What are you building? Holy Spirit asked me in a more stern and serious voice than I expected. I realize this is a serious matter to Him. I shift uneasily. I’m taken aback by His question.
In my heart, I know I want to give Him the right answer. That answer which is in line with my heart of hearts and His heart. I want to build His Kingdom and not my own flourishing agenda or empire. Still, I confess that having a fairly passive income on the side is tempting and something I have been chasing after (with little success I might add).
What’s important ministry or business? Holy Spirit asked me again a few weeks later. I find myself once more wrestling with the temptation for more money vs following the road less traveled. Let’s face it, we all want financial freedom, the cherry on our cake (plus the whole cake).
A flash from the past
Instead, I see my 5-year-old self with shining eyes and a burning desire to be a “missionary ballerina” just so poor people could be treated to a free ballet and still hear the amazing Gospel of Christ. Fast forward to my teen years, and I’m the girl who wants to counsel and minister to people who can’t afford a professional counselors fees. I remember my parents lovingly trying to help me see that I can’t do everything for free because I need to make a living.
I realize that this is still who I am. Although I am now a wife and homeschooling mom of 3 boys all under the age of eight, my heart burns with a desire to glorify Christ and build His Kingdom. I still want to hear people’s stories and help them work through it.
The Truth is:
My answer to Holy Spirit becomes one of I want to build Your Kingdom. I want to be in ministry.
For some people having a successful business is building God’s Kingdom which is awesome. Those people are to then surrender to God’s plan for their lives.
Right now that’s not on God’s agenda for my life. My focus and priority are largely on my family and that’s ok. My second priority is to let go and be me which translates into writing and helping women find their purpose and identity in Christ.
God’s Kingdom is dynamic, not static
You see building God’s Kingdom translates into different things for each of us. We build God’s Kingdom when we partner with what God has on His heart for our lives today.
Sure, I long to have the utopia or ideal world where I can travel all over the world sharing God’s redemption and love to people from different backgrounds and church denominations. Today, that’s not God’s priority for me. If I try to make that happen now, I’m building my own empire and sacrificing the very thing God has asked me to nurture and grow – my marriage and my children.
If I don’t surrender to God’s plan, I will look back on life and experience regret. I don’t want that. Do you? (For more on God’s Sovereignty and trusting God you can read here and here)
You see, God doesn’t wag his finger in front of our faces with a stern look and say Thou canst only be in ministry; business is forbidden. (I’m giggling to myself just writing that J ) No, He is not a cookie cut God. God’s plans for your life are one puzzle piece in His big picture and His plans for me are another puzzle piece. Together, they contribute to His finished picture.
Surrender to God’s plan
Whatever God has laid on your heart to do, do it to the best of your ability. God rewards faithfulness. He will bless you. Faithfulness is Kingdom. Excellence, honour, integrity, love, generosity, etc…, are all Kingdom when we do it with the Lord.
Jesus said that He only did what His Father did. That is how Jesus built and proclaimed the Kingdom of God. This is how Jesus was able to accurately portray the Father’s heart to the world. The same applies for us whether it is being a SAHM, working mom, entrepreneur, artist, carer, and so on.
Making the choice to surrender to God’s plan
So, with this in mind, I choose to stop chasing money and building something that is not on God’s agenda for my life today. I choose instead to be faithful with what He has entrusted me. I choose to enjoy every moment with my children and husband. I choose to be true to the purpose of my mission – to help you encounter God’s heart and live in the reality that He loves you fiercely. Finally, I choose to trust God that as I am faithful in sharing His heart to others, He will add the financial side.
Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
Maybe, just maybe, its time to focus on what’s really important – Jesus! If He really is who He says He is (and I know He is) then all the desires of my heart and yours will be fulfilled in His precious time.
For now, I’ll be faithful and trust Him.
Will you?
Wow. How perfectly timed is this blog? Thank you for your words!
Oh I’m so glad. Thanks Kimberly 🙂
Thanks for sharing this Allie. I can relate to this in so many ways. I’m struggling to balance following God and his priorities for my life – being a stay home mom to my twin three-year-olds versus working on my writing a blog and business to help with income. Very often, He’s had to be direct me to focus on home first and he’ll take care of everything else. And then there’s the missions aspect too, something I was very involved in before I was married and had kids. Trusting God that will be a part of my future someday too. Thanks for sharing this – I could really on many levels!
Hey Kate. Thanks for stopping by 🙂 I hear you. It really is a tricky balance to find. Often, I wish God would give me a linear line to follow ha ha ha. Holding you up in prayers that God would give you an increase in your capacity and loads more things done in the same amount of time 🙂 reach out anytime you want encouragement or prayer – I’m here for you xxx
Surrender is my one word this year. I’m adding this post to my #surrender2018 board on Pinterest!
Hey Debbie! Love that God gave you surrender as your one word for the year 🙂 I’m glad this post has spoken to you 🙂
Surrender has been a challenge for me most of my life. This article really speaks to me personally. Thank you.
Hi Rosemarie 🙂 Thanks for stopping by. I’m so glad that this article spoke to you. Surrender isn’t easy for many of us.
It takes so much trust to surrender to God’s will, doesn’t it? This is an ongoing thing with me. I feel your heart sweet friend! I love this post! ❤
Thanks Donna 🙂 Yes it does take a lot of trust to surrender to God. It may be an ongoing journey for many of us, myself included. 🙂