What is God's Will for My Life?

Acts 9:1-19 (Click on reference to read text)

"What is God's will for my life?"  I must have asked myself this question 100s of times.  My entire life I have weighed every decision trying to figure it out.  Studying the life of Paul has given me a glimpse of the answer.

Paul had a single calling.  He was to bear the name of Jesus Christ before the Gentiles, Kings, and sons of Israel (vs.15).  God did not give him a step by step road map as to where he was to proclaim the name of Jesus, but in His sovereignty God allowed Paul to be in certain places and blocked him from going to other places (Acts 16:6-7).  However, throughout the book of Acts, we see that he never misses an opportunity to talk about Jesus Christ and the resurrection.  Wherever Paul found himself, he simply opened his mouth.

You and I have the same calling.  We are to go into all the world and make disciples teaching them to observe all that God has commanded us (Mathew 28:19-20).  We don't have to know where we are going to live five years from now, 10 years or even 1 year.  We don't have to know who we are going to marry, how many kids we are going to have, what ministry opportunities we might be involved in or what job we are going to have.  We just have to open our mouth and proclaim Christ wherever we are.  That means when He gives me an opportunity to share at the grocery store, I need to be obedient.  I need to teach Christ to my children in my home now, regardless whether I have any more children in the future.   The details are irrelevant.  God in His sovereignty has us where we are now for a reason.  Just obey.  It is really that simple!

Paul states towards the end of his life that he had lived his life with a perfectly good conscience before God to that very day (Acts 23:1).  Oh to be able to say these words, but the truth is we can!  We have a single calling: to glorify God and proclaim the hope of the resurrected Jesus Christ.  Join me.  Let's start today where we are and trust God to take us the next step in His perfect timing!

How Do You Pray in the Pain?

2 Samuel 12:13-20 (Click on reference to read text)

Sorry for the long absence.  My family received extremely difficult news at the beginning of this month.  My precious Dad-in-law was diagnosed with cancer in his bone marrow.  One night while praying my husband turned to me and confessed he didn't know how to pray.  We would obviously love to see our Dad healed, but what if it is not God's will?  How do you pray for a miracle and still pray according to the Lord's will?  Maybe you have had this same thought.  After much prayer and seeking Scriptures, I feel confident the Lord has given me a Biblical answer.

When David's son was dying, David fasted and prayed for a miracle.  He didn't eat, he didn't sleep.  For seven days David laid face down begging the Lord to heal his child.  Yet when the child died, he got up, worshiped the Lord and ate.  He prayed for God to heal his child, but he accepted what God allowed.

I also read about Paul.  Paul prayed 3 times for the "tormenting thorn in his flesh" to leave, yet he accepted God's grace to persevere when God did not remove it (2 Cor 12:7-10).   He was not afraid to ask God for relief, but His faith was not shaken when God answered no.

The Disciplers Bible Study Commentary for the book of Acts states, " They...were putting God to the test.  They were questioning God after His will had been revealed." 

I truly believe it is Biblical to ask the Lord for healing, restoration, or whatever is needed in the lives of your family or yourself.  After all, God is our Heavenly Father and desires to hear our hearts cry.  However, we must not put God to the test by questioning God after He reveals His will by either answering or denying our request.  We must choose to follow David's lead, offer a sacrifice of praise in the midst of our pain.  Praising God in the pain is not easy, but it is necessary in keeping our hearts stayed on Him (Heb 13:15).

I urge you... pray!  Pour your heart out to your Heavenly Father.  Ask to see the mighty movements of His hand.  Expect to see His power displayed.  However, resolve now to believe that God is good no matter His answer.  Turn to Him whether the outcome is wonderful or painful, and know that in the tears, you are not alone!

"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Ps 34:18

Afraid to Look...

Acts 3:1-10 (Click on reference to read text)

I like to look the other way.  There I said it!  I was faced in a situation yesterday where I knew someone was in need.  Somehow, even before I knew all the details, I knew it would require sacrifice, laying aside my selfishness and I would need to give.... my time, my energy, my emotions, etc.  And I wanted to not just look away, I wanted to run away as fast as possible.  However, deep down I knew God was calling me, and after literal tears and reciting all the justifications for why I should not have to get involved, I obeyed.

Peter was also faced with a great need.  On his way to church to pray, he passed a man who was lame and who begged for a living.  It would have been easy to look away, to justify that action by reciting all the things he was doing right for the Lord (he was on his way to church!) but instead, the Scripture tells us that Peter "fixed his gaze on him" (vs. 4).  He was intentional and he was not afraid to see the pain in others around him.  He was not inconvenienced by the needs of others.

Secondly, after fixing his gaze on the needy man, he offered his hand.  "Seizing him by the right hand, [Peter] raised him up" (vs.7).  He was healed!  God used Peter to give this man the use of his legs for the first time!  If we want the power of God displayed in our life, we must fix our gaze on the needs of those around us and  lend them our hands!  God does not use onlookers!  God uses those who are unafraid to get dirty and be the literal hands and feet of Christ.

Lastly, because Peter looked and responded, this man began giving glory to God and created interest of God's miracles amongst those witnessing God's power (vs. 8 and 10).  What greater calling is there in this world that to bring Glory to our Great God?

Dr. T.S. Laniak states, "we need to know personally that our true home is in Heaven and that this earth is simply a place where we promote God's interests."  When we get comfortable and feeling at home here and now, it becomes hard to gaze at anything but ourselves. 

I don't know what God's plans are for me and this road I am about to walk.  I feel incapable of fulfilling what He has asked me to do.  I do know that His strength is made perfect in my weakness (2 Cor 12:9) and that He has giving me everything I need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:4-8).  I don't know the future, and to be honest I am a little scared, but I do know the next step God is asking me to take and that He has promised that He is with me and that I don't need to be afraid.  Time to start looking and start lending a hand.

Devising My Plans...

1 Kings 22:29-35 (click on reference to read text)

I never thought I would say this, but I sure can act just like King Ahab. He was told by a prophet of the Lord that he would die if he went into battle. Instead of believing the word from the Lord, he charged ahead anyway, just with a plan! He disguised himself and dressed like a regular army man because the enemy army was only charged to "fight with the King of Israel alone" (vs. 31). However, a "certain man drew his bow at random and struck the King of Israel in a joint of the armor" (vs. 34). It did not matter how much manipulation or plans he devised, God's will still came to pass.

I can count numerous times that I have tried in my best might and ability to control all the details of situations in my life. I have devised great plans over the course of my life on how to find a husband, get the perfect job, find the perfect house, protect my family, prepare for the future, save us money, and raise my children. The problem, all in my own strength and personal ingenuity! Throughout my life in each of these situations, I have had to come to the point of surrender and trust the Father. And guess what? When I depend on His ways, His strength, His thoughts, and His power... things just seem to have a way of working out (often times better than I could have hoped).

When will I finally learn that God is Sovereign... PERIOD!?! When will I truly believe, and actually show through my actions, that "his ways are higher than my ways and his thoughts than my thoughts (Is 55:8-9), and that although I can plan my course the Lord will direct my steps (Prov 16:9)? Praise the Lord for that truth because I know His ways are best and always work out for my good (Ro 8:28)! I trust the heart of my Father. I know that He loves me so much He gave everything for me (Ro 8:32, 1John 3:1). It is time to start walking out the faith that my heart believes with certainty! So... my lesson today... give up my ingenious plan and just start believing the loving voice of my Father. Will you join me?

For further reading: Ps 37:25, Matt 6:33, Prov 3:5-6, Prov 3:7, Is 5:20-21, Phil 1:20-21, Phil 3:7-14

Bloom Where You are Planted...

Jeremiah 29:1-11 (Click on reference to read text)

My husband and I are in the process of praying for the Lord's direction for our family. We desire His will and long to follow His leading. There are definite seasons in all believer's lives where we really are seeking out the heart of God and His will for our life.

However, often during these times of great seeking, waiting for the answer is almost debilitating. We may find ourselves no longer living in the present and being faithful where He has us now, because we are so wrapped up in where He wants us to be! I truly believe this is not of the Lord.

Although we are all familiar with Jeremiah 29:11, it is important to read and know the verses that precede it. The Israelites were in exile and they were definitely waiting for the Lord to give them a "go"! They were living for the promise that the Lord would bring them back to their home and prosper them, giving them a future and a hope! However, the Lord commands them to build houses (where they were), to live in them, to plant gardens, to marry and have children, to actually seek out the welfare of the city they were living in NOW (notice not their future city, but where they found themselves today), to pray to the Lord for that city they were living in NOW (vs. 4-7).

For lack of a better word, God wanted them to "bloom where they were planted." Where has God planted you? Is it in your ideal place? Are you waiting for God to fulfill His promise to you, "I have a plan to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope" (vs. 11)? Then start planting. Don't get so wrapped up in His potential future plans for you that you miss out on all the opportunity He has for you now. His promises always come to fruition. In His timing! We must not squander the time we have today, longing for tomorrow's promise.

So as I wait on His voice and leading for my family, I am going to spend my day going to the grocery store, taking my children on a walk with my neighbor, hosting events at my house to reach my community for the Lord, and if and when He opens that next door, I will be obedient and ready to walk through it.

A Little Oil in the Hands of God...

1 Kings 17:1-16 (Click on reference to read text)

Paul, Peter, Stephen, Deborah, Esther, Ruth, Timothy... all great names of men and women who were used by God in mighty ways. I don't think any of us would question whether their life was a waste. We would all say that they fulfilled the great purpose of God and lived a life pleasing to Him. However, that often leads us to ask, what about me? God has not used me to plant churches all over the world, stand up and preach to thousands, save a nation, etc. I am just a girl from the South, raising two kids, helping my husband, and trying to plant His Word in my home. Will I ever measure up? Why don't we ask that same question to a little widow that was just trying to keep her child from starving.

The widow of Zarephath was literally doing all she could to simply keep her child and herself alive. That is all we know of her, until Elijah shows up at her door. He didn't ask her to face the prophets of Baal or try to talk some sense into Queen Jezebel. No, he asked her for a piece of bread and some water. However, he asked her for all she had. She replies to Elijah, "As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar... that I may prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die" (vs. 12). We then see her "go and do according to the word of Elijah"(vs.15).

Her purpose, feed the man of God. Help him so that he could continue on His way. Was God pleased with her? YES! We try so hard to invent these mighty schemes to serve the Lord. We justify our purpose with measurements of human standard (amount of people who came, number of converts, etc). However, God is not asking us for our ideas of what it means to serve Him. God is asking us to obey his voice when He calls. Like the widow, our obedience could directly influence what God wants to do in someone elses's life. Just as God used what the little widow had to further His purpose, He can use the little you have to do the same.

The neat thing about our Heavenly Father is that when we walk in His will, He will provide. Verse 16 tells us that her little bowl of flour "was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke through Elijah." Through this miracle and her obedience she received more than the blessing of food for herself and her child. She learned that day that trusting obedience to God and His Word leads to life. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, she too learned that bread sustains life but doesn't guarantee life, only God can do that. That lesson is priceless.

She may have just been a little widow that gave a loaf of bread, but her life was not a waste. A life of obedience is never a waste. Maybe God wants to use you or me in a way that we could not even imagine. Maybe one day I will have the opportunity to speak to thousands, go throughout the world and preach the good news, or maybe I will feed those who are already preaching and pray for those who are already serving. I do know one thing, God wants me to use what I have for Him. He wants me to obey Him in everything... Even if it means giving a loaf of bread.

The TimeTable of My Savior...

Exodus 2:11-15, 3 and 4 (Click on reference to read text)

Have you ever tried to serve the Lord, only to have it backfire and land you in the "desert"? Welcome to Moses's life.

Many times we have great ideas to further the Kingdom of God. We rush ahead, sure that this idea was divinely inspired, but instead of the planned outcome, we find our self in the desert. The natural response would be to become bitter, angry, disillusioned and disappointed. However, we must remember that God's ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), and the desert may be just the place he needs us.

The desert taught Moses to stop and listen. "When the Lord saw that he (Moses) turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" and he said, "Here I am" (vs. 3:4). Moses learned to recognize and heed the voice of God. Instead of charging ahead and making his own plans he listened to what God had to say. We too must learn this lesson. God does not need us in order to see his purpose accomplished, but he desires to use us for His glory. We must seek His voice to find out how He wants us to glorify Him.

Second, the desert taught Moses to fear the Lord. In verse 6 we find Moses hiding his face, afraid to look at God. Proverbs tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One brings understanding (9:10). Just as we desire our children to not cower in fear of us, but to respect us enough to trust that what we say is right and should be followed, we too should have a healthy fear of the Lord. His Word is full of wisdom and direction. We need to approach every decision we make in light of a healthy reverence of the Lord. If it is not for His glory, then it is not for our good!

Third, the desert taught Moses humility. We find Moses arguing with God saying, "who am I that I should go?"(vs. 3:11). Instead of rushing in and taking the bull by the horns, he is questioning to see if God got it right! Later we read that Moses was the most humble man on the face of the Earth (Numbers 12:3). What changed? 40 years in the desert. Instead of bemoaning your circumstances we need to ask God what He wants to teach us through them. Find out the lesson He wants you to learn. We know that in all things God will work for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Believe that promise and start being obedient to the Lord where He places you now. Who knows, He may be preparing you to bring deliverance!

Fourth, the desert taught Moses true confidence. Chapter 3 and 4 of Exodus finds God telling Moses exactly how it is all going to go down. He doesn't send Moses in unprepared. He even warns him that Pharaoh is not going to let go easily. However, we see a wonderful thing: "No time is spent convincing Moses of what he can do, but much time is spent explaining to Moses what God can do. The strength of Moses is never considered... the strength of Moses is not the issue, the strength of God is" (Max Lucado). Moses learns that "we can do all things through Him who gives us strength (Phil 4:13), "that when we are weak we are actually strong" (2 Cor 12:10), that God in fact uses the weak things of this world to shame the strong (1 Cor 1:27). Human weakness always opens the door for God's power to shine through. Moses learned that confidence is not found in his abilities, but in God's!

There are a lot of other lessons he learned here, but you get the point. The desert is not always as dry as it first appears. Know that even though you may find yourself here, you are not alone. Be strong and courageous for the Lord your God is with you wherever you may go (Joshua 1:9). Start praising God for his presence, for His wisdom in bringing you hear, and open your ears to what He might be telling you. Listen to his command, "Remove your sandals from your feet" (be still and know that He is God) "For the place on which you are standing is holy ground."

To be Used or Not to be Used?

Matthew 14:22-33 (Click on Reference to read Scripture)

Do you want to be used by God? I am talking about being used in supernatural ways that all of earth will be changed because of the life you lived? We all would answer yes. Just writing these words makes my heart long that He uses me in ways that can only be described as supernatural. I have often prayed over the years that the Lord would use me greatly, beyond my imagination. However, when He begins to answer this prayer, and things don’t always seem to go as planned, we often falter in our faith and become like Peter… sinking instead of walking.

There are people in the Bible, many who entire books of the Bible are devoted to and who are still known and talked about thousands of years later, who were called to do some pretty bizarre things in the name and will of God. Let me list a few:

1. Isaiah was commanded by God to walk around naked for THREE YEARS in order for God to get his point across to pagan nations (Is 20).
2. God took the life of Ezekiel’s wife suddenly and then commanded Ezekiel not to mourn as a testimony to Israel (Ez 24:15f).
3. Hosea was commanded to marry a prostitute that would cause him no end of heartache (Hosea).
4. Mary, who was called highly favored of God and the mother of Jesus, endured serious trials. She was more than likely scorned and ridiculed the moment she showed up pregnant and not married, her fiance almost abandoned her, she had to flee her country in the middle of the night to save the life of her family, and she had to watch her son be crucified and mocked in front of her very eyes (Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 1:18-25, Matthew 2:13-15, John 19:16-30).
5. Moses had to basically spend his entire adult life in the dessert, NOT the promised land, and lead an entire nation of complaining people which constantly doubted his authority and his relationship with God (Exodus 16:1-21, 17:1-7, Numbers 11:10-15, Joshua 1:1-2).
6. Paul, Peter, John, and all the original disciples either spent time in prison, were stoned, definitely ridiculed, homeless, shipwrecked, exiled, and martyred for the Kingdom of God.
7. Daniel was thrown into a den of lions just because he prayed every day to God (Daniel 6).

And I could literally go on and on. Louie Giglio once said, “God does not use anyone mightily that He does not test thoroughly.” I am not saying that God is going to command you to walk around naked for three years, take away your spouse, or ship you off as Lions food, but if he does, will you still praise him? Will He still be the Lord of your life and the desire of your heart? That is a tough question, but God is worth it. His reward is for eternity.

Let’s not get so focused on today that we lose the big picture of how God wants to use us for eternity. The waves may be crashing down all around us, but God still wants you to walk on water and follow him. You only have one shot here on earth to be used by God. Are you willing to be sold out and have him do things in your life that can only be described as supernatural, even when they might not be exactly like you imagined?

Just as God asked Isaiah: Whom shall I send? May I respond likewise, "Here I am, send me!" (Isaiah 6:8)

God Truly Works for Our Good

Genesis 29:16-28 (click on text to read reference)

When trials come our way, we often hear quoted, "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him" (Romans 8:28), and if we are to be completely honest, sometimes our reaction is, "Yeah, right... not this time!" When storms hit hard, it is easy to begin doubting these promises in the Word, but it is during these times we must hold dear to all that Christ is!

Jacob's entire marriage to Leah was because of deception, a sham. The sins of another man forced Jacob into it. Yet because of Jacob and Leah's marriage, Judah was born (Gen 29:35), and from the lineage of Judah was King David (a man after God's own heart and great ruler of Israel) and ultimately Jesus Christ.

No matter how hard Satan tries to harm us, or actually succeeds in destroying our hopes and dreams, God is never removed from the throne. God writes the end of the story. If Jacob never married Leah, the Messiah would not have come through his lineage. Lineage was so important to the Israelites and God could not have blessed or honored Jacob more than by allowing the Son of God to be his descendant.

The fact is that we live in a fallen world. Satan longs “to kill, to steal, and to destroy” yet we must remember the end of that verse, Jesus says, “but I have come to give life, and life to the full” (John 10:10). God is sovereign. God is good. He loves you and we must choose to believe this truth: God, in His great mercy and unfathomable wisdom, is walking with us through these circumstances. We may never know or understand the trial, but we can know and understand our Savior. We too will one day say as Joseph (Judah's brother) said, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done" (Gen 50:20).

Sometimes God Calms the Storm, and Sometimes He Calms the Sailor...

Mark 4:35-41 (Click on reference to read the passage)

Storms come. Sometimes they brew and gear up before they hit you, and sometimes they start without warning and threaten to destroy everything you hold dear. In these times, it is so easy to begin to wonder, "Am I really in the will of God? Did I miss a turn somewhere? Did I not hear his voice right?" However, just because we are in the storm, with waves crashing all around, does not mean that we have strayed from the Father's side.

Jesus told his disciples, "let us go over to the other side" (vs. 35). It was his idea. The disciples were in the will of God during the storm, He was always in control. However, just like the disciples, we often begin to take our eyes off the Savior and focus on the storm. They frantically woke Jesus saying, "Teacher don't you care that we are perishing?" (vs.38). Jesus answered by waking up, rebuking the wind, and making the sea perfectly calm (vs. 39).

Why make them go through the storm? All for one man, that was found on the other side of the shore, that needed the touch of the Savior (Mark 5:1-15). You see, Jesus cares more about eternity than our present comfort. God was willing to have the disciples battle a fierce storm, for the sake of one.

He doesn't always calm the storm, sometimes He just calms the sailor. We need to cling to His robes, rest in His shadow, believe that we can still be in the Will of God, and know that He is good. Instead of asking why, we need to be asking how... how can I bring the most Glory to God right now, where He has me. Trust me, I KNOW this is NOT easy. I stood by the graveside of my Daddy today. My storm hit sudden, and it hit hard. There have been moments in the past few days that I thought surely I would be engulfed, but I KNOW my Savior is still in my boat. As long as the storms rage, I hang on, looking for that one the Savior needs to touch. I leave you with the Words of my Lord...

"Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble of be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you, wherever you may go." Joshua 1:9