If you missed the last blog post, “The No-Plan, Plan” go
back so you can see where this story started.
back so you can see where this story started.
Several years ago, I surrendered my will to God over
something really huge in my life. It was something that I had no control over
but I knew my only hope was to surrender. It was the most freeing time in my
life. Since then, I have been working on the God Plan. I say working because we
are a constant work of transformation when we are working in God’s plans.
something really huge in my life. It was something that I had no control over
but I knew my only hope was to surrender. It was the most freeing time in my
life. Since then, I have been working on the God Plan. I say working because we
are a constant work of transformation when we are working in God’s plans.
At the end of last year, I was struggling with where and how
I was going to be ministering. I continued to use opportunities at my church
but kept wondering if this is what God wanted to do with me? I had this burning
desire to share God’s Word but was struggling with knowing what He had planned
for me.
I was going to be ministering. I continued to use opportunities at my church
but kept wondering if this is what God wanted to do with me? I had this burning
desire to share God’s Word but was struggling with knowing what He had planned
for me.
Sometimes we may feel like we are working on God’s plan, we
may be serving and doing all that we feel He is asking of us but we want
results. We want answers or we want a clear sign or signal that we are on the
right path. But then what feels like happens is nothing. No sign, no clear signal, because God
says wait. You are on my plan. You are on my time clock. If we trust Him we
have to sometimes do just that, wait.
may be serving and doing all that we feel He is asking of us but we want
results. We want answers or we want a clear sign or signal that we are on the
right path. But then what feels like happens is nothing. No sign, no clear signal, because God
says wait. You are on my plan. You are on my time clock. If we trust Him we
have to sometimes do just that, wait.
My friend sent me a verse that spoke the words I was feeling
so well I was pretty sure that it was written for me.
so well I was pretty sure that it was written for me.
Jeremiah 20:9 But
if I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in His name, His Word burns in my
heart like a fire. It is like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold
it in! I can’t do it!
if I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in His name, His Word burns in my
heart like a fire. It is like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold
it in! I can’t do it!
How can I spread His Word? I am trying to wait on the Lord
but I felt like it was being shut up inside of me. I felt like there was a lion
ready to roar and his mouth was being held shut. Just as Jeremiah cries out, it
is a fire burning in my bones. I can no longer hold it in.
but I felt like it was being shut up inside of me. I felt like there was a lion
ready to roar and his mouth was being held shut. Just as Jeremiah cries out, it
is a fire burning in my bones. I can no longer hold it in.
God’s love is so awesome and so overwhelming that if I held
it in any longer, I thought I may just burn up. There is a lot of pressure to
keep your thoughts and opinions to yourself, especially if they are not what
everyone may want to hear. But just as Jeremiah proclaimed, I have too, I can’t
do it!
it in any longer, I thought I may just burn up. There is a lot of pressure to
keep your thoughts and opinions to yourself, especially if they are not what
everyone may want to hear. But just as Jeremiah proclaimed, I have too, I can’t
do it!
So I said to God, what will you have me do? What is your
plan for me? Take me there. You lead and I will follow. My first outlet has
been my blog. There has been just over 1300 page views in three months. I thank you for that and for sharing these words with your friends. But those numbers are entirely the work of a powerful Lord. When I started I wasn’t of Facebook or Twitter, and had zero email contacts. I said it had to be in His power and connections because my were apparently very little.
plan for me? Take me there. You lead and I will follow. My first outlet has
been my blog. There has been just over 1300 page views in three months. I thank you for that and for sharing these words with your friends. But those numbers are entirely the work of a powerful Lord. When I started I wasn’t of Facebook or Twitter, and had zero email contacts. I said it had to be in His power and connections because my were apparently very little.
When I first started writing my blog page, I wanted to check
it all the time. I wanted to check it a couple of times a day. That was pretty
difficult considering I don’t have the internet. I found myself wondering if it
was working or it was being successful. Not for my own sake but for the sake of
spreading the Good News. As if God needed my help, I kept right on top of it.
it all the time. I wanted to check it a couple of times a day. That was pretty
difficult considering I don’t have the internet. I found myself wondering if it
was working or it was being successful. Not for my own sake but for the sake of
spreading the Good News. As if God needed my help, I kept right on top of it.
After about a week of this repeated checking, I remembered, Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am
God! After all, I felt like I was writing to serve God, but was I trusting
Him to make a way and make a path for His word to be delivered.
God! After all, I felt like I was writing to serve God, but was I trusting
Him to make a way and make a path for His word to be delivered.
Then I had to step back and remind myself that I had told
God I was going to follow Him, I was going to let Him lead me. I decided to
only check my sites when I was posting something new. Until then, I would be
still, and let God do His work because His word will not return void.
God I was going to follow Him, I was going to let Him lead me. I decided to
only check my sites when I was posting something new. Until then, I would be
still, and let God do His work because His word will not return void.
This is hard to do and say. We find security in trying to control
our situations and our outcomes. We want it all done, done right and done now.
The only way to get that done is to do it ourselves, right? No. Sounds easy and sounds difficult.
our situations and our outcomes. We want it all done, done right and done now.
The only way to get that done is to do it ourselves, right? No. Sounds easy and sounds difficult.
We can rest assure that He knows the plans He has for us. He
knows if this is the path He wants us to take. He knows what He wants to do
with us. We just have to trust His plans and if we allow Him to take the lead,
we have to let Him make a way.
knows if this is the path He wants us to take. He knows what He wants to do
with us. We just have to trust His plans and if we allow Him to take the lead,
we have to let Him make a way.
God’s plans for me are not all unknown to me. We have His
Word, His directions for living. We are to love and serve Him with all of our
heart, all of our soul, and with our entire mind. We are to go and make
disciples. We were put here now, at this time, to serve Him and His purposes.
All of those words are action words. We are to take action and do His good
works.
Word, His directions for living. We are to love and serve Him with all of our
heart, all of our soul, and with our entire mind. We are to go and make
disciples. We were put here now, at this time, to serve Him and His purposes.
All of those words are action words. We are to take action and do His good
works.
We have two contrary thoughts. Wait and take action. The
balance is a hard thing to find. So ask yourselves? Do you trust in the Lord to
do His will, and while you are waiting, what are you doing to work and serve
His purposes?
balance is a hard thing to find. So ask yourselves? Do you trust in the Lord to
do His will, and while you are waiting, what are you doing to work and serve
His purposes?
As you think about those questions this week, pray, and make
yourself notes. How will you serve Him? Make an action plan, even if it has one
thing on it, pray over it and do it for Him in the best way you can. Then,
write down the things in your life where you are going to be still and let HIM
be your God.
yourself notes. How will you serve Him? Make an action plan, even if it has one
thing on it, pray over it and do it for Him in the best way you can. Then,
write down the things in your life where you are going to be still and let HIM
be your God.
Please share your thoughts in the comments so we can
encourage each other on our journeys together.
encourage each other on our journeys together.
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sharing with them through email, Facebook, or Twitter. Just click on the boxes
below.
sharing with them through email, Facebook, or Twitter. Just click on the boxes
below.
I can completely relate to everything you are saying. Sometimes I want to know exactly where God is taking me, and I want to know now! But that isn't what God always wants. He wants me to take a step with him each day, and he will lead me on the path I am supposed to take. Keep heading in his direction!
Jill, one reason I like blogging is because it has been making me more aware of the details of my life. Recently, I had a lesson reminding me that trusting God for essential. I am so glad that some of His lessons are quick, swift, and full of impact. He will teach us quickly if we pay attention and are willing to listen. I love that I serve a God that loves me enough that He is willing to help me grow and mature in my relationship with Him.