Author: Melissa Lynne

Several Sundays ago, Pastor Jeff asked me to sing Psalm 16:11. He told me if I didn’t want to, he understood. I won’t pretend I wasn’t nervous about singing on a Sunday morning, but I said “yes” without hesitation. Why? Because God had told me a few days before to stop saying “no” so quickly to every opportunity presented me. He showed me many times I missed His will. So, yes, I sang.

Around the same time, I also received an invitation to go to Israel. I thought about it briefly and let it go. But it didn’t let me go. I never said the word “no,” but I argued against this trip. Arguments like – I had no one to go with me. If God wanted me in Israel, He could have had me born there. It was too much money. I have too many obligations here. Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! It was all true. When asked about a decision, I answered, “yet to be determined.” That wasn’t a “no,” after all.

Then this morning (January 29), I was on Amazon doing what you do there, and suddenly I encountered God Almighty. He said, “Israel?” I said, “Father, I have no one to go with me.” Then He stopped me and I heard Him say, “I have heard your pros and cons. I have heard you say of Israel, ‘yet to be determined.’ But it is determined that I want you to go.” He reminded me again to stop saying “no” to everything. I knew immediately that He had arranged this for me, and the only answer was YES! I knew He had called me to GO!

I stood there in repentance, very corrected. My tears overflowed and yet I was so relieved. At that place of repentance, knowing that I know, everything changed.

I asked my husband, Dan, “what would you say if I told you God just told me to go to Israel?” He said, “I would say GO!”

So “YES” was the only answer, and honestly, that “YES” filled my heart. A heart that ten minutes earlier was filled with fear and conviction was now overflowing with joy and expectancy, and excitement I hadn’t felt since the last trip I took six years ago. So, there it is. I am going to Israel this November. I will walk with my Jesus where He walked, and I can’t wait to see what our Father has planned for me there. Oh, how I wish I had someone going with me that I know, but by faith I believe, that I actually already have that too.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. – Psalm 16:11

As for trips, this one is probably not considered a mission trip. It matters very little because, as with other trips, I just try my best to follow the LORD. That being said, with every trip, God has given me scripture and a song. You know the scripture already, but the song He gave me that day wasn’t me singing Psalm 16:11. No, it was the song below. I started singing it on my way to church that morning, and I haven’t stopped yet because I know that I know –

Goodness of God
Jenn Johnson

I love You, Lord
For Your mercy never fails me
All my days, I’ve been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In the darkest night
You are close like no other
I’ve known You as a Father
I’ve known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God

And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

‘Cause Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
With my life laid down
I’m surrendered now
I give You everything
‘Cause Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me.

And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I’m gonna sing of the goodness of God