Un-Boxed!

“The hard path where some seed fell represents the hard hearts of those who hear the words of God, but then the devil comes and steals the words away and prevents people from believing and being saved” Lu.8:12 [LB, emphasis added].

The hardened path equals a closed mind. So what causes people to be so closed to spiritual growth? There are three things.

#1. Fear. What if God tells me to do what I do not want to do? What if God says go to the village and become a missionary. And because you do not know God, you put Him in a box, and you limit Him in your life. I have been there but God in His mercy dismantled my theology, for which I am totally grateful. I served in North-eastern Nigeria and the plan was to return to Lagos after the service year. About seventy percent of my friends from the fellowship were going to the mission field. Even though I knew God had not sent me to the mission field, I still questioned the state of my salvation.

I did not even want to pray because of the fear of what God would say. When it is time to pray, I make sure my mind is very busy so that I do not hear God. The previous executives at the fellowship had committed to sowing for the building of the fellowship’s secretariat. A commitment we [the current executives] were not aware of but the leaders that coordinate the fellowship were now holding us to. It was the exact amount I had put aside for my trip to Lagos. I struggled. But God took me through that path so I could confront myself. So I asked myself, are you afraid that God has trapped you on the mission field by taking your transport fare? So I decided to sow all the money.

During the passing out parade when people were rejoicing I was thinking of what would happen to me. But for some strange reason, from the other end of the field someone was asking who needs a free ticket to Lagos. Get this, at least forty percent of us came from Lagos but nobody took the offer until he found me. And as he gave me the ticket God said to me, I am able to take you to Lagos. That experience totally set me free from the confusion I had about God’s heart. If He wanted me to stay, He would tell me to stay. But there I was, running from what He had not even called me to do in the first place. This is how satan takes advantage of us and restricts us from exploring God.

Prayer: Lord, dismantle every theology and every enemy restriction I have accepted that is limiting my depth in You and in the things of God, in Jesus Name.