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DO THE NEXT RIGHT THING
I can recall the numerous amounts of times I was told, “You are crazy! You need to just do what’s best for you!” as I began my journey in standing faithful for my marriage alone after being abandoned by my husband.
Initially, my spirit was on fire for the mission I was called to. But as time passed, my heart and spirit began to grow weary when nothing positive resulted as to “why” I was called to this journey, to begin with.
For 8 months The Lord had me on this journey. At times doubt crept in and I began to wonder how many more steps of obedience my heart could really take. I pleaded, “If you are never going to bring him back Lord, then why are you calling me to do this next thing too?”
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophecy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into this slain, that they may live.’” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.” Ezekiel 37:5-10 (NIV)
This passage in Ezekiel generously ministered to my worn and weary heart. The Lord kept asking Ezekiel to take that next step. You can tell he was hesitant as all he could see in front of him was the true reality. Each step he took didn’t reveal the outcome right away, but because he was called he did it anyway.
Journeys or seasons we get called to may happen in steps and stages. If we don’t take the small next step, this passage teaches us we will be missing the pieces that lead to completion.
When we take steps in our faith we are still moving forward. At times, I know it can seem like all you’re doing is taking steps backward because you still don’t have your answer “why”. In my journey, I didn’t get my why until the very end. I learned really quickly how much easier it is to stay faithful and fight for things when you're certain you will obtain your desired outcome. But God kept calling me to take one step more. One of the biggest “why’s” I took away from my journey God gave me was for the opportunity to be the story of that person who stood faithful despite the outcome. Today, this journey gifted me the opportunity to reach hurting people through my ministry.
Here’s what I want you to remember. If you are fervent in prayer and you are entrusting your steps in the direction that honors the Lord, your pace or amount of steps will not change the destination. Ultimately, it challenges your determination.
Will you remain determined to follow Jesus, no matter how many steps He’s asking you to take? Will you hold fast to the belief that every step you choose to take will strengthen your faith?
To Ezekiel he physically looked down upon death amidst the dry bones. As you could imagine, he was probably experiencing some levels of doubt and feelings of defeat. Yet, he still chose obedience in faith that God would reign in His promises to be true.
Sure enough piece by piece, tendon by tendon, and bone by bone He brought the bones back to life.
Be the person who faithfully does the next right thing — even in the baby steps.
Where or what’s the next step He’s calling you to take?
Stand firm in faith and believe He will ultimately reign.
I promise you, friend, it will never be put to shame and only bring glory to His name.
@rhiannamarie24 #wheatfulwednesday
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