"Run"

Why would you run toward danger,

When the rest all run away,

And they all think you’re crazy,

‘Cause they couldn’t make you stay.

But you know what you’re doing,

Though no one else believes,

But it’s not their battle,

And they could not receive,

The courage you were given,

Or the clarity to see,

The giant large and noisy,

Will fall just like a tree.

And you will take his head off,

And give your God the praise,

Enemies take notice,

As you God’s banners raise.

So what makes all the difference,

Is a little thing called faith,

And it’s always believers,

Not those who play it safe.

And if things don’t get risky,

Some thing it’s reckless, too,

If we put nothing on the line,

Can’t see what God can do.

Everyone who did it,

Yes, everyone who won,

Ran the risk of failure,

And had to look beyond,

What everybody told them,

What they all warned about,

And that is why they never,

Won a battle with a shout.

Do not listen to them,

Just keep on with God’s plan,

Let the Spirit lead you,

And not the will of man.

“Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God…” (Gal. 1:10, NLT)

When will we learn that trying to please people is a losing battle. Even if we win, we lose. That’s because people are fickle, and what pleases them today doesn’t necessarily hold true tomorrow. Jesus called his generation fickle and pointed out that they wouldn’t cry for a sad song or dance for a happy one. If we don’t understand this, we will strive for the smile of men to the exclusion of God’s smile. Many believe you can have both, but the scripture makes clear in many places how impossible it is to consistently have both. The situation demands a choice: pleasing God or pleasing people. It’s why it’s important for us to pray for spiritual discernment so that we can get serious about receving God’s highest and best.

Art by Ann Hanson, annhanson.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Ann, and God bless you.