take the step

I usually write about the same topic as my weekly videos. I like to have a common theme throughout the week that can be memorable and practical. But today, I feel like writing something different.

I want to encourage you in this post to move forward. I never thought I would be writing blogs each week. Now, to some, that may seem very easy or insignificant, but for me, it was (and is) a huge step. I remember when the Lord put @reclaim.media on my heart. I wanted to release content that would help believers pursue Jesus! Right away, I felt the insecurities come into my heart. I began to allow myself to become trapped in excuses! Thoughts like: "Who am I to be doing something like this?" Nobody will even watch or listen anyway!" "There are more capable people that should be doing this." It's funny because these thoughts were foreign to me; they were very familiar. The same thoughts entered my heart when I was asked to be a leader in our youth ministry in 2006. Also, when my wife and I were invited to lead a young adult ministry in 2012. And even when we started our church in 2018. The truth is anytime we are challenged to step out, our insecurities will step in. What if I would've let those thoughts stop me? I don't even want to think about how my life would've turned out.

The reason I write about this is that I know that most of you feel the same way. You hear the calling of the Lord to START, but you can't seem to take the first step. You know what your dream looks like, but you feel underqualified to start the process. Today I am here to say GET STARTED! Ignore the voice of insecurity!

As we step out, one of the biggest hurdles is to overcome the fear of what others will think. When we are pursuing our God-given destiny, it won't make everyone happy. It is not our job to convince others of what God has put in our hearts. The fruit will speak for itself! Our goal should not be to please people but to please the Lord.

I wish I could say I always lived this out, that pleasing Jesus was always my priority. But there were seasons where I lived to please people! I didn't want to offend or make anyone upset. Those years of ministry were MISERABLE! I was always walking on eggshells with every choice that needed to be made. Thank God for a revelation! Once I decided to live in obedience to the Lord, then moving forward in my destiny became easier. The fear of what others will think, our insecurities, our fears, all of these things will hinder us from taking that step.

So today, make a move! Take that step of faith! Live in radical obedience to the Lord. Not to please others, but the please Jesus! You don't have to explain everything; let your fruit speak for itself.