NON-NEGOTIABLE

I was with a group of people recently when challenged with the question, “What is your non-negotiable?” The gentleman continued speaking but his question pierced my heart. Although I had multiple answers, one immediately jumped to the front. And though I kept silent in that moment, my heart pounded, and my thoughts raced back to the day God established this particular “non-negotiable” in my life journey.

It was 13 years ago. I remember when, where and why. At the time, I was the assistant to the CEO/Chairman of a large publishing company. I wanted to serve God with excellence while I also served this man of God—a man with high standards and high expectations, rightly so.

One day as I was praying, the thought came to me, “How can God equip me for the task at hand if I am first not in a position to receive.” Then I pictured my non-negotiable:  like a warrior would bow on one knee in allegiance to his king--bowing in surrender but also weapon in hand in a posture to rise quickly to do battle--I felt called to bow on one knee first thing every morning proclaiming, “My Lord, My God, I acknowledge You as my Lord and Savior.” This is not my time for prayer or petition. This is my time to declare my allegiance to My King as a child of God and as a warrior.

Within months, I felt led to get on one knee also before bed. I wanted to end my day as I began it—in surrender to Him. Leo quickly joined me and our non-negotiable was established in our hearts and we have not waivered a day since. We have stuck a stake in the ground, and it goes very deep. We don’t think about it. It simply and profoundly has become part of who we are, whether separate or together.

What is your non-negotiable? We all have them. And how deep is your stake in the ground? What is it in your life that you have anchored to the depths of your soul? When the enemy issues a blow that takes your breath away and stops your heart, what is it that you will not surrender? When darkness comes in like a thief and hides the sun, what is it that you have established (really, that HE has established) that is unshakable?

For me, the ultimate test came when our lives were turned upside down and our worst nightmare came true: a vehicle hit our car head on, and our daughter Meagan was killed instantly by my side. (I shudder as I write this as the sting is indescribable.) I was separated from my Meagan when the ambulance rushed me to the hospital despite my pleading to keep us together. After more trauma in the ER, it was determined I had seven broken ribs, my whole left side bruised, my bottom teeth knocked loose, etc., but I would survive. NOT the words I wanted to hear. None of these physical injuries mattered to me because the devastating loss was FAR more severe. I was in a nightmare!

The spiritual storm and chaos were tumultuous within my soul, YET when the sun came through my hospital window, I remembered my non-negotiable! I felt nothing but loss, I felt God had abandoned me, and my faith was in shambles; but my non-negotiable would not recede. It had already been set, established deep in the depths of my being! So, I asked Leo to help me out of the hospital bed and onto the hard, cold floor—one knee, in acknowledgement I whispered, “My Lord, My God.”

Through MY valley of the shadow of death, whether I feel like it or not, whether I am in a dark place of grief and confusion or a broken place of sorrow—one knee. So very many days and nights fighting for my sanity and my faith, all I can do is go back to what I knew—one knee! And the harder it is, the more I fight not to let the enemy rob it from me! No lies, no chaos, no darkness can take this from me! In the most treacherous of storms, this anchor had already been set!

And the Lord meets me in the darkness over and again, and inscribes His Word on my soul, as in:

Psalm 91:14-15

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges My Name.

He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honor him.”

Psalm 55: 16-17

“But I call to God,

And the Lord saves me.

Evening, morning and noon

I cry out in distress,

And He hears my voice.”

So, I ask you, what is YOUR non-negotiable? To give God time each day to speak. To put your spouse first…period. To pray over your children every morning. To commit to love your unlovable neighbor as God has loved you. To be a consistent example of Christ to your world. To journal. To fast one day a week for the rest of your life.

Tag! You’re it!