I Lay Me Down

Worship“God-sized dreams will ultimately mean dying to yourself.” Holley Gerth

I am a selfish person by nature. Maybe we all are in some way, but I feel like it is really an area of sin in my life.

When I started this blog after being accepted to the God-sized Dream team, I had some big plans for me. Big exposure, possible income from writing, being a contributor on a blog/website….not bad things necessarily, but my heart was really focused on what was in it for me.

But in October, when I attended Allume, God really broke my heart and in a good way. I walked away with less information about how to grow this site, and a more of a desire to give back to others.

In Holley’s devotional she says this “Because our God-sized dreams aren’t really about us at all. They’re about the kingdom, God’s purposes in our generation, his refining work in our lives.”

It is a daily dying to my selfish nature and asking God to direct my path and my heart for His people.

There is a worship song by Chris Tomlin called “Lay Me Down” and when I was thinking about this idea, the chorus came to mind….

“I lay me down
Im not my own
I belong to you alone
Lay me down
Lay me down
Hand on my heart
This much is true
There’s no life apart from you
Lay me down
Lay me down
Oh oh oh
Lay me down
Lay me down”

I am not MY own…I am His.

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Abraham understands this idea of laying down his dreams doesn’t he? After waiting 100 years, God gives Abraham and Sarah a son, just as He had promised. Then we see that God asks Abraham to lay down that very thing that meant so much to him….

Genesis 22:1-2 “After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

For many of us, this story of Abraham and Isaac is a familiar one. And once again as I was reading these passages, I was prompted to dig a little deeper and it revealed even more to me!

I was curious about the first verse “After these things God tested Abraham…..” I wasn’t sure “what things” it was referring to so I backed up a little in Genesis and discovered even more.

Farther back in the story we see that Sarah, who not getting pregnant on her own, orders Abraham to go and be with her maidservant. Hagar does get pregnant and has a son, Ishmael.

As a side note – can I just say that I love that God still keeps his promise to Sarah and she also gets pregnant – even though she tried to play God herself. At some point, as the children are growing, Sarah sees Ishmael laughing and she gets upset. Sarah orders Abraham to cast Hagar and Ishmael out.

Genesis 21:12  “But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”

Did you catch that?

“Through Isaac shall your offspring be named”

So now we find ourselves at that pivotal moment when Abraham is placing his beloved son on the altar which he has built and is getting ready to sacrifice him just as God has asked.

Being obedient and willing, but yet hopeful. 

God had promised Abraham that through Isaac his offspring shall be named.

God had been faithful in fulfilling His promises in Abraham’s past. Maybe not in the time frame he had anticipated, but Abraham trusted God regardless…even if it meant laying down his son on an altar. And how could Isaac have offspring if he were dead?

Abraham must of had faith that God would provide….he maybe didn’t know how He would provide, but he trusted that He would.

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So I look at my own journey to see if I have had a similar faith. And oh how I have failed miserably most of the time!

Recently there were a couple of things that I had committed to doing, wanted to do even, but I felt a very strong sense that I was supposed to go and ask for grace and step away for a season. It was hard but the “No” was so powerful I didn’t dare ignore it! 🙂

Sometimes what God is asking us to do goes against what we feel is best for us. Only because He knows the better that He has planned!

I have a friend who has lots of wonderful dreams and ambitions, and yet she has felt a pull lately to lay all of them down right now for rest. Rest is not what she wanted to hear at this time, but it IS what she heard…so she is being obedient and stepping back from her dream chasing for now.

I believe that this level of obedience comes from a constant turning over of all selfish things to God. Staying in prayer over those things we have the opportunity to participate in, and being open to laying them down if that is what God is asking us to do.

These journeys we are on won’t always be easy and I am not always certain about what path my dreaming will take me. But I can be sure about the One who is leading me.

Today I am linking up with my dreamer sisters over at God-sized Dreams….join us?!

GSD Link Up Picture

Photo Credit: kindonnelly

0 thoughts on “I Lay Me Down

  1. Kristin Waters

    Hi fellow Kristin with an “i” !

    Thank you for your words today! I am particularly struck by “Sometimes what God is asking us to do goes against what we feel is best for us. Only because He knows the better that He has planned!” And Holley’s quote, ” Because our God-sized dreams aren’t really about us at all. They’re about the kingdom, God’s purposes in our generation, his refining work in our lives.”

    I am beginning a writing journey and it’s really scary for me – being transparent for His glory (“his refining work in our lives”); however,I am bone-scared that co-workers, friends, and family will read my words and look at me differently ( and not in the good sense). Selfish, really. I KNOW that I NEED to do this, that my calling is to share my light with others because I didn’t get where I am today without God.

    With a grateful heart,
    Kristin

    Reply
    1. Kristin Post author

      Welcome Kristin!! 🙂 Love meeting other Kristin’s spelled the right way! 😉 I will be praying for you as you step out in faith and respond to God’s calling for your life!

      Reply
  2. Satin

    Wow, Kristin this brought tears to my eyes. I love how you tied this message together so perfectly with the story of Abraham. I think we’re all selfish my nature & it takes God breaking us to free us from ourselves. I particularly love this, “Being obedient and willing, but yet hopeful. ” Sometimes we just flat don’t understand what God’s asking us to do, but we have to be obedient & trust Him. Thank you so much for sharing-this is beautiful! ♥

    Reply
  3. Valerie

    Kristin,
    I LOVE the truths you share from this story of Abraham and Isaac. They spoke right to my heart today! I am always inspired by your insight and the depth of your posts. You are truly a blessing through this blog!

    Reply
  4. Alecia

    Yep-I’m selfish by nature. God’s showed me it’s not all about me, but about people, the journey, and trusting His plans are better. Beautiful job tying the verses with this weeks theme!

    Reply
  5. Mandy

    I think the more we grow spiritually, the more we realize just how selfish and sinful we are. It’s a painful process, but so valuable, isn’t it? Thanks for your wisdom here, and for being so transparent about your journey.

    Reply
  6. Beth

    This was wonderful, Kristin. It really spoke to my own heart as God has been speaking to me on laying down a few things. Even though I know His plans…His ways…are so much better than mine that act of trusting Him fully can still be hard. I’m continually reminded to be ever so grateful that He doesn’t give up on me…on us.
    Blessings to you.
    Beth

    Reply
    1. Kristin Post author

      Beth, I have a feeling that I will be working on this laying it down stuff until the day I die! 🙂 I am stubborn and it takes me awhile to learn a lesson or two!

      Reply
  7. Barbie

    God has brought me to a place where I feel empty, unfulfilled, and completely exhausted in my writing journey. I have laid it down. He allows me to blog here and there but for now, I am in a season of waiting. Not what I would have expected after just writing my book, but the break has been good for my heart.

    Reply
    1. Kristin Post author

      Barbie – I have been there! While I loved to write…I found myself without words for a time! So I stepped away so that I wasn’t writing just to write. Maybe it isn’t the best way to advance a blog…but it was needed so I could come back with fresh eyes! Praying for you!

      Reply

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