50+ women from all across the country gathered in Dallas, Texas for the Christian Communicator’s Conference to learn and/or improve their speaking skills. Many women were there for the very first time, while a dozen or so returned for more equipping and fellowship with other women whom God has called to speak on His behalf.

About half-way through the conference I was reading my daily devotion from Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest.

Oh my. This devo is a total mic drop word for those of us called to share our stories of redemption with the world…

My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers dated July 28th went like this:

“After obedience—what?

And straightway He constrained His disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side.… Mark 6:45–52.

We are apt to imagine that if Jesus Christ constrains us, and we obey Him, He will lead us to great success. We must never put our dreams of success as God’s purpose for us; His purpose may be exactly the opposite. We have an idea that God is leading us to a particular end, a desired goal; He is not. The question of getting to a particular end is a mere incident. What we call the process, God calls the end.

What is my dream of God’s purpose? His purpose is that I depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay in the middle of the turmoil calm and unperplexed, that is the end of the purpose of God. God is not working towards a particular finish; His end is the process—that I see Him walking on the waves, no shore in sight, no success, no goal, just the absolute certainty that it is all right because I see Him walking on the sea. It is the process, not the end, which is glorifying to God.

God’s training is for now, not presently. His purpose is for this minute, not for something in the future. We have nothing to do with the afterwards of obedience; we get wrong when we think of the afterwards. What men call training and preparation; God calls the end.

God’s end is to enable me to see that He can walk on the chaos of my life just now. If we have a further end in view, we do not pay sufficient attention to the immediate present; but if we realize that obedience is the end, then each moment as it comes is precious.”

What a challenging and convicting word for those of us who are given the privilege to open our mouths to speak words He gives us … it may be in person, on social media, in a podcast, with a journalist whose story on your story will end up in a newspaper, magazine or blog post. No matter the platform, our response should be consistent.

May we be present moment by moment as He trains and prepares us for whatever outcome He chooses. It may be impacting one or thousands … we plant, and perhaps someone else waters, but God Himself causes the increase, (1 Cor. 3:6-9). May we walk in peace through all the chaos in life so our process glorifies God.

How are you seeing God change your outcomes to conform to His will? Has it surprised you?

Thanks for hanging out with me today!
Athena