Galatians 5:7-8 - He Calls You
Step 1: Pray. Select.
Today, as I started my prayer time, I waited to hear where the Holy Spirit wanted to journey. The words “kindness, gentleness, and understanding “ came to mind. As I looked up scriptures relevant to these themes, I was drawn to Galatians Chapter 5, where Paul dives deeper into the law of the Spirit.
After reading through the entire chapter, Galatians 5:7-8 stood out amongst the rest.
This is where we will begin, friends.
Step 2: Write. Read. Circle
After reading the scripture three times, the following words stood out amongst the others:
Galatians 5:7-8 - You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This knid of persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.
Step 3: Re-Write
With a focus on the words I circled that stood out, here is the personalized sentence that came alive in my heart.
Jennifer, you ran well. Who hindered you, does not come from who calls you.
If you are doing this alongside me today, add your name in front of your unique sentence so the Lord can speak directly to you.
Step 4: Visualize
As I meditate on the sentence the Holy Spirit has blessed me with today, I am brought back to a time in my life when I was younger. The Holy Spirit reminds me specifically of my early twenties when I was a professional dancer and in excellent athletic shape. At that time, I was roaming around the world on tour, free as a bird, experiencing all life had to offer. You could say, in some ways, I was living life to the fullest, traveling and encountering so many unique and exciting adventures, cultures, and people.
As I sit here, I think about all the voices going on simultaneously in my head at the time of my youth. Especially those who kept telling me that time was not on my side and that I had better hurry up and figure out my next move. Only I had no clue what was next. I was still so young and, frankly, immature. I sit here thinking about how at some point during that time, the voices of doubt began to get louder and louder and cripple my growth, not allowing me to fully realize my dreams. I went into survival mode, always protecting myself instead of believing God would do what he says he will.
The Holy Spirit is telling me that the voice of doubt and negativity, which I thought was the voice of reason, was actually the voice that hindered me. It clipped my wings and did not allow me to continue running God’s race as he intended.
I notice how the scripture is written in the past tense at the beginning. But when it describes the one who “calls,” it refers to God in the present tense.
The Holy Spirit tells me to run toward the one who calls. The word “ran” is in the past, towards the one that stopped you from dreaming, believing, and achieving. That voice was not your Father. It is time to pay attention to the voices that approach you throughout your day. Are they pushing you forward filled with the fruit of the Spirit as stated in Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. And Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit as it states in Galatians 5:25, not hindered by anything else that is not the one who calls us.
A question arises, so I move to Step 5.
Step 5: Ask. Seek
The requests/questions that came to mind are:
Holy Spirit, the word forbearance is standing out. Is there something you need me to understand further about that particular word and its meaning?
Step 6: Hear. Write. Receive
Here is the answer I received:
“Yes. Forbearance is something I would like to discuss with you. It doesn’t matter what you have done in the past. I only look at you through grace-filled eyes of today, right now in this moment. The important thing I want you to know is my incredible grace upon you to finally become who I created you to be, which is my disciple. I needed you to move to a place where I could finally mold you into who you were born to be. I have been waiting a very long time. I do this with all my children. I want you to feel safe and joyous so you can stop running while looking over your shoulder. You cannot be looking at your past and your future at the same time. Live by my spiritual law so you can be free from the one that has hindered you long enough. Run forward, be free, knowing you don’t owe me anything, for I have always loved you, and now you can look towards me, and we can walk together. And don’t feel like you have to make up for lost time. Jesus died for all sin that caused delays or turbulence in getting you here. The important thing is you are here now, present, not perfect, but ready to see just how beautiful the life I have in store for you can, and still, will be. I am your future, I am your present. Come when I call, get up and walk, and you will never be crippled again.”
Step 7: Pray. Confirm
Heavenly Father, I come to you through my Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.
I ask you for clarity to identify any voice that meddles with your will to be thrown into the pit of hell where it belongs. Please help me keep my focus on you so that I can fully carry out discipleship that is pleasing to you. If anything hinders me from your will, give me the discernment and power to call upon you to remove everything that separates me from your perfect presence and peace. Help strengthen me as I move towards the dreams and desires you placed on my heart, and let me live fully as you want and intend me to love.
Let me not wait one more moment to leap forward. Thank you for your forbearance during my journey.
I stand in gratitude, order, and awe of you and seal this prayer with the mighty name of Jesus—Amen!
If you used the scripture of the day and need prayer or someone to pray with you, connect Here. Remember, you are not alone.
Step 8: Share. Testify
If you used the 8-Step Prayer Practice today, we would love to hear about how God is working in your life! You can comment below or share your miracle or testimony HERE.
Conclusion:
Friends, let us find joy in the fact that if we have taken the long road to get to where we are today, through God’s grace and forbearance, he will finish the good work that he has started within us all.
Let us decipher between His voice, which is our present and our future, and the voices that hinder us, which cause us to focus on our past and where we may have fallen short.
Whatever it took to get you here, right now, reading this blog, know that the LORD is with you and wants you to continue running the good race towards becoming the fullest perfect creation he created you to be.
Go forward, encouraged, and strengthened, knowing you are running a good race.
God bless you. See you soon!
