Get Up Girl

I am not a fan of getting up. Whether it is coming out of the cozy position I’m in on the couch to do something, or simply leaving my bed in the morning, I don’t want too. It’s exhausting and I would rather stay exactly where I am. That sounds extremely lazy, and maybe it is, but it is the truth. I am comfortable and I don’t always want to face what is on the other side of my feet meeting the floor. I remember when I was little, my mom and I would curl up on the couch to watch something on tv. Just as I would fit my small body perfectly in her curled up legs, there the remote sits on the coffee table. Of course, I had to get up to get it. Okay last example, but this one is good. You’ve been in the chair for hours if not all day, hungry and tired, you are finally told “Okay, you can get up and look.” Suddenly a burst of emotions begin to flood. Excited to stretch your legs, to see your hair, and leave the salon, you are READY to get up and out of that chair. Yet, there is a part of you that is nervous. The moment you have been waiting for is here, but what if it isn’t what you thought, hoped, or expected (Yes, it is a dramatic example but you’ll see where I’m going).

If you can, I would love for you to try this exercise. I want you to close your eyes. Now, tell yourself to get up. Keep your eyes closed!!!! Try walking around. Think of an object in the room and see if you can walk to it with your eyes closed. Once you complete the exercise, sit and think about how it made you feel. Were you scared, nervous, confident, excited? Did you successfully complete the task? Were you able to walk to the object? Did you bump into things on the way? Did you open your eyes early? (let me know in the comments). I was reminded of a game I played at a leadership retreat where one person would have to go through an obstacle course BLINDFOLDED. The only direction or guidance was the voice of another leader yelling, left, right, duck, jump, go, go, Stop, go! The activity was to teach us about trust and leadership. All of the thoughts running through your mind, and the cheering and yelling of all the people watching, began to push out the voice you were supposed to be listening too. It took a lot of focus and faith to complete the course.

I hope I have created a visual in your mind of how fearful it is to get up and go somewhere with out seeing or knowing where you are going. It was not until I tried this for myself, was I able to fully grasp the story of the blind man in Mark chapter 10. You may be familiar or maybe not. I personally had heard the story before, so I was not shocked by the miracle. (I mean it’s Jesus, He is our Healer, I was expecting that). How the healing transpired however, caught me by surprise. Bartimaeus, the blind man, sits on the side of the road begging. He hears Jesus is passing by, and begins to call out for Him. Everybody starts telling him to be quiet and stop yelling, but he just yells even louder. Jesus stops in His tacks and tells the disciples to call the man over. “So they called the blind man and said to him Have Courage! GET UP; He’s calling for you.” He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. I want you to try the exercise again. This time, imagine Jesus telling you to get up. Keep your eyes closed, jump up, and go to Him. Tears swelled in my eyes as I thought about the courage of this man. He heard Jesus, but could not see that it was Him. He was told to stop yelling, and instead of listening to the opinions of the people, he yelled even louder. He was told to have courage, to Get Up. He was called.

While you may physically have your eye sight, sometimes it feels as though the vision is blurred or even non-existent. Like Bartimaeus, we have a desire for something. Purpose, healing, strength, wisdom, guidance, (insert your desire here). We sit in an environment of people looking over us because of our deficiencies and flaws, telling us we aren’t worthy or good enough. Curious to when, if ever, will we reach a breakthrough. As our faith begins to trickle away, we gather just enough to call on Jesus. I can only imagine the emotion Batimaeus experienced, hearing the words Get Up. How did he know where to go? I’m sure he had to be uncomfortable. Fear must have been screaming in his ear. Thinking to himself, what if I mess up or fall? Nah. He jumped up and went straight to Jesus. Jesus, in all His glory, asks him “what do you want?”. To see, the man replies. “Go; your faith has made you well. Immediately, he regained his sight and began following Jesus on the road” (Mark 10:52). That little bit of faith you gather, that’s what will save you. It is not your strengths or your weaknesses. Whether you have it all or you are begging. Jesus saw the mans FAITH and CALLED him. I thought to myself how amazing it would be to hear, ‘Jesus is calling you.’ I realized instantly that He was indeed calling me. Sis, He is calling you too. I know it seems dark, and you are not even sure what steps to take to get to Jesus, let alone have the courage to even get up. I am reminded of the game I mentioned earlier. The only way the person could successfully get through the obstacle course was to quiet everything around them. The voices, the fear, the thoughts of failure, and listen only to sound of their guide.

Get up, Girl. Allow Christ to be your guide. He is calling you.Answer with courage, walk with Faith. Silence out the lies of the enemy and stay focused on the voice of God.

“I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with my eye on you, I will give you counsel.”

Psalm 32:8

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Isaiah 40:10