Fifteen years ago, I had a life plan! Today, just a few of the pieces of that plan are in place. Was my strategy flawed? Not so much. Things I could not have foreseen changed the course of my life, Bev’s illness and death, the COVID pandemic, just to name a couple of those. Yet, I am still in God’s hands and at peace. What I learned is the importance of taking the next right step along the way, even when the future is unclear.
James, the pastor of Jerusalem Church, wrote these inspired words to us. "Look here, you people who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog-it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15, NLT)
The real issue for Christians is greater than some detailed life plan. It is our daily obedience. But what is His will? Do you ever wish God would be clearer in His directions? We wonder if we should take that position or stay where we are, if we should invest in that effort or walk away, if it is the right time to buy a house, go to school, get married, go for a second career. We love our options. True disciples of Christ realize that all these plans are made in submission to the will of One who sees beyond today. So, we hold onto our plans loosely, ready to respond to the Holy Spirit’s leading.
How does that happen? While reading about Paul in the book of Acts, we might mistakenly conclude that a voice from the heavens sounded in his ears, pointing him in the right direction. Well, think again. “Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had told them not to go into the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not let them go. So instead, they went on through Mysia to the city of Troas. “Acts 16:6-8 NLT Study a map and you will find that these apostles wandered! Their plans kept changing.
The impressive lesson in this passage is their faithful endurance as they kept walking and waiting. They pushed in one direction until the Spirit said, "No," then they went in another direction. Maybe they wondered IF they had heard from God at all, but they kept moving forward. In the next few verses, we see that God led them into a new region, and they were privileged to extend the borders of Christianity into Macedonia and Phillippi.
Pastor Mike Woodruff wisely observes that often we just ‘do the next thing.’ “After Jesus raised Jairus’s daughter from the dead, he instructed her parents to keep the miracle a secret. He also told them to get her something to eat. In the past, I’ve wondered about the secrecy. I’m now intrigued by the sandwich. Why? Because it fits a pattern.
After healing a paralytic, Jesus told him to pick up his mat and walk. After cleansing a leper, he told him to report to a priest. After preventing a stoning, Jesus told the woman to “go and sin no more.” Jesus didn’t demand people develop a life plan. Nor did he leave them alone. Instead, he directed them to do the next right thing. It was an immediate and simple step forward.”
IF we choose a daily response of obedience to love Him, to
love others, keeping our heart and mind in a worshipful place, HE WILL GUIDE US.
Many choices need no special revelation to us. These things are always the
right choice.
Love others.
Be forgiving.
Do good works.
Stay in fellowship with God’s people.
Tell others about His love.
Have a servant’s heart.
Keep a prayerful heart.”
A heart yielded to His Lordship is the key to ultimately
finding our way to peace and contentment and will cause us to know the greater
fulfillment in His service. There are so many reasons we don't always sense the
Spirit guiding us as clearly as we might wish. There are -
-the tests that come to lead us to deeper trust and greater intimacy with God,
-the circumstances unknown to us but known to God Who is always at work for our
good,
-the sins that make us insensitive to God’s Spirit,
-the pride and/or prejudice that makes prayerless and self-willed.
If you're feeling like you’re on a detour from your plans,
if you feel like you are just wandering at the moment, stay faithful! Do the
next right thing.
Keep praying. Don't sit down and feel sorry for yourself! God is alive and
well. He is actively working out His plans and purposes, so keep the faith.
Keep walking and waiting, listening, and responding.
The word from the Word is a beautiful passage, packed with promise. Take it with you today and live in His peace. “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:13)
Amen
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