God Directs Our Plans

“And now I am going to Jerusalem, drawn there irresistibly by the Holy Spirit, not knowing what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit has told me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead.

But life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about God’s almighty kindness and love.” Acts 21: 22- 24 [The Living Bible]

 

Many times I wish God would just tell me what’s happening in my life, and why, and direct me so specifically.  I think if He would give me such clarity I would just focus completely on His words to me and do it. And yet I can think of nudges He has given me, even convictions I know were directly from Him, which I ignored. 

 

Why would I ignore God’s direct message to me?  There are several reasons which apply at different times. Sometimes I think God just can’t be serious.  He knows my personality.  He knows that’s far too hard for me.  I can’t do it.  The problem is I just don’t want to stretch that far.  I might embarrass myself and fail.  Then what?

 

Other times I think that’s a huge beautiful assignment.  Is that really His voice?  Would He ask me to do that?  I look around; maybe He’s asking that person sitting beside me on the church pew.  Maybe this message is for him nor for me.  I just overheard it.

 

I hope I’m growing to be more like Paul.  He felt such a compulsion to go to Jerusalem even if suffering lay ahead.  He listened and obeyed so the Holy Spirit could clearly guide him.  He determined to do what God told Him and never made excuses.  Do I really want such clarity from God?  Do you? It’s the only way we will ever have the strength to do the things of God.

 

Bible Truths to Share with Your Kids:

 

Do you ever wonder what God wants you to be or to do with your life?  You have time to decide what vocation to choose but you might be worrying if you will make the right choice.  What if you decide to do something which you will hate?

 

Not to worry. God always gives us enough light for the step we are taking at the moment.  He might not make it clear to you what courses you need to take later in high school but He will direct you as to what you should be doing today.

 

How did Paul know God was talking to him and how did He understand?  Paul had a big secret.  I found it and I’ll share it with you.  He had a real close relationship with God.  He talked with God every day. He listened to God and obeyed Him.  That doesn’t mean he was a holier than the other person or spiritually arrogant; out of touch with people.  No. He was close to a lot of people and cared about them and taught them what God taught him. He even spent time working, mending tents for a living, when he wasn’t preaching.

 

If you don’t know what God is directing you to do later you can still be certain that He has the same message for you that He had for Paul.  He wanted Paul to tell others about Him.  That’s why He sent Paul to Rome.  In the same way He wants you to tell the people in your life about Him. And as you take one step to please Him He shows you the next step.  It’s like climbing a ladder.  You take one rung at a time. Eventually you get to that rung or step you worried so much about. But by the time you get there you have grown so much and learned so much that it’s easy to do.