I think one of the hardest things about being a Christian sometimes is not letting your own personal agenda get in the way of God's plans. It is so easy sometimes to just set our feet to a path because we feel like we are doing God's work, without getting clear direction from Him that this IS what He has actually called YOU to do. One way I think this happens (with good intentions) is by looking at the life of another Christian and seeing the path they are on, or the work they are doing, and then trying to replicate that. It's very easy to think "this is what God would want me to do", without actually getting confirmation from Him. However, it is so critical that each one of us know exactly what God has called us to do.
Each follower of Christ has different gifts and talents. (see Romans 12:6) Some of which may have been released already, and some which you may not have even be tapped into yet. So it is very important that the path you are on, and the work you are doing to advance God's kingdom, is in accordance with the gifts and talents that He has put in you. And if you are not sure what those are....seek God! Ask Him to reveal your gifts and His plans for your life. Proverbs 16:9 tells us that He establishes our steps, so who better to ask than Him. And sometimes it takes patience for Him to reveal His plans to you. So be sure not to jump ahead of the Lord. Everything is in God's timing. Psalm 27:14 tells us to be strong and wait for the Lord. I don't think the words in this verse are just coincidence....where it tells us to "be strong". God knows that sometime waiting takes more strength than doing. And to be honest, that was one of the toughest things I had to learn in 2014...to wait. But God's timing truly is best and even though we may not know why we are waiting, He does. It may be that He is still building you up for the plans He has for you. It may be that He is using this time to strengthen your trust in Him, by waiting. It may be that He is lining up other things that you can not even see. No matter what the reason for the wait is, but sure to do as directed by God...even if that means to wait.
Each of us have "our own plans". I know this because we are all human beings. And as such we have been given beautiful minds that allow us to think, be creative, make plans and carry them out. However, do not let your mind get in the way of your faith. Proverbs 19:21 says "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand". See, God knew we would struggle in this area and He gives us instructions on how to not let that mind He gave us take over.
Everything I do and everything I put my mind and my hands to, I want to be blessed by God. But the one sure way to make sure that happens is to stay in constant communication with Him and do when He says to do...and wait when He says to wait. I am not to mimic the life of my fellow Christian brothers and sisters, but instead I am to see the specific path and plans that He has laid out for me. No matter the topic, God needs to be involved in it. It can be so easy to convince ourselves that this is not something God would even care about, so I'm just going to do it this way. Not true! God cares about every detail of our lives and wants us to make Him a part of those details. From the little to big things.
If you know you have been going through life making choices without confronting God, or waiting on Him, let today be the day you change that. Seek God and LET Him show you that His agenda, His path, His plans and His blessings are far better than anything you could imagine for yourself. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God not only has plans for you, but they are to give you a future and a hope. If you ask me, that's a pretty amazing guarantee from the Word of God and I'll take that over my own plans any day!
God, Thank You so much for planning out every detail of our lives. Please help us to trust You more and to wait upon Your Spirt to guide us into those plans. Forgive us for the times that we have jumped ahead of You and done things You never intended for us to do. And help us to realize that when we wait on You, not only will we benefit from it, but so will Your kingdom. In Jesus name, Amen
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