musings on last post: The Great Adventure of Faith

I was talking to someone about the last post: counting the cost.  She was saying,  but before one does anything,  he/she looks at all the options,  budgets/plans,  whatever.  It is a fiscally prudent thing to do.  So true.  I think the writer's point, is if God has called you to something, and it is clear to you, THAT is not the time to balk and decide if you have time/can afford it/whatever.  God owns the cattle on a thousand hills (and the hills!) and we are the workers,  He is the one who promises to provide.  We saw that in a small way in our adoption funding.  God showed His plan clearly to us that we should pursue adoption.    We had to step out in faith, and God provided in ways that we had not expected--AFTER we stepped out in faith, NOT BEFORE.  His timing for when we traveled was so perfect.  We prayed that our daughter would be loved--she was loved in a wonderful way,  and learned about how God loves HER from an early age.  We did pray that if we were wrong,  and this was NOT His plan, that HE would close the door--He didn't--and we now have our wonderful daughter.  I sometimes wonder how many blessings we may be missing because we don't respond to God's obedience in whatever area,  and thus don't experience HIs wonderful blessings.  I have a quote by James McDonald on my fridge:  "Faith comes BEFORE miraculous provision".  Sometimes God provides miraculously, and sometimes we just need to  budget our time/money/ resources better,  to learn that we indeed have those resources available to us.  Either way, we need to step out in faith.  I think we did that pretty well in regards to our daughter's adoption--but with trepidation at times!,  But will we/I do that in the next BIG thing (or little thing)  God asks me to do.  There is a book out called Do Hard Things  Are we wiliing to DO THE HARD THINGS?  My inner self says to take the easy route, with minimal risk /money/time for me?  But what of God's blessings am I missing if He is calling me to a different path,  and I am ignoring that?  I have read the pastor's words mentioned in the previous post--Pat Robertson, i think,  and in his words on his TV show,  sounded like he was saying there are too many challenges,  it is too hard.  Not " Wow, it is wonderful when people answer God's calling to do hard things like adoption?"  I think that would have been a more appropriate response on his part. 
     The hard thing,  for me,  is how does one discern what God's will is?  Are we all to adopt 8 children like the writer's family did?  I  really hope not!!    When we were considering adoption,  2 influential books for me were by Lis TerKeurst:  What Happens When Women Say Yes to God, and What Happens When Women Walk in Faith.  I won't elaborate too much, other than strongly recommending the books!,  but her 5 steps she used in discerning God's will,  that I found very helpful are: "1. Does what I'm hearing line up with Scripture?  2. Is it consistent with God's character?  3. Is it being confirmed through messages I'm hearing at church or studying in my quiet times?  4.  Is it beyond me?  5.  Would it please God?"  And # 3 implicitly is is talking about prayer too--without long, consistent praying about God's will for us re. Adoption, I don't think we would have been so certain.  I don't understand how or why God uses prayer the way He does, but I've experienced that it is vital in discerning God's will.  So if you are not praying about an issue,  and reading God's word,  don't assume that God is leading you in regards to an issue. 
    I hope i can stay open to God's leading in every area of my life,  to discern when He is asking me to DO Hard Things.  I hope I then can be courageous enough to act.  Just because we were courageous to follow once, doesn't make it much easier to follow again, unfortunately!  And I hope it is clear,  this post is not saying all should adopt, but all who love God should follow what amazing plans and adventures He has for YOUR life!    Happy adventuring!!