Walking With God: Stand Firm, Not Passive

Hey friends, welcome back to Perspectives Into Practice. Can I tell you something? As the year was closing and a brand new one sat right around the corner I felt my heart stirring. Hand to heart, I realized I had been living in a comfortable version of faith that looked like attendance and agreement but felt hollow on the inside. I remember showing up, dressing the part, leading groups, and yet feeling distant from the Lord. That slow fade felt icky and I knew something had to change.

Here's the thing, walking with God is not meant to be passive. In this episode I share how the Lord impressed on me that He wants all of us, not a little part tucked away for convenience. I talk about Revelation 3:16 and how the scripture calls out lukewarm faith. That verse struck me hard. It felt like a loving wake up call to stop coasting and start standing - to stop performing for people and to begin living from the inside out.

I tell the story of what that looked like for me. I was doing all the church things, but inwardly I felt spiritually empty. When I finally stopped to pray and asked God what He wanted, He said He wanted more. That invitation to more forced me out of a comfort that was keeping me small. When I surrendered and chose to stand, it shifted everything - my marriage, my parenting, my friendships. Some relationships were pruned because they had stayed for convenience, and that was painful and good at the same time.

If you're listening and thinking that sounds a lot like where you are, I want to offer practical next steps you can put into practice right away. These are simple, faithful rhythms that helped me move from passive to active faith.

• Start small with consistent scripture time, not binge reading but steady hiding scripture in your heart.
• Pray with authority and honesty. Name what you believe and ask God to help you stand.
• Pay attention instead of coasting. Notice where you are comfortable and ask God if comfort has become a barrier.
• Re-evaluate friendships that keep you safe but not growing. It is okay to let some relationships change.
• Say yes to God even when it is inconvenient. Obedience is often uncomfortable at first but leads to real change.

I share how this looked in everyday life, not as a checklist but as real, messy obedience. You don't have to wait for January 1st to take one brave step. Maybe you start with a single prayer of surrender, or a commitment to memorize a verse this week. Maybe you choose one conversation to change, one habit to stop, one habit to begin.

I want to encourage you, ladies, that choosing to stand is worth it. It will stretch you, and it will refine you, and on the other side you will find a truer, richer relationship with Jesus. I don't have all the answers for exactly how God will move in your life, but I can tell you from my own story that when I stopped being passive, God showed up in ways I didn't expect.

Thanks for listening to this part of our year-end series on religion versus relationship and what it looks like to be a woman who stands. If this episode stirred something in you, take one of the practical steps today. Then come back and tell me about it. Please listen, share this episode with a friend, and leave feedback so I know how this is landing in your life.