Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Waiting for God's big plan?

I love the story of David. A young man plucked out of a field to be a hero for Isreal. He is a hero that gives all glory to God, and displays His might through the battles he faces. David is seen as a tender heart for God as you read through the Psalms. David makes his mistakes too, but each time they are followed by a resentful, sorrowful, humble heart towards God. As I'm nearing the end of Chronicles I am reading of David and his passion to build the temple for God. David sees a need, and a noble deed that can be done in honor and glory of God. David sees a good plan, that he can accomplish with his God given resources and blessings. He even asks advice from the prophet Nathan, and he sees it as a good thing too! But what happens next is surprising! God says no! God goes to David and tells him that the temple is a good thing, and that it will come, but in God's time and God's plan. He tells David that his son will build the temple. He tells David his own purpose. He reminds David of all that God has planned for him to do. David was made as fighter. He has fought and conquered all around Isreal and kept the lands at peace. He has fought and won battles that show of God's might and strength and blessings in Isreal. David's purpose from God was as a fighter. This also meant that he had blood on his hands and therefore God would not allow him to build the temple. The response here from David could have been immense sorrow, displeasure, a feeling of inadequacy. But David was humble. He praised God for who He was was and His and recognized that God and His plan are sovereign. Then in the next chapter he is back to fighting and conquering again! He is showing off God's plan for him as a warrior for God.
I think this can be a great example in our life. David had a plan for a very noble job! Which seems like the more Godly career or task, fighting and slaying or building a beautiful place of dwelling and worship for God. I can tell you what everyone can day! But God's plans are higher then ours. God said He had His own special purpose for David, and God didn't place David's task of being a warrior any lower then His temple. God had purpose and timing. David showed the appropriate humility when he rejoiced in God and just being a part of God's plans and perfect timing. I know I personally have dreamed big dreams for God! I have had such glorious ideas of ways God could use me to do big things for Him! I've gone through the disappointment when it doesn't work out for me but it does for others. I have been so focused on the future and waiting and waiting for God to give me that "Big" job that is his "real" plan for me. Not this day to day work I've been stuck in.  But God is there next to me saying, where you are and what you are doing is big! It's exactly where I want you! You are in my plan right now, because I always have the perfect plan! I need to react like David and rejoice that God is an amazing God and knows best! God knows what He wants me to do and He has me where I am for a reason. Instead of waiting for something more noble or God-like to pop up for me to do I need to focus on what God is already calling me to do! David was thrown into the title of warrior. He didn't start out that way. He was a shepherd boy! But his first battle with Goliath he stepped into because he was defending God! I need to focus my everyday actions on just answering the little calls and jobs of God around me, because that is where He wants me. Like David  I need to be satisfied and rejoice knowing that God knows me,  I am in His purpose right where I am, and focus on the right now to show His glory with where I am.
I hope you can find the satisfaction of knowing you are in His plan now! And instead of worrying about the "Big" plan you want to do someday, will react like David and get back out there doing the job God has called you. Because if God called you to it - it is the most noble and Godly plan!


Friday, September 12, 2014

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven

      I've had a season change in my life. School has started, church groups have kicked in,  and my life has exponentially gotten busier! In the blissful quiet of Summer I knew this would eventually come. My one to two hour quiet times have become nonexistent, but this year I have been able to stay consistently spending time praying and reading in the morning with God before the rush of my day. What I have learned from this change is that it is ok for your God time to change as your life changes, as long as the one thing that remains the same is your search in your heart after a deeper relationship with Him.
      I have consistently struggled with the "good enough" and "doing enough" feeling in my life. As I transitioned in my life I began to struggle again as I reflected on my time with God and wondered, is it enough? Thankfully a wonderful friend, and accountability partner reminded me as I was rehashing my time with God over the week and wondering if I was doing good enough, that it wasn't about being good enough and with different seasons in our life it's ok to do things differently. That was when God stepped in and reminded me of the wonderful new experiences I have had since everything has been changing. I truly have been enjoying my new morning experiences, and with them God is teaching me new things! These  new things would never have come about if I hadn't undergone a change. Now in my time I read less, but mull over it more. I have been reading more Psalms( because they are short) and have grown my spirit of praise! I have started coloring words in my bible which is a quick way to pick out details. The biggest change is my prayer. Now I am praying a lot more for people instead of myself, and my prayers into humble please for help. My summer turned from a time of comfort and reflection where I searched myself daily with God, into a Fall with constant prayer to God for total reliance to make it through my day and prayers of God using me in every life I come across, which is a lot at school. These changed prayers have opened new ways of seeing my heart, life around me, and new ways of God's amazing grace and mercy.
       My life changed, and so did my time with God, and so did what I have seen and learned about Him. I had started to fall into the temptation of "its about me and me doing enough" which would have sucked me into feeling bad and focusing on myself, instead of reflecting on the amazing mercy and ways of God. Different ways of being with God build the relationship in different ways, much like it does any relationship. These shorter times have taught me more focus and to reach out and make more of the special moments with God. So no matter what season you are in life, its not about are you doing enough, the important thing is to remember to make it a consistent priority of always putting God first and desiring to know Him first.

Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Look to the Lord and his strength;
    seek his face always.
Psalsms 105:3-4