Clear the Stage

God often calls us to things that are challenging and uncomfortable. Over the past year, I have felt the Lord pulling at my heart to make changes in my life. Somehow I knew these changes would be emotionally difficult and make my life full of uncertainty.

There is a song by Jimmy Needham called “Clear the Stage.” Through this song the Lord spoke to me so clearly. I highly recommend you listen to it.

In this song he talks about what true worship really means. It is more than a song, it is more than being plugged into 15 different ministries at my church, more than worshipping comfortably in my comfortable suburban church, and it is more than having Christian friends. True Worship is about true surrender.

True and proper worship is to offer your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. I have been wondering for so long how to be closer with the Lord. My heart has been yearning to be near him but something was blocking my nearness with Him. I was conforming to the pattern of this world and I needed to break that pattern through reading God’s word. I took the last year off, didn’t apply for any jobs and just did substitute teaching in order to take time off. During my days off, I would spend hours at my favorite quite time place. If you know me, you know I love the zoo. I needed to spend more time in His presence. I had no idea what the Lord would do when I took this year off and boy I was not expecting what He did. Here is a picture of the place at the zoo the Lord used to transformed my heart more into His Likeness.

God knew my heart and knew He needed to expose the idols in my life. During this year off He needed to clear my stage. He needed me to surrender to His will by letting Him come in and allow Him to do that. For so long I was holding on to things too tightly that were getting in the way of my walk with the Lord. Not only were they stunting my Spiritual growth, they were keeping me in one place Spiritually and physically through my location. I couldn’t see past my world that I have created for myself. I wasn’t even open to the idea of Christ using me in a mighty way outside the Suburbs of Chicago in more of a long-term environment. Even though it was not an easy decision and honestly I almost stayed in Chicago out of fear to leave, I will be moving to Memphis at the end of the month to teach in an inter-city Christian school. The Lord has cleared my stage and I will be taking a huge step of faith to offer my life as a living sacrifice to glorify His name!

“Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze
If that’s the measure you must take to crush the idols”

CHALLENGE:

What might the Lord be asking of you?

Do you need to clear your stage?

What are some idols in your life getting in the way of True Worship?

Pray and ask the Lord bold questions! He is Faithful!