I have a problem that a 25 year old (woah I’m 25) should not have. I am a homebody and when I say I’m a homebody I mean it. I am not a big fan of going out. The perfect night for me would be staying in curled up in bed with some wine and my computer to write. I hate hate hate making plans because 90% of the time I don’t want to go when it comes time. See, my sister is the complete opposite in where she has to be out and about, she hates staying home. She does well in crowds and actually thrives off of them where a crowd is my worst nightmare. I’ll give you an example of how different we are. When I sold cars and worked for my Dad he would always ask me to do public events so that I would network and be the face of the dealership. My dad somehow talked me into doing a network event where a bunch of business people in Williamsburg met up and just talked. I think the only reason I said yes was because they had free wine and food. Well not even 10 minutes into it I’m sitting in the bathroom eating a cupcake and calling my mom telling her I was miserable. I literally locked myself in the bathroom for an hour so that I didn’t have to talk to anyone. I was so awkward talking to people because I was one of the youngest people there and I didn’t want to stand around talking about expensive wines and the closing down of shops (literally all anyone talked about). Meanwhile my sister is there and talking to literally everyone at the event and she even stayed past the time it ended to talk to more people. I told my Dad that even if he paid me I would never go to an event like that again.
The reason I don’t like that I’m a homebody is because I miss a lot of things. I make myself unavailable to people and situations by simply saying no and staying in. My sister met so many amazing people at this event that I did not have any contact with because I stayed in the bathroom. She got offered to go on a free wine tour after meeting someone who owned a vineyard, I was so jealous. If I had only been available to new people and situations I would have gotten something out of that event.
Are you available to God? I wasn’t. What does it mean to be available to God? It means you say yes to the people and situations He puts in your life. Everything is part of Gods plan so that person asking you to hangout, it’s not a simple hangout but an invitation from God. Everything that comes into our life is an invitation from the big man upstairs to participate in his blessings. By us saying no to people we are ultimately saying no to God. I have said no to God more times than I would like to admit. THE LESS AVAILABLE WE ARE TO PEOPLE THE LESS AVAILABLE GOD’S BLESSINGS ARE TO US. We walk through life with a closed fist and wonder why we don’t see or feel God. God hides himself in the people we meet, and the situations and environments that surround us.
When we say no to people we are cutting off the plug to connect us to others through God. So many people need Him in their life but may not be aware to it. By using saying no to catch up with them, get dinner, and or go to the movies, we are ultimately extinguishing the flame. That person you said no to could be asking for God and God sent you but you don’t know unless you go or say yes. Think about it.. how many times in your life have you asked for something and God sent a person? You were only blessed by them when they made themselves available to you. What if the people throughout your life who made you who you were didn’t meet up with you that one day you needed or didn’t call back when you were struggling? We do this to others all the time and play it off as us being tired or too busy but is God ever tired or too busy for us? If God isn’t too busy than what makes us think we can use that excuse? We need to live in a life of “yes” because only then will we see the full picture that God painted.
When I was in Nicaragua on the bus I asked my small group leader then to sit and pray with me. In that moment of her praying over me I felt God so strongly that my life changed after that moment. I think back to that day and wonder if I would have the relationship with God that I have today if she told me she couldn’t talk right then or that she was busy. Everything is spirit led but we have the ability unfortunately to close off that communication by saying no. God gives us the tools and people we need but we ignore what he puts in our life because it’s easier to stay home, keep to ourselves, and make excuses. We have turned down so many blessings for us and opportunities to bless others because we are too focused on “I”. We must always put God first and make ourselves second, our wants and needs second. It won’t be until we put God first that it will be easier to say yes and live a life of abundance. BLESSINGS CAN ONLY BE RECEIVED AND GIVEN WHEN WE COME SECOND. No is always the easiest response to something that makes us uncomfortable but it’s in the uncomfortable situations that we grow the most. DON’T SAY NO TO SOMETIHNG THAT WILL GROW YOU.
When you do make yourself available it is imperative that it’s for the right people. We become what we surround ourselves with. If we make ourselves available to people or things that are destructive that negative energy will come into our lives. I’m not saying you can’t help certain people but that you’re aware of what you’re feeding your life with. What you put in is what you get out. When making yourself available for God don’t mistake your wants for God’s wants. If you truly put God first then the right people will surround you. If you follow your wants and describe them as God’s calling well, that’s when you enter into dangerous territory. The people you make yourself available to should build you up and encourage you, highlight God’s blessings instead of cover them up. You should never have to question if the right people are in fact the right people because God will make it clear. If you aren’t sure if someone should be in your life then chances are they shouldn’t be.
Making yourself available isn’t all rainbows and butterflies either. When we follow God we are opening ourselves up more to the devil. The closer we are to God the harder the devil will try. Yes, God calls you to make yourself available but he doesn’t tell us its all fine after that. Just because something is spirit led it doesn’t make it easier. WHEN YOU MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE IT IS INEVITABLE THAT YOU ALSO ARE MAKING YOURSELF AVAILABLE FOR HARD TIMES. We become vulnerable and any time we open our heart there is a chance of getting hurt. However, God’s hurt and human hurt are two different things. God’s hurt brings us closer to glory because its calling us. Earthly hurt is when we hurt ourselves and it doesn’t better us. With God’s hurt it sucks but its working for the best for us and in us. God’s hurt holds the bigger picture. Know that you will experience hurt because Jesus calls us into the uncomfortable but don’t let the hurt scare you away from loving others. Don’t ever let hurt harden your heart because its working for you.
This week I challenge yourself to say “yes” to something that you would normally say no to. When you do be in the present and feel God’s glory. Use yourself as a conduit for God’s love. Watch as new people and opportunities open themselves up to you. When you feel the devil attacking keep going because you are doing something right. Do not hide in the bathroom but get out there and be available….who knows you may get a free wine tour out of it.