Follow Me

Every once and a while my older brother will teach me a few swing dance steps for fun.  I told him that this summer he is going to teach me everything he knows about swing dancing.  But the couple times he's tried to teach me, he's always said, "Anna, the key to swing dancing is that you have to let me lead.  The man is supposed to lead - you're supposed to follow me."  I always joked saying that "I'm just not a follower, I guess." and would end up getting too frustrated because I couldn't let go and just follow my brother.

I've always seen myself as a leader, and I'm usually the one being followed, not the follower.  I'm also rather stubborn and I know I have trouble letting go.  This is because I want to be "strong enough" to handle things on my own and not to need anyone's help.  I want to be the helper.  I want to be the leader.  I don't want to follow.

I feel that in order to become God's living sacrifice, I must firstly learn to let Him alone lead me.  Life is a scary dance floor and it's easy to be lead by the wrong dance partner.  But that has never been my problem. I think my problem is wanting to dance alone.  And that's the thing - the last thing God wants for His children is for them to have to be alone, to bear all of their burdens on their own.  He's here leading us and there's nothing He wants more than to protect us and help us in His perfect time and way.

Lately I've been reading the book of Isaiah (a beautiful book, though challenging at times) and this week as I read I stumbled across a couple verses that really struck me.

(Isaiah 30:18) Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts Himself to show mercy to you.  For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him....(vs. 21) He will be gracious to you at the sound of your cry.

How wonderful is it that we have a God who not only SAVED us, but who also WAITS to be gracious to us...who LONGS to show us mercy?!  After I read this it really made me realize how much I need to be more trusting and more open to my Father - calling on His name, following Him.  I know that my tendency to rely on myself stems from deeper problems of pride.  And I know also that I am in so much more need of my Savior than I ever knew.  I am need of His help, His love, His patience, His wisdom.

And there's nothing I want more than to be able to say:

"Give up ALL, take your CROSS, and FOLLOW Him."  Matthew 16:24

God is calling me, and He is calling you to be followers of Him.  And for me to be a living sacrifice, I have to let Jesus lead me, I have to stop trying to run the show.  And I have to start trusting that He will be near when I cry out and I have to start letting Him closer into my heart.  

And maybe, just maybe, once I start doing that I will be a better dancer too! :)

...Love, Anna....

My inspiration: Dancing, Isaiah 30, Luke 9:23-27