It’s been rattling around in my soul these last few days. An itch to put words to paper and to dig into Scripture over two words that woke me from a restless night’s sleep.
Rise up.
I don’t know how to explain this fire those two words start in my heart or why I feel so strongly that I need to share them. But I do. I need to know that I’m not the only one in this generation of amazing, strong, talented women who live their faith online and through words who feels called to the next thing.
It’s time to rise up, friends.
“Rise up and shine, for your light has come. The shining-greatness of the Lord has risen upon you. For see, darkness will cover the earth. Much darkness will cover the people. But the Lord will rise upon you, and His shining-greatness will be seen upon you. Nations will come to your light. And kings will see the shining-greatness of the Lord on you.” – Isaiah 60:1-3
It’s time to stop talking the good talk and start the walk. It’s time to stop saying we don’t want to compare ourselves to anyone and actually stop. It’s time to lean into the platform and place that God has given us and embrace it with both arms, with feet firm beneath us and say “here I am.”
“My beloved spoke and said to me,
“Arise, my darling,
my beautiful one, come with me.
See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.” – Song of Solomon 2:10-12
Winter is ending, sisters, and it’s time to rise up. It’s time to step out of our comfortable hibernation and do the thing God is calling us to do, whether it looks popular or like what anyone else is already doing. Do it anyway. It’s time to stop waiting to feel qualified and remember that God has not come to serve the healthy but to heal the sick, and when it’s time for us to rise up and embrace who He created us to be, He will equip us with everything we need.
Whether it looks like what we planned for or not. Whether we feel like we can do it or not. And when God calls us to rise up, to move, to stand, to do the work for His kingdom that will be fruitful, He will not leave us to do it alone.
” You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’” – 2 Chronicles 20:17
Stand firm, sisters. Let go of the titles and the hats you wear and the carefully arranged agendas and rise up. Realize that your battle isn’t with one another but with the enemy and choose to reach over and grab the hand of the woman beside you, the one coming up after, the one a few steps ahead of you and rise up – together. Fight the good fight, together – not against one another.
Cheer, encourage, rebuke, teach, train, love, support – one another.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God,so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” – Ephesians 6:10-13
Be who God created you to be. Live it boldly. Rise up. Get free from your own expectations and stay free in the knowledge that the work we do for the kingdom, when we get on our feet and move when God calls us – that will bear fruit. That will leave a legacy.
“As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.” – Matthew 9:9
Follow Him. Rise up.
hi, thank you for your sharing, it’s indeed great 🙂
btw, do you mind if i use the pic on top?
Hi Grace – you may use the image as long as you do not alter, apply any filters, or remove the watermark that includes my website, and please link the image & any references to this blog back to this post. Thanks!
God has been speaking those exact words to me since January. Specifically “Stand and Rise”. At first I was confused by those contradictory verbs. Then God reminded me of the trees of Lebanon and the trees planted by the water. They root down and rise up. But your post shed new light on His call to action for me. Thank you so very much for sharing this.
Love. Love. Love. Just the boost I needed to get out of my long winter shell. Thanks so much!
“It’s time to lean into the platform and place that God has given us and embrace it with both arms, with feet firm beneath us and say ‘here I am'” – I feel like that’s what God has been impressing in my heart for a while. Not just with writing or blogging, but with the ministry I’m in. I would get this feeling that I won’t be here – where I am now – for long. Whether that’s because God will call me to move somewhere else or because life in general is short, I don’t know. But I know I need to start doing, to rise up, and to move into action.
Amen. Lacing up my shoes, girl!
Love this. Journaling now about reluctantly rising after a night of nightmares. Finding comfort here and in my study. I normally don’t read anything other than my set devotionals first thing, but was drawn to your title. I’ll link up to Jennifer Dukes Lee later, would love your feedback.
Thanks again for helping me unravel a troubled night to begin my day.