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How many of you love to play games? I certainly do. When I was a kid one of my favorite games to play was “Duck, Duck, Goose.” If you are not familiar with the game, I will tell you it was one of my best childhood memories. The game was for three or more players to sit in a circle. We would usually play this game during gym, so it would be a large circle of 15-20 kids. There would be one other player walking the circle of seated players, tapping them on the head while saying Duck, Duck, Duck, and so on until they finally decided on who would be tapped and called Goose. Now once you decided who was going to be Goose, you then had to run as fast as you could away from them to the seat that they just vacated before they tagged you. It may sound really strange to some, but it was life to us. WE LOVED THIS GAME!
Every now and again, you would have that kid who just was not into the whole running thing, and when they were tagged, they would not quickly jump up to run after the other person. They would just take their time standing up, and then they would walk slowly after allowing enough time for the other player to get to their seat, of course. They either would do it to be funny or just to be a spoil sport, but either way it was frustrating for the rest of us, who enjoyed being chosen as the goose. As adults, what happens when God chooses us to be the Goose, and we refuse to stand up when it is easier to stay sitting? In the game Duck, Duck, Goose we would exclude that person from being chosen if they did not want to play. Do you want God to exclude you from your destiny because you would rather sit the hard parts out? Being chosen is a privilege that God can take away from us at any time. Its’ time to learn how to stand.
“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” 2 Timothy 3:12
Since I started this talking about playing games, I want to ask you if you love being chosen to play on a team? You know, for instance, in the game of kickball, you have two captains and they choose the players to be on their teams. For the most part, the kids with the most talent get chosen first, and it then trickles down to whomever is still waiting to be chosen. I have seen so many instances where a kid’s self- esteem is totally messed up because they were not chosen first, second, third, fourth to be on a team. And I have been the last one standing waiting to be chosen on many occasions, and it is not at all fun. But, again I chose to stay standing until I was chosen, no matter how long it took to get there. I felt crummy waiting, but then had a boost of confidence when my name was called. How do you feel when your name is not called?
“Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” James 5:11
As an adult, sometimes I find it hard to reconcile my feelings of standing up to just sitting many situations out. I know many times I will be confronted with an obstacle and my first thought is to turn tail and run. Especially when it involves other people and other agendas. Even though it has been a long time since I was a kid, those feelings of nostalgia still surface. We all want to be chosen for that promotion, raise, to be healed from an illness or disease, to buy that home you have been renting, to finally get that car you have been saving up for, to have that baby you had been praying for, to get that retirement package you worked forty years or more to get, or to have your child get a scholarship to attend a major University. We all play that game of Duck, Duck, Goose and the only difference is, is that we are playing for our lives. God continues to circle all of us, waiting for the right time to tag you and say Goose…. but are we ready to stand up when its much easier to stay sitting?
“Said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking.” Acts 14:10
Now, I realize to stand up for God and surrendering yourself to His will, is not simple nor is it easy. I think those games as kids would not have many adult participants if I am being honest. Who wants to run, when you can sit and watch? And just like kids, we do get stuck in wanting to go our own way and do our own thing. But you have understand, that God still will come around and choose you as His goose. Regardless of where you are in your faith and if you are unsure of how to stand for Him, He will continue to always stand for you. We will all be faced with a choice to do the right thing or to do the wrong thing. I will not say choosing to stand will not come with its own share of heartache and pain, but the outcome of that choice will lead you on your “Chosen Path” to your destiny. Don’t you want to find out why you were chosen in the first place?
Lastly, I just want to leave you with a bible verse that always speaks to me, when I feel like sitting instead of standing up when things get hard. God did not make us cowards, so choose today to start getting ready to be chosen as His goose instead of ducking out on your purpose. You know you go this!
“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10
Sincerely,
Terryn
MODERN FAITHERELLA 