saying "yes"

yesterday something reminded me of one of the last messages I heard Matt Dean give at Encounter.  I decided to listen to the podcast of it again.  [it's called "story"]  Matt talked about saying "yes" to what God has for us.

this life is not about me .  it's not my story. [to say that life is about me would be like saying a movie is about me when i just play an extra shown on the screen for 2/5 of a second. or less.]

i'm just part of God's unending story.  the way that i get to be involved in God's unending story starts by saying yes.

first by saying yes Lord, i am sinful and i recognize that Jesus is the only way so I place my life and eternity and hope in Jesus.  yes.

matt challenged us in that message to ask "God, what is it that you long for me to say yes to?"

If God is God then whatever he asks of us that would require the answer yes is the best thing for us.  when he says "will you...?" "have you...?"  "do you...?" "should you...?"  our response as we bow to our flesh is yes.  that's the best place for us.

I started thinking about this yesterday as i was hiking at radnor and God reminded me of this message about saying yes and convicted me of it. Because when bad things start to happen... when things that are hard or things that hurt come along... when things don't go my way... when my dreams are shattered... my first instinct is to say no.  no, God, please, no. no no no no no. take this from me. i don't want it. no. i think this is a pretty natural reaction.  we are weak humans who like to be comfortable. 

but God wants me to say yes.  so i'm starting to say yes. 

i guess in a way this also requires a perspective change... instead of no, God, i don't want to walk through that... i don't want to struggle.... i don't want to hurt... i don't want to be broken....

instead of that it's yes, God.  yes, I will walk through that because I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. 
yes, God, because I know you will not give me more than i can handle. 
yes, God i will accept what you have for me--- even when it hurts so bad i'd rather rip my broken heart out--- because you know better. You're perspective is so much bigger. 
Saying yes, God, because I believe you will allow me to walk through something hard to draw me closer to you.  You will use everything for the good of those who love you and are called according to your purpose.
yes, God, because on the other side of this thing you are still God, you are still good, and i will know you in a new way. 
yes, God, because you are refining me here. you are shaping and molding me. you are equipping me to better serve you in your story of redeeming the world.

yes.