Posts Tagged ‘God’s Will’
What Heights Will You Reach?
Posted on: 7-15-112014
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Many of us often wonder what God’s will is for us and this verse gives us one definite part of His will. We are to “give thanks in ALL circumstances…” (emphasis mine). If we know nothing else about His will for us in a particular situation, we can know this. So, if we know this is God’s will for us, why don’t we always do it? We may know that we should be thankful in all situations, but sometimes, it’s easier said than done. Sometimes, we have to really dig deep in order to find something to be thankful about in the trials and tribulations in our lives. Often, we can’t get our eyes off of the gloom and doom long enough to see all of the ways that God is working through the difficulties. We can zero in on the negative and forget to look for the positive. We can ask God a hundred times why something has to be a certain way instead of asking Him how we can use it for His glory. We can wallow in our pit of sorrow instead of counting our blessings. We can easily be greedy for more instead of being grateful for what we have already been given. It’s been said that “our attitude determines our altitude”. Based on your attitude today, what heights will you reach?
Not my will, but Yours be done
Posted on: 7-15-112014
“Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Luke 22:42
I’m not sure if there are too many things more difficult to say to God than “not my will, but Yours be done.” Jesus spoke these words to His Father in reference to the cross. He knew the pain and suffering, physical, mental, and emotional, that was about to be heaped upon Him. He knew the weight of our sin was about to be carried by Him and Him alone. He knew that by taking our sin upon Himself, He would lose the One He loved above all else…His Father. He knew the Father would have no choice but to turn His back upon Him, and He knew that He would be utterly alone to pay the debt of our sin and conquer death! I cannot even imagine the torment He must have been going through as He cried out to His Father and begged Him for another way! I cannot fathom how terrified He must have been as He thought about what was coming! I cannot comprehend how devastated He must have been when His Father didn’t send a legion of angels right at that moment to whisk Him right back to His side in heaven. And I can’t begin to understand the courage and strength it took Him to choke out the words, “yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Most of us will have to utter those words at some point in our lives. And if you’ve ever had to say them, you know the heartbreak that accompanies each syllable. Recently, our family has had to say those words more often than we can hardly bear. We have lost a very precious young lady in our family to suicide about two months ago. Before we could even grasp our minds around that, my nephew lost his 32 year old wife due to a heart condition. And now, we are watching my dad’s health take a very rapid decline. In fact, his health has gone down so much that the doctors have advised us to take him home and keep him feed, hydrated, and as comfortable as possible. As difficult as the first two events were for me, they are nothing to compare to the thought of losing my dad. He has had health problems for several years, but I have always known that he would pull through. However, as we see his health failing him day by day, I fear that the end is near. My heart shatters at the very thought of it! I don’t want him to suffer, but I can’t bear to even consider losing him. I beg God every day to do something…to intervene…to help him get better. And every time I beg God to do something, the only thing that keeps popping into my mind is “not my will, but Yours be done.” As I’ve wrestled with this for several days, I confess that the thought of even uttering those words to God terrifies me because I’m afraid that His will and what I want may be two entirely different things. A few days ago, as I did my Bible study, I was reminded of something…because Jesus allowed the Father’s will to be done instead of His own, something miraculous happened. Through God’s plan, the sacrifice has been made and our sins have been taken care of! Through God’s plan, we can have joy, peace, and hope that we would’ve never had without His plan. And through God’s plan, I know that even if I lose my dad on this earth, I will see him again in heaven. That night as I prayed for my dad, the words, “not my will, but Yours be done” didn’t come any easier, but I was able to choke them out. I don’t know what God’s plan is for my dad, but I do know that His plans are perfect every single time. Even when His plans are wrapped in devastation and heartbreak, they are what is best!
When God Changes Your Plans
Posted on: 7-15-112014
“Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.” Acts 16: 6-10
I’m not sure how many times I’ve read the passage of Scripture above, but when I read it a few nights ago, something new really stuck out to me. I realized that Paul and his fellow missionaries probably had spent some time planning their trip to Asia. They probably had their itinerary all mapped out and knew where they would go first, second, etc. They had packed their bags with their destination in mind. They were set and ready to go! And then, wham! All the plans they made were out…and God’s plan was in! They thought they were off to Asia…God sent them to Macedonia instead! We’ve probably all been in their shoes at many times in our lives! We have our plans all mapped out and God, in the blink of an eye, allows circumstances to send us in a whole new direction. We may have the job of our dreams when God allows the pink slip to come, we may have prayed for a house full of children only to have none or we may not have planned for a baby only to find ourselves expecting one, we may have planned to stay married forever only to have our spouse walk out on us, we may pray for healing for our loved one only to find that it didn’t come on this side of heaven, we may have planned for financial security only to find ourselves bankrupt…the list can go on and on! The fact of the matter is that God very often changes our plans! The question is…how do we respond when He changes them? Do we, like Paul, accept the change and lay down our plans and follow God’s direction or do we dig our heels in fight God with everything in us? Do we say we trust God and His plans for us as long as they line up with our plans or are we willing to allow Him to change our plans with full confidence that He knows best? Speaking for myself, I admit that I don’t like my plans to be changed…even by God! I am guilty of digging my heels in and fighting Him with all that’s within me when He tries to send me on a different course. And guess what happens when I fight Him? I am miserable! Eventually, I will give in to Him, and find that what He had planned was what I should have done from the beginning. I discover that His plans were so much greater than mine. His plans never fail…they are never wrong…even when they are not my plans!
God Misses You
Posted on: 7-15-112014
- In: God | Jesus
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Yesterday, we had all of our children and grandchildren over for Grandparent’s Day. Having them all together under one roof for the day was the best present I could ever ask for, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the day. Last night, after all of the little ones were gone, I walked around from room to room picking up cups, toys, articles of clothing, and other remnants left over from their visit. I stopped and listened and for the first time that day, it was quiet. And even though they had only been gone for a few minutes, I missed them! I missed the pitter patter of little feet, the deep down in the belly laughter, the shrieks and squeals, the smiles, the sound of their little voices calling “Nana”, the toys strewn all over the floor…I missed it all. And while I was thinking of how much I missed them, I was reminded of how much God misses us when we are away from Him. I often forget that God enjoys spending time with us, that He delights in us, and that we bring smiles to His face in much the same way as my grandchildren do to me. God created us because He loves us and desires a relationship with us…an up close, personal relationship with us. Just as I anxiously await another day with my grandchildren, God anxiously awaits our return if we’re gone away from Him. No matter how far we are from Him, all we have to do is call out His name, and He will be there…arms opened wide, just waiting to pour out His love on us.
“For the Lord delights in you…” Isaiah 62:4
Posted on: 7-15-112014
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My ten month old grandson has recently started taking a few steps at a time. We are all so excited and spend a great deal of time watching him practice his new skill. When he takes a few steps and falls down, we clap and cheer for him and he just flashes us the biggest grin. We applaud every effort he makes. When he falls down, we simply pick him up, hug him, help him get his balance, and encourage him to do it all over again. We would never think of condemning him for falling or for only being able to take a step or two. We know this is new territory for him and he has not mastered this milestone just yet. In much the same way, God watches us as we take new “steps” of faith. We can find ourselves in new territory that we have not yet mastered. Our new territory may be a new job, the death of a loved one, a broken marriage, health problems, or anything that takes us out of our comfort zone. Our steps are very unsure and we can fall down more than we can stand when we encounter these new situations. However, we can rest assured that God is standing by watching us as we take each step in faith. He applauds our efforts and praises every victory. When we fall down (and we will), He doesn’t condemn us for falling. Instead, He gently picks us up, dusts us off, helps us to regain our balance, and encourages us to take another step. He knows our steps of faith are a work in progress and He patiently and lovingly guides us each moment of the way.
“For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our Guide even to death.” Psalm 48:14
First Steps
Posted on: 7-15-112014
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A few weeks ago someone told me I had to understand that some people had “real” problems. I’m not sure what kind of problems she thinks I have (or don’t have), but I can assure you they are very “real”. They may not be the same as the problems she is having, but they are definitely real. Every single one of us can attest to the fact that we face problems in our lives. Sometimes those problems are minor, but sometimes, they are earth-shattering! Sometimes those problems are resolved quickly and sometimes those problems linger for what seems like an eternity. Sometimes those problems can be resolved with little effort, but sometimes resolution comes only after much pain and heartache. No matter what kind of problem we are facing, we have a Father who is ready, willing, and able to come to our rescue and help us make it through. He gives us the strength we need to keep on going when we think we cannot possibly go on one more step. He gives us the courage to face our trials head on instead of allowing them destroy us. He gives us the grace we need to endure those trials even if He just gives it to us one breath at a time. No matter where you are right now, God’s grace can and will find you and it is more than enough to carry you through whatever you’re facing.
“Your Grace Finds Me” by Matt Redman
It’s there in the newborn cry
There in the light of every sunrise
There in the shadows of this life
Your great grace
It’s there on the mountain top
There in the everyday and the mundane
There in the sorrow and the dancing
Your great grace
Oh such grace
[CHORUS:]
From the creation to the cross
There from the cross into eternity
Your grace finds me, yes your grace finds me
It’s there on a wedding day
There in the weeping by the graveside
There in the very breath we breathe
Your great grace
The same for the rich and poor
The same for the saint and for the sinner
Enough for this whole wide world
Your great grace
Oh such grace
There in the darkest night of the soul
There in the sweetest songs of victory
Your grace finds me
Yes your grace finds me
Your great grace
Oh such grace
Your great grace
Oh such grace
So I’m breathing in Your grace
And breathing out Your praise
I’m breathing in Your grace
Forever I’ll be
God’s Grace Will Find You
Posted on: 7-15-112014
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“Sometimes when you wonder why you can’t hear God’s voice during your trials, remember the teacher is always silent during a test.”
I’ve seen the quote above many times, but when I came across it a few days ago, it really jumped out at me. Recently I have been going through some trials in which I feel like God is keeping completely silent. I keep begging for answers, but feel like I am getting no response. I keep waiting for Him to reveal His plan to me, yet no plan has been shared with me as of yet. Some moments, I dig deep and hold on in faith waiting for Him, while other moments I fall completely apart. Tonight is one of those nights when His silence is deafening! I am more than ready for this “test” to be over and for my Teacher to give me the answers I am seeking. However, it is apparent that God isn’t ready to give me those answers just yet. Maybe I’m not ready for the answers He is going to give me, so He’s waiting until I am able to handle it. Maybe He’s working in not only my life, but the lives of others as well, to pave the way for His plans to come to pass. Maybe He’s teaching me to pry my grip off of things that I have no control over and trust Him to take care of it. Maybe He’s going to use this difficult time in my life to equip me to help someone else down the road. Who knows what God is up to? I certainly don’t! However, what I do know is that, even in His silence, He is present! He has not left me or abandoned me! I do know that, even in His silence, He has a purpose and a plan being carried out, and I know that His purpose and His plan will never fail me. I know that everything He does is for my good…even when it feels like it is going to destroy me! I do know that, even in His silence, He hears me and He knows every moment of my struggle. I also know that, even in His silence, His grace is enough to see me through!
“For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
When God is Silent
Posted on: 7-15-112014
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Yesterday at church, my pastor told us about a sinkhole in Bowling Green, Kentucky that had caved in beneath the National Corvette Museum. At one point, 8 Corvettes had fallen into the sinkhole. Museum personnel have been working with a team of excavators to try to recover these automobiles whose value has yet to be determined. They have successfully recovered 5 of the cars at this time, but 3 remain trapped in the sinkhole. A spokesperson for the museum reported that one of the cars that remains in the sinkhole had an estimated value of one and a half million dollars. Right now, the museum personnel is at a standstill in determining how to proceed because the team of excavators doesn’t want to continue the recovery process. They are afraid that any further recovery efforts may cause the sinkhole to cave in even more. Understandably, they don’t want to risk their lives in an attempt to recover these cars, no matter how valuable they are. Our pastor used this story as a symbol of how we’re all in a sinkhole on the verge of collapse…the sinkhole of our sin. As I thought about this analogy, I had to agree that we are all trapped by our sin with no way out on our own. However, unlike these Corvettes, there is Someone who was willing to brave the “sinkhole” in an effort to save us…Jesus! He looked upon us in the deepest, darkest sinkhole of sin that we could get ourselves in to and He knew that He couldn’t leave us there. He knew He had to come and rescue us…even if it cost Him His life, which it did. He knew that we would be rescued from the “sinkhole” of our sin, but He also knew full well that He would die saving us. He knew that the full weight of our sin would fall upon Him and crush Him. Knowing all of this, He still willingly went to the cross to rescue us for, unlike the Corvettes who can have a monetary value placed upon them, we are of infinite value to Him.
“But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5
Trapped in a Sinkhole
Posted on: 7-15-112014
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Yesterday, my 7 month old grandson and I walked in our first 5K, which is a little over 3 miles. When I signed us up for the race a couple of weeks ago, I set a goal for us to finish in under 45 minutes. Now, on my own, I knew that I could walk it in under 45 minutes, but pushing him in a stroller and having to take into account whether or not he was going to cooperate was a different story. He and I have been walking together since he was 3 days old, but he usually is ready to get out of the stroller after about 2 miles, especially now that he’s crawling everywhere. He likes to be on the move and being confined in a stroller doesn’t always fit into his plan. Thankfully, he made it the whole way without any difficulty! I had to stop a couple of times to readjust his toys, but other than that, I didn’t have any problems. I am very happy to say that we beat our goal with time to spare and were the first walkers to finish. I am proud that we beat our goal and am already working on setting a new goal for our next 5K in May. As Christians, we need to set a goal for ourselves as well…the goal of becoming more like Christ each day. It doesn’t happen overnight…it is something we have to work on each day. Just as my grandson and I had to get out and walk every day in order to prepare for the 5K, we have to practice being Christlike each day. It takes effort because it doesn’t come naturally to us. We have to purposefully choose to allow Him to change our actions, our attitudes, our thoughts, our beliefs, and our emotions. We have to purposefully spend time with Him each day so that we truly know Him, for if we don’t know Him, we have no hope of being transformed into His image. We have to decide to lay down our own wants and desires and allow Him to replace them with His own. None of this is easy…it takes diligence and perseverance. We have to keep our eyes focused on the prize of being made more like Him. Just like there were days I really didn’t feel like walking, there are days we just don’t feel like being a reflection of Christ. It’s more convenient to just be our natural selves. However, when we keep our eyes focused on Him, it becomes easier and easier each day. The longer we walk with Christ, the more natural it is for us to be like Christ. When the going gets tough, focus on Him. He will give you everything you need to finish the race with an amazing victory!
“Not that I have attained or am already perfected, but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12 – 14
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