GraceFox

God always guides those willing to do what He says. I’ve seen this prove true many times in my life. Here’s one example:

Last fall I began planning a weekend getaway for businesswomen. This wasn’t an idea I birthed on my own; I truly believe it was conceived in God’s heart. More than a year prior, He’d challenged me from John 4, using the account where Jesus went into Samaria and sat down at the well where He knew the woman would come. Rather than waiting for her to come to Him, He went to her. He met her in her space and whet her appetite for Him.

That message convicted me. How many friends did I have outside my comfortable church circles? How much effort was I putting into getting to know other women whose beliefs didn’t match mine? What could I do to turn that around? Months passed, and the idea of a weekend getaway began to take root.

“Provide an event where women feel loved from the moment they arrive,” He said. And so I obeyed. I’ll confess, it was a scary venture.

At first, I feared no one would come. I questioned my ability to present meaningful workshop material in a format different from my norm. I doubted my ability to provide a package that would justify the financial cost. But I kept moving forward because I believed God was asking me to do this. One step, then another, and another.

One day in late December, my calendar reminded me that the event was a mere five weeks away. Plans were far beyond the point of no return. My heart raced every time I thought about how quickly the weekend was approaching. God knew my anxious thoughts, and He met me there. He did it through His Word:

“But now the LORD says: ‘Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work for I am with you,’ says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. ‘My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.’”

“Keep going,” God said. “I’m with ya all the way.” Those words dashed any lingering doubts about whether I’d heard His initial marching orders correctly. They confirmed God’s hand in this venture. They boosted my courage and planted anticipation about the event. From that day on, joy replaced my scaredy-cat emotions.

The retreat has come and gone. Thirty-six women attended, and we had a great time. No doubt it will become an annual event. I’m almost ready to book the dates for 2013, and plans are in the works for holding a similar event in another province this fall.

Has God given you marching orders? Are doubts causing you to question or hesitate? If He’s planted an idea in your mind, then His Word will confirm it. Just start walking, and He’ll guide you every step of the way.

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