If you have known me for a while, I am the king of over thinking and worrying. A good friend once told me that she felt that if there was something I wanted to do (either for myself or God) that I would think about the pros and cons of the thing for so long that I would lose my desire to do it or inhibit myself from being able to take any joy in it (I'm paraphrasing a bit). So I am well acquainted with worrying. This is something I have been working on. There is grace for a reason, not to be abused, but to free us from shame and worry so we can move beyond our mistakes and sins to the work God has set before us.
It is so easy when a big decision is upon us. We have this idea that one choice is right and will lead us to the work God has before us and the other will lead to discontentment and being separated from God. I am not saying there are not sinful choices that can lead to discontentment but so often we are choosing between two good options or trying to discern between good and better. Proverbs 20:24 says "A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?" (NIV) We are reminded (and I think promised, yes it's a good thing!) that our lives are not our own, we were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). God has a plan for our lives and if we are abiding in him and seeking his purposes he will be using us and guiding us.
I am NOT saying choose things without prayer and careful consideration. We are told to live for God not ourselves, we are also told to keep the interests of others in mind. We have to discern between good and bad. What I am talking about is having the boldness to pray, think, then act. If we find ourselves in a good vs. good or good vs. better debate we need to pray, seek counsel of those God has put in our lives, then trust that God will use us where we are and move us if necessary. Then take the step of faith that our choice is his.
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV, emphasis mine)
God never intended us to think and worry ourselves to a place where we are paralyzed by fear of how best to serve him. How absurd is that?? We are so scared of how to best serve God we stop or don't start.
God wants our hearts; our works as will his leading will follow that. He is at work and we have the privilege of being part of that work.
Shouldn't get out there and live it?
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1 comment:
Preach, brother! :) Those I wise words...I need to take them to heart. If we're genuinely seeking God in a decision, we can trust that He's not going to lead us in the wrong direction. "Cast your cares on Him because He cares for you."
Have a good weekend!
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