Following

Follow Me.  That is what I was told to study by the Lord.  Just like the disciples, I am called to watch Jesus live, observe His actions and interactions, see His love at work as He walks through life in the Gospels.  I blogged about it.  I've started off on this work with the Holy Spirit as leader and guide....and a few days into it, excitement has seeped away.  I am left lethargic and apathetic over a study I was so happy and excited to begin.  Ugh!!  Why?  Why is this happening?

Okay, so my first thought is that I am on the right track.  I know in my heart that I am to immerse myself in first century life with Jesus.  I know I am to walk with Him down those dusty roads of ancient Israel, listening, observing, learning.  All of a sudden I am facing resistance to this study in the form of dead-ness.  And I know now is the time to walk by faith and keep plugging forward in what God has told me.  Determination.  Discipline.  Fruit of the Spirit.

And God has sent His own encouragement for me as well.  As I listened to Joyce Meyer's teaching on de-stressing our lives she gave Matthew 11:28-30 as a starting point for her teaching.  Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."   As she went on teaching from this verse, I must have heard her say the words (referencing Jesus speaking) "Follow Me"  at least four times.  Wow.  Confirm, confirm, confirm.

Then for "Godincidence" number two.  All this visiting graves and talking about ancestors got me to remember a few random pages in a random notebook on which my Mom started a family tree.  So searching for it I went yesterday.  That led me to the attic, where all my journals are stored.  I opened one up and on the cover page....yup, you guessed it, "FOLLOW ME" written in large bold letters.
LOL. God is so funny.

My emotions may fade and falter.  They ebb and flow, never maintaining enough consistency to carry me through, but discipline, faith and the leading of the Holy Spirit spur me on.  Following emotions is not our calling.  Following Jesus is.  And I am so appreciative of God's encouragement in my life.

Lord, thank You.  Not only for this encouragement and this leading, but for the fact that You are an encourager of Your children.  Your cheer us on!  Thank You for being so personal in my life, so intricately and intimately involved.  You follow through!  I love You.

Today, follow Jesus, not emotions.