The Dilemma
It seems that many of us have “lost our compass.” Maybe we never had one. For the fact is, many of us have no clue where we are going. Some folks want to be selective in the answer to this question. They say yes, God has a sovereign plan for our lives…a specific “best road” scenario in order to fulfill our purpose for His glory with the time that we have here on this planet. But then those same folks will claim…much to their own fleshly wants, that this item or that issue is not part of the mix. For example, I have had such folks tell me that God has not chosen a specific mate for our lives and decry the idea of “Soul Mate.” The argument is presented thus: what if my spouse dies? Can I not remarry? What if I miss my soul mate, am I therefore relegated to a life of being single? What happens if I marry someone who I now think is not my “soul mate”? Should I…can I, then divorce to marry someone else?
Of course, here and in so many other such situations we are placing a non-linear time based God into a linear time based scenario and expecting to make sense of it. I don’t pretend to know the mind of God or how that exactly works in my world. I however see no “permission” to operate outside of God’s direct and express will and plan for my life in any matter, and I find that scripture only paints a picture that He has a quite specific plan for me. There appears to be no “exempt” issues, and if there are, what are they? If I can “choose my wife off the shelf” then can I do so with my career? What church I go to? …the town I live in? or what friends I hang with? How much of my finances I give to God? And if they answer is “no” to these questions, then what is the criteria for such a godless endeavor on my part? The Bible tells me that God “knows how many hairs are on my head.” Job 23 :10-14 says
“But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food. But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does. So he will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny.”
Well? Is the Word of God true or not? Does He control your destiny? All of it or just part of it?
Psalms 37:23-24 says “The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.”
Psalms 139: 1-6 “O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!”
Jeremiah 1:5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.”
Psalms 139:16 “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”
Do I need to continue? Any argument that God is “standing down” in any aspect of the destiny of our lives is based on human reasoning but not scripture. And we all know where human reasoning takes us! It’s just a case of the answer making us uncomfortable so we rewrite scripture to allow us the path we want to take. Such is the same case with the “Family First” doctrine so popular today. No such scriptural directive is found anywhere in the Bible. This is played out throughout Christendom by those who would claim that Christ is in control and that He is “Lord” except for… This path is a slippery slope and many of us eventually find ourselves adrift in a sea of uncertainty and without purpose.
Some of us have chased our own passions and desires for so long, we are miles off course. Perhaps that makes you panic and hyper-ventilate a little. But I assure you that if you are still breathing, it is not too late. You are not “too far out” for God to rescue. Again, let us remember Psalms 37:24; “Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.”
Change
The idea that God has a perfect will for our lives can often cause a paralyses in our movement…fear immobilizing us. Yet “perfect love casts out all fear.” God’s intention was that we do not live recklessly, but that we do live boldly. That we take time to “wait on the Lord.” Psalms 27:14 “Wait patiently for the LORD. (BUT) Be brave and courageous!” (emphasis mine)
“But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:4
Yes, be patient when God is preparing you and the way before you. But keep moving Christian! Ps 37:34 “Put your hope in the LORD. Travel steadily along his path.” Keep dreaming and keep praying! God loves to give good gifts to His kids. (Matthew 7:11) and “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’’ (1 Cor 2:9.) It is so important to you and those in your immediate circle of influence that you have both dreams and vision for your future. Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” The NLT renders that passage thus: “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.” Hmmm. That seems fitting!
What is the plan that God has for your life? Do you know? Are you even looking?
Psalms 37:4 “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.”
(For more information on seeking Gods will: http://jfbelievers.familyds.org:5000/fsdownload/x4Yurc1Iv/Sermon%20Archives
Follow: Tim Dodson – Topical – “Hearing God’s Voice in a Noisy World”)