“I will stay close to you, instructing and guiding you along the pathway for your life. I will advise you along the way and lead you forth with my eyes as your guide. So don’t make it difficult; don’t be stubborn when I take you where you’ve not been before. Don’t make me tug you and pull you along. Just come with me!” Psalm 32:8-9 (TPT)

Devotion

I hear the Lord saying, “I will stay close to you, instructing and guiding you along the pathway for your life. I will advise you along the way and lead you forth with my eyes as your guide. So don’t make it difficult; don’t be stubborn when I take you where you’ve not been before. Don’t make me tug you and pull you along. Just come with me!” Psalm 32:8-9 (TPT)

I remember flagging these verses a month before our daughter, Remi, was born and writing in the margin of my Bible, “stepping into motherhood.” My heart’s desire was to step into this role with open hands, knowing that this would be unfamiliar territory for me. As I’ve walked the day-to-day, Luke 9:23 has been an ever-present reminder that as a disciple of Jesus, I am called to deny myself, take up my cross daily, and follow him. With every unexplained temper-tantrum, sleep regression, missed nap, or early wake in the morning, this verse reminds me that the world does not revolve around me, my plans, or my expectations. 

The result is surrender, whether I’m doing that with joyful gratitude or with a bad attitude (which is the choice I’ve made more times than I’d like to admit). God has brought Scripture to life like this many times throughout the past year or so, and I believe he longs to do this for all of us.

The truth is, no matter who you are or what you do, the call on all of our lives as believers is to surrender and follow him. Just like this can be frustrating, uncomfortable, and unpredictable in motherhood, your job, friendships, or wherever you find yourself on a daily basis, it can be that way in our journey with the Lord. But in his goodness, he takes us to places we’ve never been to sanctify us and to transform us to look more like him. As we follow in surrender, we are made more like him. We become what we behold, and if our eyes are locked on him, this is very good news.

PRAYER

Jesus, may we be receptive to you opening our eyes, our hearts, and our minds. If Mother’s Day is a day of open wounds, I pray that it would be redeemed by a love that rewrites stories. Help us to pause long enough to hear you and let you guide us. We ask you to lead us into your heart and show us how we can be love to someone else today and every day. Give us eyes to see. May we all heed your call to come to you. In your life-changing name we pray, amen. 

Karlie Grubbs

Worship Leader 

Karlie Grubbs is a Worship Leader at Crossings Community Church. Her heart is to partner with and spread the hope of Jesus, and to live a life as a pleasing sacrifice to him.

Resources: 

• El Roi: The God Who Sees 
• “Build Your Church” from Crossings Venue Worship Team 
• Mother’s Day Event