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Jennifer Hayes Yates

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It’s Time to Step Out

September 12, 2017 By Jennifer H. Yates 2 Comments

12 Sep
It's Time to Step Out

Do you have a vision for ministry within the Kingdom of God? Maybe it’s something small, such as making a new friend and sharing Jesus with her. Maybe you feel led to start a small group in your home or a visitation ministry in your church. No matter what the call on your heart, I want to encourage you today to step out and just do it!

God has called each of us to do great things for His kingdom. In fact, He said we would do greater things than He did.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

John 14:12-14, NIV

With a promise like that, we should all be about the Lord’s business, yet many of us stay bogged down in fear and insecurity and what ifs?

What if it’s too hard?

What if I step out and it fails?

What if someone criticizes me?

What if I don’t get enough support?

It’s Time to Step Out

The Lord understands our fear, but He calls us out of it. We don’t have to be perfect or have it all together. In fact, if we did then we would receive all the glory. God delights in taking what is broken and making it beautiful and useful in His Kingdom.

Most of our what-ifs are driven by insecurity. For whatever reason, we don’t think we have what it takes, but God wants us to renew our minds in His truth and walk in the confidence that He will give us what it takes.

Satan, however, wants to keep us out of the will of God. Most of the time, if he can convince us that we’re not enough, we will be stuck there and never move forward.

I’m not popular enough.

I’m not smart enough.

I’m not good enough.

Or, I’m just not ready.

And Satan will use other people to convince us of these un-truths. They may be motivated by jealousy, pride, or their own insecurities. In fact, they may not even realize they are being used by the enemy, but their criticism keeps us focused on ourselves and our problems.

Jesus Is Enough

The Lord is saying, “Take your eyes off yourself. Stop worrying about what you don’t have or can’t do and focus on my love and my truth. I am enough.”

If we want to move forward with the Lord and fulfill His call to make disciples in these last days, it’s time to stand against the schemes of the devil. Take those negative thoughts captive and replace them with the Word of God.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to God.”

2 Corinthians 10:5

Here’s what we should think about instead:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”

Philippians 4:8

You know what’s true? We are surrounded by people who need the love of Jesus in their lives. You know what’s noble and right? That we share Jesus with them. You know what’s pure and lovely? The sacrifice of Christ for their sins. You know what’s admirable? When we step out and minister to them. You know what’s excellent and praiseworthy? When they become disciples of Christ!

In our own thoughts and feelings, we will convince ourselves to wait, but we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). We have the Spirit of Christ. We have all that we need, because Christ is enough!

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 1:6

If you’re like me, maybe your hesitation is because you need to see the big picture, you need to have it all figured out, you need to know what this thing is supposed to look like.

The Time Is Short

Ever heard of Abraham? Or Moses? Or Joshua?

God is saying, “Just go and I’ll be with you.”

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

“For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

Luke 12:12

Look around at the lost people, the needs, the world. The time is short.

We can’t waste time worrying about how it’s all going to work or if we have what it takes. I’m telling you, you have what it takes if you have Jesus.

What is God calling you to do for the Kingdom?

Stop looking at your inabilities. Stop worrying about what people think. Stop trying to figure it all out. Look to the Lord and trust Him with that first step.

You may feel that you’re not enough, but He is. Just step out and follow Jesus.

Need more encouragement and support as you follow Jesus? Join our private Facebook group, Growing Your Faith.

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Filed Under: Missions, Spiritual Growth Tagged With: Bible study, Christ Is Enough, Christian, Christian devotional, Hillsong worship, It's Time to Step Out, Jennifer H Yates, ministry, missions, one thing, quiet time, religion vs. relationship, seeking God, vision

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About Jennifer H Yates

About Jennifer H Yates

Hey, friends! I'm Jen--wife, mama, and empty-nester. I love to write, read, and drink coffee, especially with friends.

I've found that many women struggle to find time and focus to grow their relationship with God through studying His Word. I encourage and challenge women with practical strategies and helpful resources for quality study in as little as fifteen minutes a day.

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We all have a place in the Kingdom. ⁠
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We all have a place in the Kingdom. ⁠
⁠
Click link in bio to read post.⁠
⁠
#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an
"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel--the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 1:1-4, NIV).
All of Scripture, all of history, all of time has been about Jesus Christ, Son of God. 
Do you know Him? You can. His life, death, and resurrection are historical fact. All so that you could know Him and have eternal life.
Jesus loves you! ❤

"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee fo
"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment" (Luke 23:55-56).
Can you imagine the horror these women had witnessed? Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many others had followed Jesus and helped support his ministry (Luke 8:3).
Now all their hopes had been crushed as they stood at a distance and witnessed Jesus' agonizing death on the cross (Luke 23:49). His own mother had to stand by helplessly as her son cried out, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).
As we women often do, they looked for a way to still serve Him, even in His death, by preparing His body for burial. Sometimes, it's the little things.
When our hearts are breaking and we think we can't take another breath, sometimes we need something in our hands--a burial spice, a casserole, a text that says I'm here.
We can't make the hurt go away, but we can channel it into something useful, something hopeful, something comforting.
As they rested on the Sabbath, I'm sure they anticipated the opportunity to see Him one more time, to minister to Him once more with the spices and perfumes they had prepared.
Hearts crushed, hands open.
Grieved but grateful. Resting but ready.
Because if there was anything they knew for sure, it's that Jesus was no ordinary man. And when hearts are turned toward Him, anything can happen.

God never called us to “blind” faith. We may b
God never called us to “blind” faith. We may believe without seeing, but faith is being sure and certain of what we don’t see, not what we don’t know. ⁠
The Israelites had historical facts on which to base their faith. That’s why God constantly told them to remember what He had done and tell it to their children. Their faith was in what they knew to be true, even though they didn’t always see it with their own eyes. ⁠
We, too, have facts on which to base our faith. The Bible is historically accurate and verified. If ever we needed to know what we believe, it’s now.⁠
⁠
Click link in bio to read post.⁠
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#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus

It’s something I have a hard time doing. Like mo
It’s something I have a hard time doing. Like most women, when I do get still, my mind is still going 90 mph. I’m so distracted by all the preparations for the day. Sounds a little like Martha, who, by the way, is the one who invited Jesus over in the first place. But like Martha, I have felt the Lord’s gentle rebuke. He wants me at His feet. And really, that’s where I want to be. It’s not about time and focus. It’s about heart and desire. The rest will come. ❤️ #growingyourfaith #jesusfirst #wordbeforeworld #seekhimfirst #javawithjesus #womenintheword

Do you really want to grow your faith? What we fee
Do you really want to grow your faith? What we feed the most is what grows the most. 🍽️⁠
⁠
What are you feeding?⁠
⁠
Click the link in my bio to read this week's post.⁠
#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus ⁠


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