Saying Yes To God

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Saying Yes To God By Betty Fritz

Years ago, shortly after I became a Christian, some fellow church members attended a Bible Study called “Ten Steps to Christian Maturity.” Since only a few were able to attend, our pastor encouraged the one’s who did to share what they had learned with others of us in the church. I really wanted to know more about Jesus and how to serve Him, but was sure no one would choose to share this knowledge with me. Every time I prayed about it, I’d feel the urge to call one of the ladies whom I knew had attended. Her name was Brenda Phipps and I didn’t know her all that well. She was a little older than me, married with two kids. She wouldn’t have time, I told myself, but still I felt the urge to call her. Since this urge was so strong, I knew God was doing the urging…but I kept telling myself and Him, “she won’t even know who I am” So I put it off….till one day I ran out of excuses and gave her a call.
When I told her who I was and why I was calling, she apologized for not calling me first. She had been really busy and felt bad about not being prepared, still she agreed to meet with me at her house the following week.

When the time came, Brenda called and gave me directions to where she lived. “It’s out in the country, on a dirt road,” she said, and there’s a chance of rain. Sometimes when it rains it gets really muddy and hard to get in and out of our driveway. So it’s up to you if you still want to come.”

I told her if it didn’t look too much like rain, I would be there.

By early evening it hadn’t rained at all, so I decided to give it a try. She wasn’t kidding about the dirt road… It was dirt for miles. I was maybe half way there, when it started to sprinkle. ” Okay, God,” I declared, if it starts raining hard, I’m going back home.” I had been nervous all day, not knowing exactly what I was getting myself into….”Ten steps” was maybe more than I really wanted to take on a dirt road on a rainy night! It started to rain harder.

This road goes on forever, I thought…. what If I get stuck out here? ( I had no cell phone back then). It was getting dark and no houses were in sight….just barren fields on either side of the narrow dirt road. I found a spot and turned the car around.

Then the rain began to let up. This is silly, I told myself, beginning to feel ashamed. I’m going there to learn about God. He sent me out here, surely He will get me there and back home safe and sound. “I’m sorry, Jesus,” I prayed, “Please forgive me for not trusting you.” I turned the car around again.

Soon the rain stopped and I arrived at Brenda’s house where she was waiting with her family. Her husband took the kids into another room and she and I had a wonderful time of praying, chatting and studying.

I still thank God for that time and many other meetings with Brenda, where we became great friends in Christ and I learned the importance of putting God at the center of my life…. and found out that “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” If I had let a little rain stop me, a storm later on would have surly done me in. The dirt roads were dry all the way home that night and my heart filled with the glory of God’s love.

Due to this experience I can identify with some of the characters in the Bible who also had a problem doing the things God asked them to. Our human nature tells us we are not worthy or unable, but God tells us we CAN with His help. He never asks us to do the impossible because all things are possible for Him.

Moses argued with God that he was not the one to lead the people out of Egypt. Sarah laughed when she was told she would give birth because she had passed the age of child bearing. Jonah flatly refused when God told him to preach to the people of Nineveh and went the other way….not because he doubted God but because he didn’t want to see the people there be saved. So he wound up in the belly of a fish for 3 days and nights.

When Jesus was choosing His disciples, one man he approached asked to return home first and bury his father, so Jesus chose someone else. The rich young man turned away when he was told he must be willing to sell everything he had in order to receive eternal life. ( Many are called, but few are chosen.)

The reaction I love the most was Mary’s… when told that she was to become the Mother of God’s own Son, Jesus Christ. She didn’t question that what the angel told her was true, but was excited at the prospects and humbled to have been chosen worthy of such an honor. Should not this be the reaction God should be able to count on from all His children?

Who are we to question our ability if God Himself gives us a job to do? We must have faith…not in our own ability, lest we become conceited, but in His promise to never leave us or forsake us. We should feel truly honored that He is willing to use us to do His work and feel privileged even to have Him impart His wisdom and knowledge so that we can better serve Him. Being a follower of Jesus involves winning others to Christ. Sharing our testimony is not always easy, especially in today’s world where Christians are mocked and made fun of. Dying for our sins wasn’t easy either, but He did it because He loved us that much. With each step of faith we take, it becomes easier to hear His voice…. and to say YES to God.

 

My name is Betty Fritz. I was born and raised in Texas but have resided in Elkhart, Indiana for the last 25 years. My husband is a Hoosier so that’s how we wound up here. We have two daughters and a son plus 6 grand kids…..3 boys and 3 girls.

I retired last year after working for 24 years at Elkhart Child Development Center. I’ve been writing since a teenager and have taken several writing courses. I enjoy writing short stories. I wrote a book of poems, RHYMES OF THE TIMES, which was published a few years ago. I have written countless songs, a few for which demo recordings have been made. Recently I’ve been writing blogs..most of them about my faith and things the Lord has taught me in my Christian life over the last 51 years. My inspiration comes from my personal relationship with Jesus Christ and my desire to see that my grand children grow up in a Christian nation. My goal is to bring glory to Him and help others to see that there is POWER in the name of JESUS!

Picture is of Betty Fritz

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