Turn Around: Letting Go of Your Best Laid Plans

If you're joining us from Encouragement Cafe, welcome! It's so good to visit with you.

U-turn by Jordan Nielsen
Flickr.com_97338266_ed37f724df_CC BY-ND 2.0

I accepted a job, against Godly counsel that looked promising in every way: more money, better and cheaper health benefits, a lucrative 401K plan and still close to home. 

Within eight weeks none of that mattered as I found every facet of my life turned upside down. My pride kept me going, holding onto this job that I just knew was right, but screamed, "TURN AROUND! WRONG WAY! DO NOT ENTER!"

Month after month things grew worse, at home and at my job, but I was in this job to stay, like I had something to prove to God, and planted my feet firmly under my desk. Then one day, I lost my footing; literally tripped and fell, head-first into a solid, steel reinforced fire door. Even then, while suffering painful concussive headaches, I stubbornly stayed. Two months later, I surrendered - admitted I'd made a wrong decision - begged God's forgiveness, and let God’s healing process begin.  

When we find ourselves in the midst of disaster—when it's obvious we made the wrong decision, how do we just turn around?

1.       Stop! Make an about-face and turn back towards God.

2.      Set things right. Admit your mistake and ask God's forgiveness.

3.      Step in line. Ask God, "Which path?" and walk on it.

4.      Seek Godly counsel from someone who will keep you accountable to God's will.

5.      Savor God's presence. Develop daily God-time. God alone is our ultimate counselor. Be intentional with reading His Word, praying about your struggles, your intentions, and listen for His advice. He will speak if we listen and welcome His presence into our daily lives.

God did a miraculous healing in my life both physically and spiritually in the months that followed. He taught me about abiding and being still and knowing him as God; God of creation and God of my life. He taught me total dependence on Him for every need and showered me with grace and good gifts.

Are you in the midst of a tough decision? Is it dangling promises and prosperity, but Godly counsel says, "Stop?" Won't you take the time to stop and seek God's presence, ask Him what His plans are for you? Ask, "What's the right path, God?" and walk in on it.  God promises, "I will counsel you and watch over you." What is there to fear?

Abba, I pray for all my brothers and sisters facing a tough, life-changing decision today. May they set aside their own plans, seek godly counsel and most importantly, seek your will for their lives. Shine your Light on the path you’ve chosen for them – the path that keeps them in step with your will. Amen.

When All You Hear is Silence

"... Search your hearts and be silent." Psalm 4:4

Sometimes I don't understand what God's doing in me, through me, or around me. Do you ever feel that way, too? Like you're playng a part in some great adventure but you have no clue what it's all about or what you're doing in the middle of it all?

Each day you show up, interact with all the characters on Life's Stage because that's what God's asked you to do. Some days it all makes sense - the tasks and conversations all point to some significance - but other days you struggle with your lines and your stage presence is awkward at best. You stand there listening for any backstage cues, but all you hear is silence.  

Bustling busyness surrounds you and yet you're frozen in one spot, still listening for some direction, a line, a clue and you're left standing there in awkward, crazy nothingness. Uneasy and feeling quite useless, you race backstage, rummage for your script to find it's blank - no lines, no direction - nothing. Taking your obviously defective script to the director, you ask for a trade, but he refuses - barely takes his eyes off the action on Life's Stage - says it's supposed to be blank.

"Just take your place," the director smirks. "It'll all make sense in the end."

Isn't that life sometimes? (Let's switch scenes and meet over at Christian Childrens's Authors blog for the rest of the story).

Rainy Days and Mondays

"I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." Jeremiah 31:25

I need a rainy day, now and then, when heaven pours down buckets of cool, refreshing rain under overcast skies. It's days like these when my mind relinquishes its normal scatter-brained push and pauses to hear the sleepy, pitter patter rhythm outside my window.

On these rainy days, when my "to do" list is blank, I slow down and enjoy a few simple pleasures: an hour more sleep under fuzzy warm blankets,  long, hot sips of pumpkin spiced coffee, extended quiet time curled up in my comfy chair, the new book aroma, the glide of my pen across blank pages, or simply an afternoon nap under Mom's hand-sewn quilt.

The rains fall and wash over my soul reminding my spirit who God created me to be. It's days like these when I can reflect on what God's done, focus on what He's doing now, and ask Him where He's leading me.

It's in the peace and quiet - the nothingness - where I hear God whisper and feel Him draw nearer. (Okay, in all honesty, it's in the nothingness where I'm left speechless, my mind declutters enough to hear God speak, and I lean in closer to Him).

Today is one of those days.

What kind of day refreshes you? What simple pleasures satisfy your heart? {I love it when you share your thoughts, so please don't be shy}.

Father,
Thank-you  for slow, rainy days and empty "to do" lists that serve to draw us closer to you.
Amen