April 22, 2018

Trust God

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

– Proverbs 3:5-6

A few days ago I wrote down a very specific prayer request. I’d prayed in general for this thing to come to pass but this time I got specific. Two days later, God answered my prayer.

I don’t know what surprised me more: That He answered my prayer so quickly or that He answered it at all. I was shocked at my reaction. I know God answers prayer. He does it all the time for me and for others. It’s something I talk about again and again. But this prayer was just so specific and He did it – for me.

What I prayed for doesn’t matter. I will tell you that it wasn’t something major. It was something much smaller. I know that God cares about the details of our lives. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. God has numbered the hairs on our heads. He cares about the little things. But He cared about my little thing and I was just so amazed.

Isn’t that just like God to show up when we really aren’t expecting Him? This is one of those things that had gone on for months. I’d really given up hope. My prayers had been general and maybe a little half-hearted. Did I really expect success in this? But when I got specific, when I really turned it over to Him totally, God showed up in the most glorious way.

Sometimes I think I hold back on my prayer requests because I am so aware of all that God has done for me. I have no right to ask for anything else. He has carried me through the worst of storms. He soothed my battered flesh and lifted my spirits with hope. I am just so very grateful. I didn’t deserve all He has done for me and I certainly don’t deserve anything more.

Yet, God shows up again and again. I implore Him to guard my steps so that I follow His light and not my own desires. I am so thankful for all the times He has told me “no” or “not yet”. Have you ever looked back and thanked God for His protection from something you thought you wanted? He is just so wise!

I am not a trusting person. Life has taught me that the people closest to you can and will betray you in the worst possible ways. Trust is something earned over time. Betrayal can come in an instant, slamming the foundation of what you thought you knew and battering it into tiny pieces.

But God. How trustworthy is He? I am just so grateful, so thankful, that He is always by my side! God loves us with a love we can never fully comprehend. He always wants what is best for us. He always tells the truth. And He never leaves us alone to deal with whatever heartbreak or mess we are facing.

God also celebrates with us. He draws us close as we tell Him our joys, as we smile at the beauty of today. He is never consumed with jealousy or envy. God loves that we are happy. God laughs with us and rejoices on all the good that comes our way.

I don’t know what the days ahead will bring. I have no map that shows the future. But I know that God is with me. I know that whatever comes – the good and the bad – God will guide me through it. My goal, my part, is to stay focused on Him and to trust in His light to show me the way.

January 3, 2014

Step Out In Faith

 

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. -- Hebrews 11:8

I don't like surprises. I don't. Sure, gifts can be wonderful but beyond that I've had maybe three nice surprises my entire life. Most of the surprises in my life have not been good.

I like a plan. I like to know not only where I'm going, but how I'm going to get there. Step by step. But that's not how God works. He's more like: I know the way, just follow close and I'll make sure you don't take a wrong step. I'm the one following behind, whining "But where are we going? I'd just like to know how it's all going to end up."

But that's not faith. Not really. It's not the walk on water kind of faith God wants from me. It's not the just take one step forward and then I'll show you the next step kind of faith. It's not trusting God to handle the details. It's not giving Him complete control over my life.

What?! Yeah. That's the point. Because when I'm determined to know the plan ahead of time, it probably means I'd like the opportunity to just say no. I want to follow God but I want to be in control. But that's not God's plan. God doesn't just want me to follow Him where I want to go. He wants me to follow Him even if it's somewhere I'd rather not go. Maybe especially if it's somewhere scary. Somewhere uncomfortable. Somewhere that will change me and maybe those around me. Somewhere in God's will.

I look at the patriarchs of the Bible and I want to have faith like theirs. I want to follow God, no matter the cost. That scares me because I don't know what that might be. Just writing those words, I wonder if I've set myself up for something I'm not ready for. Deep breath. He's already there. The God of the universe would never let me go anywhere without Him. He would never tell me to jump off a cliff without planning for a parachute. He's just too good to do otherwise.

I guess it really comes down to believing God and trusting in who He is. It's knowing deep inside that God wants what is best for me and that He will never leave me or forsake me. Faith is knowing that it's okay to step into the unknown because He's got this. Every step of the way. He's got this.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Follow God's Direction

When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. -- John 10:4

A few years ago I was determined to purchase a booth at an arts and crafts event. It's one I display at every year so it wasn't that big of a deal. Or so I thought.

God told me quite plainly not to do the event. I argued. I pleaded. Still, His answer remained no. I am not an easy child. I even pouted. God refused to relent. Other people tried to convince me to send in my booth fee. God remained firm.

I didn't send in my application. It was a good thing. Bad weather caused the event's organizers to cancel it for the first time in its history. Yes, I did thank God. I was, and remain, thankful for His wisdom. I am also grateful that He didn't just give in and allow me to learn an expensive lesson.

That's been on my mind the last few days. Once again God said no. This time I didn't argue. I did feel a few pangs when the advertising started. I love seeing everyone. But I knew God had a reason. Yeah. Wind. Rain. Thunder and lightening. I would have been a nervous wreck. I felt so bad for all those artists and the organizers who had worked so hard. I am so grateful God told me no.

We tend to think of God as the One in charge of the big things. And He is. We call out to Him about sickness and death. We plead for His healing touch on relationships. We honor Him with worship and tithes. But do we ask Him to take care of all the smaller decisions that each day brings? Oh, God is so in the details of our lives.

I'm sure days will come, decisions will rest before me, and I'll fail to consider God's opinion. I hope not but that's the human in me. Always trying to go my own way when I truly don't have a clue. My desire is that God will continue to hold tight to my hand, refusing to let me wander from His side. He really does know what's best for me. I want to follow where He leads. Always. In all things. Forever. 

Saturday, March 19, 2011

God Leads. I Follow.

You will seek me and fine me when you seek me with all your heart. -- Jeremiah 29:13

Sometimes truth just sort of smacks you on the head and makes you wonder why it took so long to figure it all out. It's simplicity is so amazing that you can't believe you missed it. That's what focusing on self does for you.

I'm in the middle of a bible study titled Breaking Free. Those who have done Beth Moore studies know that she's all about truth, even when it hurts. Or, maybe, especially when it hurts. This study is leading us to heal past hurts and break away from destructive patterns. Like believing lies and trying to do life all on our own.

I daily beg God to walk with me. I want Him to guide me -- where I want to go. I ask for His blessing on my path. Do you see a pattern here? Do you see anything wrong with this pattern? Yep. That's right. It's all about me. It's all about what I want. It's all about my will. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

My life is not about me. And I'll never be truly happy until I make it all about Him. It's not about Him walking with me. It's about me walking with Him. Like a little child who grabs hold of her parent's hand and happily goes wherever He leads. That's what He wants us to do. That's where we'll find our true blessings -- in the Presence of the Almighty.

So today I'm asking God to let me walk with Him. I'm asking Him to hold tightly to my hand so I can't wander off and get lost. I'm asking Him to bless this path we're on and to light my way. I want to travel this earth with Him, safe and secure in the knowledge that He leads the way.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Follow God In All Things

"In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered."

-- 2 Chronicles 31:21

This is how life is supposed to be. We're called to love God with all our hearts, minds and souls. We're to follow Him in all things. We're to work hard doing whatever it is He has called us to do. And, in turn, we will prosper under His guidance.

Sounds like a good plan. It is a good plan. Too bad we have so much trouble following it. Life would be so much easier if we did.

But we're so busy getting through the day, planning for tomorrow and worried about life to really sit down with God and listen to what He wants us to do. It's that control thing. We want to think we're in control. We're not, of course. Still, we like to pretend. Then something happens, life swerves from the path we'd planned and we realize we were never in control after all.

It's at that point that we cry out to God to rescue us from the disaster we created. We're ready to listen, to learn, to follow Him anywhere so long as he'll help us. And He does. He's our Father and He loves us so, of course, He helps us. God picks us up, restores us and strengthens us until we happily chart our course once again. Won't we ever learn?

The best course is to spend time with God every day. Read His Word. Learn from Him. And take time to listen for His voice. Pay attention. He'll tell you what to do. Follow Him. And you will prosper in ways you never imagined.