Choke

Have you ever choked? I sure have many times. No, not physically, but spiritually.

Recently I heard a little bit of a preacher talking about how God asks us to do something but we “choke” and don’t do it. Just that little bit and I started thinking of the times at church or situations where I have choked.

I was talking to a lady the other day and she was sharing how she felt God wanted her to do something in her Bible study class. But she got afraid and did not do anything. She choked.

There are times when we have opportunities, open doors, to say something, to speak up, to testify. We might start out okay, but before we can finish, we choke. We stop. We don’t complete what we set out to do.

Part of it is fear. Like the time Peter was in a boat and asked Jesus to bid him to come where He was – out on the water. Jesus bid Peter to come. And Peter started walking on water. That took great faith. Of course Peter wasn’t doing it in his own strength. But after a while Peter choked. He got afraid and started sinking. And Jesus rescued him. What would have happened if Peter had not choked? How far would he have gone?

It is the same with us. What would happen if we did not choke? There is a song that says we are His body. We are His hands and feet. If we are His body, His hands, His feet and we choke, the world is missing out on what God wants to do for them through us.

I have started reading a book by Lysa TerKeurst titled “What Happens When Women Say Yes to God.” (I love her!) As I was reading the first chapter, the author tells a story about the first time she gave her Bible away. She felt God nudging her to do so. After hesitating for a brief moment, she said yes to God. That one act of obedience has had extraordinary results. But what if Lysa had choked and not given her Bible away? The countless lives would not have been touched in a spectacular way.

Let’s say yes to God – completely – all the way to the finish. Fear has no place. Let’s step out and lean hard on God and allow Him to use us to touch the world around us.

Let’s pray.
Father, help us not to choke. We desire to be women who say yes! Help us not to be afraid, but rather step out boldly and be Your body, Your hands, Your feet. Help us to touch those around us. Thank you Father for working in our lives and using us for Your glory. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Blessings,