Are we actually following God’s will? Or are we just doing what we want? Do you ask God to complete His will through you? Or do you ask God to help you fulfill your will? God can certainly help us get what we want, but sometimes I think it’s to show us that what we want isn’t as good as what He will give us if we follow Him. The Bible does say His ways are better and higher than our ways. He has the whole perspective, not just on the situation, but on every single person involved. He knows where we’ve all been and where we’re all going. It’s about time we die to ourselves and put our trust in Him. Easier said than done.
One of the 2 pastors at my church (who is retiring soon) brought the topic up one Sunday, which again, right place and right time. God always knows what He’s doing. I’m definitely not the only one that benefited from hearing it. He said that back in the 80’s when he’d been living in another state, he was requested as a pastor waaay over here in my state. Well, he already knew what house he wanted to buy, what ministry he wanted to serve in, and what school he wanted to take his kids to. They knew everybody, he didn’t want to leave, and he basically was like “Sorry, you’ve got the wrong guy.” He got another request and to humor the people, he did come to check it out but was going to tell the congregation on Sunday “Sorry, I’m not the pastor you’re looking for.” Well, they were staying in a crummy motel and he was miserable when his wife said, “Maybe the reason you’re miserable is because you know what God wants, but you’re not willing.” Ouch! Well, besides saying he closed the door a little louder than usual, he went out to pray. He said that though He’s never heard God audibly, that night God gave him a clear message. He said, “You can do what you want, but don’t call me Lord anymore.” Wow… Many will say to him Lord Lord, but on that day He will say depart from me you workers of iniquity, I do not know you (Matthew 7:21-23). You can’t claim to follow God and then not do what He commands. You can say I want this house, this ministry, these people and God may let you have them, but at what cost? You could gain the whole world, but lose your soul. Ask yourself, how important is God and His will in my life? Are we living for God with Jesus truly as Lord of our lives? Are we part of His Christian army? Or are we selfishly living for ourselves? A couple of months ago, I was at a women’s event at my church where this same issue came up. I wouldn’t have even known about it if a co-worker friend of mine hadn’t mentioned it (if you ever read this, thank you!) because I was so busy I had missed that Sunday’s service and therefore missed the announcements and bulletin. God wanted me there though. It’s hard thinking back to a few months ago, but I still clearly remember one thing especially that the speaker said which really connected with me. She was talking about the part in Genesis where God asks “Adam, where are you?” She said that God is all knowing, and has no need to ask this. So why would He ask? So Adam could reflect, not only on his physical location, but where he was spiritually after sinning. I had never thought of it like that. It made me think of a song I have heard by Don Francisco called “Adam, Where Are You?” It was like I had HEARD the song but hadn’t LISTENED to it. Now, I got it. I got it, and I cried. What have I been putting first? It hasn’t been God. I can’t serve two masters and that message was for me. It inspired me to write a poem which I’m including under my poem tab called, “Where Are You?” Personally, I don’t care about having a lot of money, but the security of a steady income from a noble profession isn’t something I’d be adverse to. But God sometimes wants us to step outside our comfort zone in order to fulfill the plans He has for us. That’s the hard part. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. Have I been doing God’s will or mine? How might the 2 intertwine or collide? Does He have other completely different plans from mine? Or has everything been building up towards His master plan and I just can’t see it yet? All I know for sure is that I trust Him now more than I ever have. How? Because every step of the way God has shown me that He’s in control and He can do anything. It’s not me. Whenever I’ve had even an inkling that it might be me, something happens that shows me just how much He’s doing and I am left in awe. I’ve been anxious, afraid, and have shed countless tears along the way and He’s always right there. Trust grows over time with experience. We get scared and sink in the water like Peter, but Jesus is there asking where is your faith? The storms of life hit and we panic, but then Jesus wakes up and stops the storm. God is faithful. He’s shown me to put my faith and trust in Him. He’s shown me that I can’t do it alone. He’s shown me that I have NOTHING to worry about! That is why right now I’m not upset or scared. I’m not anxious or worried… I’m excited! That is CRAZY! I don’t think I’d be able to say that if it was the me in the past that I’m thinking of as I write this. The me that, though she believed, struggled with trusting God. I was SCARED. I almost let fear stop me before I decided to push through it and trust God. He knows what He’s doing. God is AMAZING. And I STILL don’t know what He’s doing! It’s an adventure and God’s the one driving. Comments are closed.
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July 2020
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