blaze forth

I stepped outside early this morning and was brought nearly to tears by the beauty of our Creator God. The moon hung in a pristine white sliver among stars so startlingly clear and close they seemed poised to drop into my hand. Words from Romans throbbed with the beat of my heart: For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that we are without excuse (1:20).

So clear, so close, so infinite and yet personal … love for my God swelled large in my spirit and His praise danced on my tongue. I simply had to laugh aloud for the sheer joy of it! And yet, there has been such controversy lately about whether a woman should be allowed to speak publicly the Word of God. It’s all nonsense: an evident ploy by the enemy to stir up division and cripple a significant number of God’s image bearers as we seek to run our race. Remember, though, our battle is not against flesh and blood. The men who have, regrettably, allowed themselves to be used as the evil one’s mouthpiece will be called to account by a far higher Judge than I; I hold no malice against them. If anything, I feel pity, pity for how much they will miss in not opening themselves to the beautiful, powerful expression of God contained in the voice and perspective of His daughters.

I pray that what the enemy has meant for evil here, God will use for good. I pray the spirits of my Kingdom sisters will be stirred, not in bitterness or resentment, but in determination to speak forth the message the Spirit has placed upon our hearts. Personally, I know I have been inspired to seek out specific ways to champion the voices of women of God, both locally and around the world. There are stories that need to be heard, paths that need to be cleared, mats that need to be carried forward in pursuit of healing so that the fullness of our Lord’s good purpose can be accomplished in and through these precious lives.

What’s that in your hand? God’s simple question to Moses echoes again in my spirit. The tool of this humble man’s trade as a shepherd in the wilderness became the symbol of his authority as Yahweh’s servant. A common staff in the hand of a willing disciple became the instrument by which God accomplished His wonders in full view of the world. Male or female, young or old, all of us have been charged with the Great Commission of Jesus: the sacred task of taking the Word to all people, making them His disciples and teaching them to obey everything He has taught us.

And what has God placed in your hand, Sister? What gift, what tool, what message, what position has He strategically given, that His Kingdom purposes might be advanced … through you? You might not have a large platform, a devoted following, an unlimited stream of income or influence; few of us do. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, the weak things of the world to overcome the strong. And He has chosen you, dear sister, to speak life into desolate places.

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, the weak things of the world to overcome the strong. And He has chosen you, dear sister, to speak life into desolate places.

Later this afternoon, I went walking through a wooded neighborhood near my home, marveling again at the beauty of the changing seasons. Just in the past few days, autumn color has exploded upon the trees, setting the summer’s rich green aflame in orange and red and gold. I remembered what others have pointed out before me, that this eye-catching display is the leaves’ dying blaze: a perfect picture of the glory of surrender. If even creation’s death can testify so magnificently to the glory of God, how much more eloquently must the surrendered lives of His sons and daughters speak! We don’t need to muscle our way onto a stage somewhere, aim spotlights in our direction and commandeer a microphone. (But if God gives us such a platform, by His grace, may we steward it well!) Wherever we are, as we humbly allow His Spirit to fill and ignite us, our lives, our words, our relationships will radiate His good Word most undeniably. 

In this moment, there is heartbreak very near you that awaits your expression of comfort, your healing hope. There is strife in need of a peacemaker; poverty of body and spirit in need of provision. What truth, what solace, what encouragement might you be uniquely equipped to offer? How might your gifts of teaching or hospitality, creativity or administration, serve to lighten the load of a neighbor nearby, or a sister far away?

… put away your need to be recognized, even to be understood. Lay down your desire to contribute something meaningful, and simply seek to be faithful.

I’ll share with you what I so often need to preach to myself: put away your need to be recognized, even to be understood. Lay down your desire to contribute something meaningful, and simply seek to be faithful. Our humble obedience accomplishes far more for the Kingdom than our coveted notoriety ever could. Lives that seem small to us are incredibly valuable in the eyes of God, for they have a window into unseen places hidden away from His more bold and dazzling messengers. And those who labor in the limelight need our prayers and support more than we could imagine, for the pressure the enemy exerts to bring them down and so malign the name of God is unrelenting. 

Speak, Sister, wherever our Lord has placed you. Speak words of life, of truth, of healing. Live in such a way that your surrendered heart shines glory into the darkness. Let the beauty of your faithful obedience, in small things as well as great, be the gift you offer to a waiting world. Speak His Word, speak His Life, so that the Word of Life may be glorified in you.