Recently I've had things happening in my life that I personally can't take credit for or call coincidence. They are God! I know to a lot of people who will read that will think it sounds a bit "over the top". Even some followers of Christ don't give God enough credit for things that take place in their everyday life. But if He has changed anything in me over the past couple of years, it has been just that. I do look for God. I look for Him the big things, of course, but I also for Him in the very small things. And I firmly believe that God is alway presenting ways for us to be obedient and then watching us to see how we react. These are not small "tests", as some would think, but they are what I would like to call "short cuts" that God puts in our life to get His plan carried out.
God has a plan. He has a plan for you and He has a plan for me. He has an intended path for us to walk down in life and He has purpose for each and every one of us. And I believe that each and every day of our lives He is trying to show us that. I personally have seen those days where it is very clear that God is trying to show me something here and I really need to pay attention. But I have also seen the days where 1 small act of obedience begins to change so many things in my life. One small act of obedience.....I hope you really got that. It's very important for us to recognize when God is nudging us or flat out instructing us to do something. As I have stated in past blogs, spending time alone with Him and listening for Him is the best way to tune into God so you know what those nudges and His voice is like. For it is when we can respond to the little things that I believe God plants short cuts into out lives. Let me give you an example.....If you know God wants you to talk to that coworker and yet you keep putting it off, how many times have you felt just the tiniest crack into a conversation, and yet you did not take advantage of it and begin to tell them all that God has put on your heart. However, something big can happen in your life or theirs, something so big that you know you can tell them what God did for you, or what He can do for them in this time of need. Both of those situations are going to fulfill God's plan for you to tell your coworker about Him. However, the small crack was something God tried to open for you again and again, but instead of hearing God and moving, you had to wait for that one big opportunity to come along. How many weeks, months or maybe even years were lost while you waited for something "big" enough to happen? Now you see what I mean by the term "short cuts". If you would have taken one of those tiny opportunities months or years before, how much further ahead may your coworker be with God today. And that is not a statement to cause regret....not at all. But I am trying to challenge you to become more aware of God and all the small ways He may be asking you something, or showing you something on any given day. THEN, step out and be obedient. It pleases Him, and may be the one thing that puts you on the fast track to the plan He has for you. Sometimes missed opportunities (or as I like to call them, chances to be obedient) just make God have to "reroute" you and create another opportunity later. Don't wait for later and miss out on what God has for you today.
Recently I did something so small, that in the moment I didn't even really know I was being obedient. However, at the same time, God was speaking to someone else and asking them to be obedient too. My act of obedience allowed this NEW believer to act as well. And the results of that have been pretty amazing so far. But it has also opened my eyes to the fact that IF I hadn't heard God and moved, what would have been the impact on this other person's life? Never underestimate how important the things God is asking you to do are. They may have an impact you don't immediately get to see, but I guarantee you they will have an impact.
I have referred to Proverbs 3:5-6 in several blogs because it fits so well in several situations. And today it does once again. When you feel God nudging you to move..."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".
God, I honor You and I thank You for giving us opportunities to serve You and to do Your work. Help us to realize that You have a plan and You are ALWAYS working it. Help us to not let anything seem so insignificant that we overlook it when You are nudging us and Your Holy Spirit is speaking to us. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear so we can always be about Your business. Thank You God! In Jesus name, Amen
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