 pm

    “There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.” Hebrews 5:11

    Reply
    • Chelle WilsonChelle Wilson says

      December 19, 2015 at 9:46 pm

      Debra, isn’t that the truth.

      Reply

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