Are You Following God’s Plan or Your Plan?

We read in Genesis chapter 12 the account of God providing Abram with the following instructions:

1.    Get thee out of thy country

2.    And from thy kindred

3.    And from thy fathers house

4.    Go unto a land that I will shew thee

Abram was instructed to follow Gods plan for his life to reap the benefits He desired for him. Abram would be made a great nation, God would bless him, make his name great; and enable him to be a blessing. He would bless those that blessed Abram and cursed those that cursed him and through Abram would all the families of the earth be blessed.

Why did God give Abram specific instructions? Why was it important for Abram to leave his place of residence, leave all of his family, leave his father’s house and go to a place he’d never been before?

Sometimes in order for God to bless us with the magnitude of the things he has in store for us He has to take us away from everything we know and everyone that knows us. When we are in a familiar setting, have all the resources we need why do we need faith? We may believe we can achieve our desires because we ‘know what we are doing’. How often have you said you can do something with your eyes closed because you have done it so many times?

What happens when suddenly you are moved from your comfort zone or are required to do something you have never done before? You are no longer able to depend on your own abilities. You have to seek assistance. God wants to be the assistance that you seek.

Abrams father worshiped idols. Maybe you hail from a Christian family and maybe you do not. Either way just as with Abram, God wants you to look to Him for guidance. He didn’t want Abram following in the path of his father. Have you ever had family members try to convince you to do something their way, or the way it’s always been done? God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. He wants you to do things His way.

Who have you taken with you that you should have left behind? Abram was told to leave his kindred yet he took Lot with him on his journey. As we read further into the book of Genesis we read of strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and Lot’s cattle which caused Abram and Lot to separate. We also read of Lot and his family being taken captive and Abram rescuing them.

Many times we want company on our journey. We are afraid of being by ourselves, we think we are unqualified to do what God has called us to do so we hang on to someone from out past, a security blanket, or we may take someone with us because we are trying to help them out. God is blessing us so we want them to be a part of the blessing.

First, let me say whatever God has called you do He has also equipped you to do and anything you cannot do He will bring people into your life to assist you.

Secondly, if God sends you out and tells you to leave others behind there is a reason. He knows our future just as He knows the future of all those around us. A friend of mine was told of a new job by a friend of his. My friend being the go getter that he is applied for the job, did what was required and was hired by the company. His friend however did not do what was required. My friend constantly pushed his friend, even providing him with money for a class which was needed for employment.

Finally my friend realized as much as he wanted his friend to be hired by this company it was his friend’s decision to do what was required of him. He also realized his association with his friend was impeding his success on the job.

God has blessed each of us with gifts and He will use His gifts as He sees fit. It’s important for us to remember just as God has gifted us He has gifted others. Our gifts differ just as the use of our gifts differ. You and someone close to you may both be gifted musicians. Your gift may be to travel the world and your friend’s gift may be to teach music in a small town. Both gifts are from God and one is not any greater than the other, nor will the reward for one be any greater than the other.

Follow Gods plan for your life. You cannot be someone else and someone else cannot be you. Leave your comfort zone. Become comfortable with the uncomfortable. Allow God to take you to that land that He will show you, where He will bless you, your name will be great, and you will be a blessing.

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

Pick Up the Pieces

Undoubtedly if you are progressing on your way to fulfilling your destiny you have encountered hardship, challenges, discouragement, rejection and perhaps even ridicule at the hand of naysayers.

There are several things you must always bear in mind.

·         People will be jealous of Gods favor on your life. Have you ever experienced someone disliking you for no apparent reason? Try as you may, you may not be able to think of anything that you have done to offend that person. That is because you may not have done anything. The enemy may be using that person as a distraction to prevent you from moving forward in your destiny. You may waste, and yes I did say waste time trying to figure out why someone does not like you. Go before God ask Him to reveal to you if you have done something to offend someone. If He does, ask for forgiveness. If He has given you a vision, dream or passion the enemy is sure to come against you. Because the enemy is a spirit he must use a body, or an individual to do his bidding. Let’s take a look at the opposition faced by Joseph.

o   Genesis 37:4 and when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him and could not speak peaceably unto him.

·         Everyone will not support your vision. You cannot share everything with everyone. Even those that are closest to you may find it difficult to believe, understand and support you, but you must not allow people to make light of your desires. Don’t become discouraged if your “friends” don’t want to listen or encourage you.

o   Genesis 37:5 and Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

·         People may try to prevent you from moving forward. Whether you are employed or self-employed you should not be surprised by people who do not want you to succeed and will intentionally place road blocks in your path.

o   Genesis 37:18-20 and when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

·         Watch out for distractions. Although you may know exactly what it is God wants you to do the enemy may try to entice you to leave Gods plan and follow his. If you are not focused the enemy’s persistent enticement may be difficult to resist.

o   Genesis 39:8-10 and it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife. Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand. There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.     

Try as he may to destroy Joseph and God’s plan for his life one thing remained constant. The favor of the Lord was upon Joseph.

We read in Romans 8:31 what shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Opposition will come, but it cannot overcome. What God has purposed for your life just as He did with Joseph will surely come to pass. When you find yourself surrounded by people that don’t believe in God’s plan for your life you may have to distance yourself from those people. You cannot allow them to distract you and more importantly you cannot allow them to make you doubt what you know is true. If by chance you do fall prey to distractions, become side tracked, or start moving in the wrong direction pick up the pieces. Return to where you know God wants you to be, for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Are You Ready?

The other day my sister asked me to let her dog out of the house. She had been gone most of the day and did not anticipate arriving home in a timely manner. Now you must know Jazzy, my sister’s dog. If any of you have dogs you know they have their own personality and many of them just as Jazzy does think they are human.

Jazzy saw me walking towards my sister’s house and began barking. When I opened the door Jazzy was glad to see me. Usually if you ask her if she wants to go to the mail box she will follow you. This time she didn’t. My sister asked me to pick up her bag of dog food and walk towards the door to see if she would follow. Jazzy just looked at me. I asked her if she wanted to go outside. She laid down on the floor and turned her head away from me as if to say I’m comfortable just where I am. Go away. My sister asked me to put her on speaker thinking if she heard her voice she could coax her into going outside. Again, Jazzy gave me that you can go now look, so I left.

Jazzy was comfortable. I’m sure if she really needed to go outside she would have gone outside.

How many of us are comfortable so we stay where we are?

While pursuing our passion, dream, vision, destiny, many of us are employed in full time jobs which I believe are part of our journey otherwise we wouldn’t be there. Depending on the job, we may put in 40 hours a week or more. We are comfortable because we have income, a means of supporting ourselves and our family. But how much time are we committing to what we know God has called us to do and instilled in our hearts?

Many of us, me included struggle with our commitment to what we know will bring us a satisfaction that only comes with fulfilling our purpose. Our excuses vary. We don’t have time, we’re too tired, and/or we don’t have the money. We also have doubt. What if I’m not good enough, what if I fail, what if this really isn’t God? Excuses, Excuses!

How many people that don’t believe in God succeed because they apply His principles? Have you ever listened to a successful entrepreneur or business owner talk about what makes them successful? Whether they realize it or not they are applying sound business principles which come directly from the bible.

Paul said in Philippians 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

It would be foolish, unless instructed by God, to quit your job and follow your passion full time, but what are you doing to prepare yourself?

What if you woke up tomorrow morning to find all your bills were paid, you had an unlimited line of credit for which you were not responsible for repaying, and a note which read do it now. What would you do, after picking yourself up off of the floor of course?

Are you ready? Can you step out of the door right now and begin doing what you know, that you know, that you know, you should be doing?

In Matthew 25 we read the parable of the ten virgins.

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

² And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

³ They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

⁴ But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

⁵ While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

⁶ And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

⁷ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

⁸ And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

⁹ But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

¹¹ Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

¹² But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

¹³ Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

 

I would like to liken the coming of the Son of man to your opportunity to do what God has called you to do. Will you be ready? Are you like the wise virgins or the foolish virgins? Do you have oil for your lamp? Are you doing everything you need to do so that when your opportunity presents itself, when your gift makes room for you and brings your before great men you will be able to step into your rightful place?

Are you responding like Jazzy when she heard my sister’s voice trying to coax her to go outside? Turning your head the other way, waiting for more than a voice?

God speaks to us in many ways. He is coaxing us by giving us a heart or passion for whatever it is that He has called us to do.  He speaks to us through His word, other people, circumstances and situations. I believe He is speaking to you and me right now through this blog. Will you take heed, be bold, confident in God’s plan for your life, and move out of your comfort zone, or will you rest on your laurels, slumber and sleep as the foolish virgins?