The music was nice, not so nice, however, that early in the morning. Well before the crack of dawn the melodious notes pried open eyelids. Time to get up! the song screeched in my ear. 

“Up” I went, dropping my daughter at her early morning volleyball practice. The boys were up as well, but were spared thirty more minutes of freedom before the prison doors of school welcomed them. (They call it prison, I call it their freedom. It’s all in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.)  My gang of young testosterone and I had 30 minutes to bust before the school’s doors burst open, so why not exert it on a few machines at the YMCA?

But the stationary bike didn’t get the memo of the day’s short workout.

“Pedal faster,” it barked as though it were my personal trainer.

But I don’t want to pedal faster. It’s not the plan. I’m done for the day.

Ignoring its bark, knowing it had no bite, my leg swung over the center piece in a dismount. As I pushed off the machine, a thought occurred to me: Life is like that.

Various voices will chime the way, thinking they know best. But those voices don’t always know the plan, God’s plan.

There are voices telling us to do “this” and “that”. Some are well-meaning, like family voices or church voices. But they’re not always God voices. Sometimes the voice of God flies in the face of what others think is right, even “righteous”.

At times, I struggle with this concerning my children. I charge in, barking orders like a know-it-all stationary bike. I simply want the best for them.

Pedal faster! Go right here, down this path, child.

After all, the righteous path is in front of us. I’m the loving mother guiding them, shoving them in reality, along God’s path. I assure myself and attempt to convince them I know best.

But my “know it best” and God’s plans aren’t always the same. Sometimes my mouth runs ahead without asking God.

This is our cue to relinquish control and sprint to the throne of God, falling on our faces and worshipping as His will is done in the life of our loved one.

Isn’t God greater? Doesn’t He know the plans for their life? This is our opportunity to pray, our opportunity to lean not on our own understanding, expectations, or hopes.

It’s our opportunity to trust God.

Gomer, she’s a gal of God’s “right”, a “right” that would fly in the face of any church-going, raising-a-healthy-boy mama.

If Hosea were my son, I’d be guilty of chiming, “Pedal faster! Get away from that gal.”

Good sense says flee like a bicycle racer from the adulteress. Race far, far away from Gomer, son! I would even quote a verse or two to support the argument. That’s godly, right?

Our Daddy, in His wisdom, didn’t utter the word flee. He said draw near.

“…Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife…” Hosea 1:2 NIV ’84

Not once, but twice God called Hosea to pull Gomer into his husbandly embrace.

Would I have entrusted my son’s path with God’s seemingly messy will? Or would I have kept him spinning away on a stationary bike, going nowhere fast?

Pedal faster…

As we step into a new school year, changes in life, or simply everyday the same, here’s a challenge:

How about a different cry this time? Instead of chiming what we think is best, cry to God today: “Your will for my loved one, Lord.”

As we charge each other to remain in the vine, under the care and shade of the Gardener, how about a “Pedal God!” versus “Pedal faster…”? How about mamas and girls, women and daughters on their knees clinging with all life’s might to our Daddy, searching and desiring only His will for those we hold close in our heart?

Yes, even for those we hope to hold tightly within our grip. God has plans for them. And those plans might not match ours. But they are His best and keep eternity central.

Are you willing to release them, the control – their future?

That’s where I want to be….releasing control…watching God wow.

It’s a new season.

“Pedal faster God.”

A prayer for you to personalize~

Gracious God, You know the plans you have me. They are good plans. You also know the plans you have for _________. They are the branches and you are the vine. Father show me how to pray for them, what to speak to them, encouraging them to stay central in your will. Lord, what does that look like? Form the words of my prayers to cover them as a friend indeed. I release _________ and the course of their life to you, Holy Spirit. Counsel them in wisdom. And counsel me as well as I release control. In your holy name, Jesus, amen.

Linking with Jesus encouragers around the world here: Intentional Tuesday, Purposeful Faith, Holly Barrett, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Holley Gerth, Suzie Eller, Dance with Jesus, and Counting My Blessings.

More For You…

~ Do you want to grow deeper and stronger in your faith?

Knowing God’s Word is imperative. It’s not another “check” on the list of to-do’s, His Word is oxygen for your spiritual breath. Breath in deeply, absorb His very words in your heart, my friend, and grow, grow, grow. You can find Scriptures and more about #ScriptureBank2015 (our Scripture memory program) here. You’ll find other links for “how to’s”, suggestions, and ideas as well.

We Have a Winner!

We have a winner of Danise Jurado’s Fulfilled: Learning to Live the Life God Promised. It’s “Leslie”, the third comment on last week’s post.  If you’re Leslie, please contact me with at Kristi@KristiWoods.net with your mailing address by Sept. 15 so I can skip on down to the post office with a copy of this book for you. Yay! If I don’t hear from you by Sept. 15, however, I will redraw a new winner. Thank you!

#YourStory….is usually here every first Tuesday. It’s taking a small vacation today, but rest assured – it will return next month. Stay tuned!