When We Want to Be BRAVE: Why Being In His Presence Matters Most

A question weighed in the room, and it was not settling well among us.

Last week I sat with some amazing women in my living room. Women who challenge me to think big, to reach wide and love with intentionality. 

We sat together, some on the floor, others on my couch, plates filled with crackers and cheese, chocolate and Twizzlers.

These women. Leaders. All of us asking how do we live this one and only life well. With all that there is, with all that we have, with so many options out there, how do we help others? How do we meet their needs? How to we even decide?

How do we do all that Jesus talked about in Matthew Chapter 25?

People. The needy. The broken. The ones who ask us to look their way…

The hungry.

The thirsty.

The stranger.

The naked.

The sick.

The prisoner.

How do we serve them?

So often Jesus veiled His teachings in parables. Not this time. This time He completely bottom lines it:

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

We are in the middle of our BRAVE Series, and we’re looking at what it means to live bravely in the midst of our mostly predictable lives. 

Esther understood – as we must – that God had indeed brought her to this point in her life for such a time as this. He had orchestrated her world so that she would become Queen, only to learn of a murder plot to kill her entire race.

She indeed had a purpose for her place.

Did that settle in on her? Check. Did she understand there was a reason for where God had her? Check.

Did she know what to do? Not even a little.

Enter the most important moment of the whole story. Before she does anything, before she rushes in to speak to the King, hair on fire, ready to save the day, she does the most remarkable thing: She decides to take a step back, to pause, and seek God’s face. 

“In preparation for my audience with the king, do this: gather together all the Jews in Susa, and fast and pray for me. Intercede for me. For three days and nights, abstain from all food and drink. My maids and I will join you in this time.” Esther 4:16

She knew she needed to clear the noise. She needed to seek Him with all that she was. 

As a finite human, she knew she needed the providence of an infinite God.

As a woman with limited knowledge, she needed an all-knowing God to give her wisdom on what to do next.

She had to spend time with Him.

There is so much coming at us every.single.moment. So many choices, so many hurting people. People all over this enormous planet with hurts and needs that go beyond what my mind can begin to comprehend. So many great and worthy organizations in the ugly trenches of it all, championed by amazing and beautiful people. 

How do I know exactly what to do?

If you’re like me, there are times that it’s overwhelming, so much so that I just start to shut down and make the worst decision of all… do nothing. Do nothing because I get stuck, I get paralyzed because I can’t pick, because it’s too much and I can’t deal, so I close off my heart because it all just hurts too much. I can’t look in the eyes of those hurting and hungry and thirsty because there’s so many, and since I can’t do it all….

How do I even decide?

Brave Truth #2: I must be in His presence to understand my purpose.

I must quiet my heart. Intentionally quiet the noise.

I must begin to ask questions like “God, what would you have me do?”.  

When I’m tempted to run in and save the day.

When I’m tempted to run away.

I must wait to hear from Him, because only then will He show me what to do.

As I sat with my friends last week, we ultimately recognized we have only been promised THIS DAY. Twenty-four hours. A window of time called today given to us by the Lord, because tomorrow has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34).

We have this 24-hour window to live fully alive. And our first priority must be to turn our eyes towards Him and ask, “God, what would you have me do?”.

More specifically, ask this:

1. God, who are the people currently in my life? Am I stewarding well what I have already been given?

• I’ve had days where I’ll make lots of good ministry plans, yet completely fail to truly see and pour life into my husband.
• I’ve been so busy with my check lists and schedule that I’ve breezed past that child who needed to talk.
• I’ve been so caught up in the social media world that I’ve missed the real world happening right in front me.

Spend time with Him and ask for HIS EYES to see the people and the opportunities currently in front of you.

2.  God, where do I sense you leading me? God has wired you in such a way that you feel compelled to help in certain ways.

• There are hurting people that you’re so drawn to it’s like a magnet to your soul.
• There’s something that messes with you when you see them, or hear a story about them.
• It stirs something up inside you and there’s pain within you. You want to help so much it hurts. 

When you’re compelled to move, spend time with Him and ask for HIS WISDOM to know how you are to respond.

There are so many who are hurting, so many in need.

We cannot even possibly begin to do everything. That would leave us forever feeling lost and full of guilt.

But we cannot possibly do nothing. That would leave us knowing that we’d squandered the very gifts He’s given us.

Spend time this week in Matthew 25:34-40, and all of Matthew 6. Ask the Lord to open your heart to His voice. Be intentionally sensitive to hear, to listen to what He stirs as you read.

God has created you with a specific purpose for your place.

Spend time in His presence to know how to truly live out that purpose.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Matthew 6:33

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How are you living bravely this summer? We want to hear from you! Something powerful happens when we share our story – it brings encouragement and strength to so many others.  Share yours below. 

Want more? We’re over at LifewithLisaWilliams.com talking more about all this. 

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