Crossing Over

I remember it like it was yesterday: I was sitting in our quaint little apartment with my newborn baby boy staring out the window while he slept in my arms.

We were new to ministry, and we were barely seeing ends meet financially. I once again had a thought of going back to school to pursue a career in law. See, before the Lord called me into the ministry, I had a four year full scholarship to a great university. My dream was to graduate with a bachelors in political science and pre-law and to then attend law school. Once the Lord called me into the ministry, I left that university to attend Bible College fully aware and strongly convicted that was the path I was supposed to take.

But in that small apartment, in that season of being a new mom, I began to allow my mind go back to what God had called me out of. After all, I could help contribute financially to the family, and I would have a defined path to purpose.

As clear as I can remember, the Lord spoke to my heart, “Stop going back to Egypt.” What in the world? I mean going back to college wouldn’t be classified as Egypt or even something bad for most people. What the Lord was trying to communicate to my heart was that I needed to be at peace with His plan.

Understanding that, in a sense, Egypt in the Bible represented worldly mentalities and slavery for the people of God. Your Egypt may look different from my Egypt. I was allowing my mind to go back into captivity and relying on my self—I was willingly thinking about going back to a life God called me out of to serve Him in full time ministry. In that moment, I knew I had to stop wavering about God’s plan for my life. I had to cross over the point of no return in my mind! Here’s the thing, you won’t move forward until you leave some things behind once and for all; we all have a crossing over moment where we put some things to rest in our lives, and most of the time that crossing over point happens first in our minds. You have to put thoughts that are contrary to what God has spoken to rest once and for all.

In Exodus 2:23, God’s people were crying out for a change in their circumstances. Their bondage had driven them to a final point of frustration where they couldn’t take anymore and they cried out to God. God works with your desire. You alone are the only one who can say when enough is enough and you’re ready to move forward. In my season of frustration, I was trying to redefine what God had spoken to me—to rationalize obedience in my mind. This thinking was making me miserable and discontent. I was looking for my outside circumstances to change, but the answer was within me. When things in your life are frustrating you, ask yourself: “is this something that I am allowing as a constant frustration?” If it is, allow your frustration to fuel you forward. Once you make a steadfast decision to change things, God’s grace will empower you to see it through!

So, make a decision and then start moving! That was God’s response in Exodus 14:15; He asked “ Why are you crying out to me? Start moving”! Once you decide to change, move forward in faith and obedience. The Israelites allowed their frustration to make them cry out to God for change, but there was a point, after crying out to God for change, He said the ball was now in their court to start doing something! It was time to put action to their desire and feet to their faith. God was ready to take them into freedom through the Red Sea. He would part the waters and destroy their enemies, but it all was dependent on their willingness to start moving forward. Once I made a decision that I wasn’t going to go back to school for a secular job, only then could I be confident in the steps I was taking in ministry. I could even rest in God’s timing and enjoy the season that I was in. In that season, there were many things that were outside of my control, but I still had control over my attitude and my thoughts. Once I crossed over in my thinking, then, and only then, could I move forward with my life. I was at a place in my life where there was no turning back, and I had complete peace.

So, what’s your Egypt? It doesn’t have to be a sin. Maybe you are like I was—constantly wavering in my thinking and not fully committed to what God had called me to do. Be encouraged to become steadfast in your call. For you, that may mean a secular job or education. It may even mean being content right in the middle of the season God has you in. Don’t waver and become double minded and confused. Be confident that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. God knows what He’s doing. It’s time to put some things to rest once and for all and confidently walk in God’s plan!

Xoxo- Joie