Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

We She Speaks girls all wanna make God’s name famous. We really, really do.

But if you are like me, we might also want to be the girl on the other side of the booming blog with an enormous platform, or ON the platform at the mic.

Be so very, very careful sisters…if you listen closely as you say the phrase “Make God’s name famous,” we can caught up in the subtleties of US.

First of all, God’s name has already stood the test of time without our influence. He’s totally got His own fame amongst the nations under control. That was His plan all along.

And us? As long as we are human, we aren’t immune from corruption. We have to fight to be centered on God’s plans instead of our own. The second we let our guard down, our flesh will be up to something.

Wave the White Flag

And thankfully, God was up to something in me at She Speaks. No matter what message or teaching I heard, God delivered a personal message tailor made just for me. It was simply, “SURRENDER.”

There are so many applications of how this can look in my life and I am sorting through it all. But when I considered my reasons for attending this conference, I had to sit up and take notice. When looked around the room, I saw literally hundreds of beautiful women with whom I shared the same goal:

To do something BIG for God.

Thinking that concept over caused something to hit me. And I’ve gotta share it! I’m not gonna lie, God busted my thinking down a few ranks.

I had to ask myself,

What is it exactly to do something BIG for God Almighty who does EVERYTHING for me?

Okay, confession time. I walked into that conference thinking I was going to meet the right people that would usher in some “break” for me to get speaking engagements and writing opportunities. So far, that hasn’t happened. I thought I might get a book deal. Negative on that one too. I thought I would learn that one break through piece of info that would send my platform from belly up to soaring. Wrong again.

The same word comes through every thought again and again…SURRENDER.

And that was it. I knew it at the first session I had with Whitney Capps. I had to surrender my desires. That meant I had to overhaul what it means for me to serve in the kingdom of God in a “BIG” way.

And it ain’t a glamourous picture either. At least, not what I envisioned my dream to be.

Not everyone can work for Proverbs 31 ministries and be on the speaker team. Not everyone can lead women in droves. Not everyone can be the one speaking from the stage or writing to the masses.

But.

Everyone with the God of Everything living in them can do Anything for Him.

Even scrub toilets and wipe snot off of tiny cheeks in the nursery.

MY “Best Yes”

The “sticky statement” that stuck with me from the conference was this:

“Would you do it for one?”

We need people in the trenches doing hand to hand combat for Jesus—opening our mouths for the audience of one. Would I be willing to serve God if that is all it ever turned out to be?

My answer had to be “yes”—it was my very best yes. And I knew it. I knew it had to be because Christ went back for the one sheep. Once upon a time I was “the one,” and praise God that someone didn’t find it menial to come for me in Jesus name. If he hadn’t shared the gospel with me I don’t know where I would be today. Probably not darkening a door at She Speaks.

You see, I didn’t get saved at a women’s conference or retreat. I got saved when one person took me aside and shared the gospel with me. This memory and the thought of so many who remain incognito to the world made me realize that I had to lay down the gauntlet of sparkling dreams. It may not be in God’s plan for me to have opportunities like Lysa or Whitney.

I just need to share the hope within me with those in need whenever and wherever the Spirit leads.

I had to stop trying to glamourize what it means to serve God. I mean, it’s only reasonable to go hard for Him after all He’s done for me, right?

But most of all:

I’ve gotta be willing to be the one who will go for the one.

All on the altar. All hopes and dreams laid aside…

Complete surrender.

Now is the time

The breath that’s in us is for the right now moments—not the pie in the sky moments that may or may not ever arrive. The gospel is what people need now. Not later if I get the opportunity to share it from behind a microphone with an audience with many who are likely saved anyway.

Those of us who are waiting for the “right time” to move forward in ministry need not wait any longer:

“As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. For God says,

“At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.”

Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:1-2

I take comfort in knowing that every detail has already been ordained in God’s plans for us.

Just keep walking and seeking Him.

He promised He will direct our paths. Whether those paths lead to the masses,

or to the one…