Do you want God to do some awesome things in your life? I know I do! Well, I’ve recently discovered that when God wants to do something awesome in our lives, a lot of times that will require complete surrender, total trust, obedience, and having child-like faith. This would mean truly letting go of our plans and allowing God to take us by the hand to walk us through His ultimate plan! And that could really require us to willingly scrap our own plans to trade them in for His. I’ll be the first to say, although this might not be the easiest thing to do, I just believe that it’s the best thing to do. Let’s go a little further...
Are you one of those people who has a lot of ideas, a creative thinker, quick on your feet, a doer, can make things happen, a mover and a shaker? Yeah…me too! If not, cool beans! Either way, it’s still best to follow God’s plan vs. our own. However, in order to follow His plan, again, that would require some work on our part like…laying down our lives for others, being faithful in the little things, laboring in another man’s vineyard, humbling ourselves under God and His authority, and committing our actual works to the Lord. Proverbs 16:9 says, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” Meaning, sure, we can have ideas or even a plan for that fact. But God is the One who truly determines whether they will come to pass.
I remember so many plans that I thought were great! But then God had to show me that even though they were great to me, they weren’t exactly His. I mean I would get soooo excited and begin working on it and then the Lord would nudge me and let me know that that wasn’t it or that it wasn’t the timing for it. Just to let you in on a few; I’ve gone to college for nearly 10 years and changed my major 5 times, only to discover that God was calling me into full-time ministry. I’d been in several bad relationships, only to realize that after nearly being beaten to death from a date one night that God was really calling me to surrender all, so that He could bless me with a real godly man whom He sent to me only two weeks later (who is my hubby now 🙂 ). And let me not forget the time when I was working two jobs (one which was my own faith-based marketing firm called Gospel Style), when God told me to be content right where I was with my day job and go 100% in that, and just wait. And a couple of months later, that’s when the worst natural disaster (Hurricane Katrina) hit my hometown and the Lord thrust me into another place in Him. Whew! What a move! And did I say that I wrote a piece and entitled it, “The Death of Gospel Style.” Yeah, I think I still have it.
Talk about humbling…Ouch! BUT God is sooooo good! Actually, in spite of what it all initially looked and felt like when all of these things were happening, God still had a better plan, and it worked out for my good in the end. I have to tell you, one of my favorite Scriptures that helps me stay grounded as I wait on God to move in my life now is Jeremiah 29:11 which encourages, “For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘Plans to prosper you not to harm you, plans for a hope and a future.’” Yay! I love it! This refreshes and revitalizes me when I begin to wonder, “Ok, what’s happening Lord? Things are moving kind of slow down here.” But then He also has reminded me of Habakkuk 2:3, “But these things, I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.”
Oh, what an encouragement! He’s at work! I don’t know about you, but the Word of the Lord brings joy to my soul! Nehemiah 8:10 says, “…Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” God’s Word breathes life…when we read it, memorize it, meditate on it, hear it, and study it. You don’t have to be a Bible Scholar to receive this refreshing. Just open the book and read it, and listen for God’s voice through it. He speaks through His Word. Sometimes to encourage, convict, instruct, love on us, or even to deal accordingly. He’s balanced!
You know, as I sum this up, I say all of this to say...we really just have to be careful not to kick any doors open that God has not opened for us or try to make things happen out of time. That is not His will. And it’s so important to consult Him before making any sudden moves or decisions, because our Father does know best. I’ve learned over the years, that when it’s His will and plan, it works out for my good and there's a peace and joy within me.
Listen, if God has whispered or spoken something to you that you know you need to obey, please do it. Or if He’s promised you something for the future, hold onto it and keep the faith. He has not forgotten you. He’s just working things out behind the scenes. He loves you and me, and He does want the best for us. But it will require trust, obedience, fellowshipping with Him, consultation, humility, and making the choice of sweet surrender. And I do mean sweet! Remember the Israelites got mad with God because He wasn’t moving fast enough and they missed the promise land…they became sour, instead. We don’t want to do that! We want to grow in our joy…and the way to experience this is through His Word, while keeping our eyes on Jesus and not on ourselves, our plans, or our circumstances. I encourage you my sister, as I encourage myself, let’s allow the Lord to have His way in our lives, because ultimately, it’s the best way after all. #Iamscrappingit
How about you?
Remember, Jesus is coming back soon! Let’s get ready from the Inside Out!
~Courtnaye
Thanks for reading! Like, comment, or share from my Facebook Fan Page and “Like” it while you’re there! You can “Like” it here now http://www.facebook.com/InsideOutWCourtnaye. Also feel absolutely free to leave a comment here! I’d love to get your feedback! I pray that God will continue to enlighten you to live for Him through His word in your daily life. Stay tuned for new blog posts every Monday at 7:30am on Inside Out with Courtnaye @ www.insideoutwithcourtnaye.org. Also, follow me on Twitter by inoutwcourtnaye. Thanks again![/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
Leave A Comment