Are you ready to fly?

I have been feeling like God is preparing me for the next step in my journey for a while now. In the last (almost) two years He has been filling me with information, bringing new people into my life and pursuing me in a deeper relationship with Him. At this time, I feel like He is beginning to push me out of the nest! The problem, however, is that I don't think I am ready to fly! The thought of crashing face-first can be terrifying and crippling.

The study I am doing right now is One in a Milllion, by Priscilla Shirer. In my reading today, she was talking about preparing herself for a women's talk. She followed all of her regular routines: prayer, study, note taking and planning. As she prepared to walk on stage, she felt the Holy Spirit prompting her to speak on a completely different subject. She was not prepared for that subject. However, she listened to the prompting and obeyed. The talk was successful in reaching some women who needed to hear the "new" message. Shirer, goes on to say that if she had "chosen to balk at the thought of embarrassing myself in front of those ladies, I would've missed a blessing that forever altered my life and my view of God."

How often do I choose to stay in the comfort and security of the nest, for fear of falling on my face in front of others? I seem to listen to the lies of the enemy more than completely trusting that my God is always good and bigger than anything I will ever encounter! Shrier says, "the Enemy uses fear and doubt as tools to keep us from moving into new spiritual territory."

This afternoon, I read from another (unrelated) book:

"Do not curb the impulses of the Spirit within you, nor refuse to allow Me the freedom to manifest Myself through you by means of the gifts. You may resist Me because you feel unworthy or unready to be used. This is a delusion of the mind. I do not use you when you feel prepared, but when I need you and you are yielded. When I use you, you will discover that I also work within you to edify your own heart and life. You block the way to your own spiritual development if you hold Me back when I would minister through you (Ephesians 4:12, 16). Indeed, if the time should ever come that you feel ready, I would then be completely blocked by your pride and would be forced to use someone else." -Frances J. Roberts

If there is a reason He is sending me, who am I to question that? When God is pushing us out, He won't send us out unprepared or alone. He is always with us and will give us the strength and words that we need if we are doing His work.

I may not be ready to fly...

but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

-Isaiah 40:31

I believe in God who keeps all of His promises.