Being Led More By Jesus
In this special 25th anniversary article, Arrow leader Stephanie Dyck shares her discoveries about what it means to ‘say yes to Jesus’. Maybe you know someone at a crossroads in life who could benefit from reading her story.
When I think of what it means to be led more by Jesus, I remember a few significant and often unexpected transitions in my life. Without ‘saying yes to Jesus’ at those moments in time, I would not be where I am today. Each encounter with Him at these kairos (opportune) moments brought me deeper into the unique purpose and plans that He has for me. Every time, He challenged me by asking, “Do you trust Me?”
Two and a half years ago, I knew that I was at a crossroads. It seemed like everything I was reading in Scripture and all that I was hearing pointed to a big change in my life. It made no sense to me, and I had many good excuses, so I resisted moving forward for a season.
During a time that I set aside to seek His will on what I should do, I was reading about when God, in essence, asks the Israelites: How long will you refuse to listen, and continue to be a rebellious and stiff-necked people? (See Exodus 16:28; Deut. 31:27 & 32:9)
The Holy Spirit stopped me right there. I saw myself in them, and knew that I didn’t want to be rebellious! As I turned my heart toward God in repentance, the Holy Spirit ploughed up the hard ground and prepared it to receive what He wanted to say next.
I asked Him my question again, “Are you asking me to do this?”
I heard Him respond in my spirit in a surprising way, “You’re asking the wrong question…Whatever it is that I ask of you, would you ‘say yes’?”
It hit me like a ton of bricks; I was being invited to ‘say yes to Jesus’ even before I knew the question?!
That was the issue. It is the issue. Do I really trust Jesus? Do I know His heart? Do I trust that His heart is towards me? Do I believe that His leadership is perfect?
I made the choice to ‘say yes to Jesus’ when I was nine years old. But after that faith decision, I have had many moment-by-moment choices learning to ‘say yes to Jesus’. Some of these choices seem bigger and more significant to me than others, but I’m learning that every time I ‘say yes to Jesus’, it moves His heart! Every act of obedience matters to Him.
Here’s the beauty of it: He promised, “I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new Spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.“ Ezekiel 36:26
In His love and grace, Jesus draws me closer. He removes my hard selfish heart and replaces it with one that is soft and responsive toward Him. I am given His Spirit so that I can ‘say yes to Jesus’ with all my heart and follow Him well.
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Ask the Father these questions and listen for His response:
- Am I allowing God’s Word by the Holy Spirit to wash me, making me holy and clean? (Ephesians 5:25-27) How can I increase my interaction with the Holy Spirit as I spend time in the Word?
- What better questions are You waiting for me to ask?
- Is there something that hinders me from ‘saying yes to Jesus’, whatever He might ask of me? If so, what do You want me to do with it?
Claim His promise of a new, tender and responsive heart. Ask Him for the grace to follow Jesus well.