Change

I think that sometimes we can get so caught up in what we do: our location, our job, our daily activities... at least I know that I do.  While I believe the Lord is sovereign over each of out lives, and always works things out for good to those that love Him, I just keep thinking that maybe we put too much emphasis on "doing" the "right" thing... making the right move, taking the right job, etc... those are the things we see as obedience.  And I know that the Lord IS specific with us, He leads us, helps us make the choices that are going to be best for us and that will bring Him most glory.  But if its true that He is always with us, and nothing can separate us, and that we make plans but He directs our steps, then does it really matter (mostly) what we choose to do?  Or what we make plans to do?

I wonder if in our waiting of receiving confirmation after confirmation that what we are going to move forward in is indeed what please the Lord, we just don't move at all because we are hesitant and fearful with the wrong kind of fear.  When sometimes I just wonder if the Lord isn't seeing it with that perspective.  If we move out of faith and trust that God will direct our steps.  I have thought a lot recently about Paul mentioning in His letters of how he desires to go and see certain peoples and that he has made attempts to see them but they never worked out.  I don't think it was displeasing to the Lord for Paul to begin to make a journey to see these people, but the Lord had other things in mind for him, and He directed Paul's steps to fulfill those plans.

I just wonder if its part of the deception of the enemy to get us so focused on doing these physical things to "please" the Lord rather than searching inward and pleasing Him with the state of our attitude, with loving Him with our heart and seeking peace, righteousness and holiness.  Romans 12:17 - For the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  If we seek these things, and love the Lord with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind, then I think the choices we make will already be what is pleasing to the Lord because most likely they will be unselfish and based off of the desires that the Lord has placed in us rather than what we have placed within ourselves.

He desires good for us.  He knows what's best for each of us.  His ways are so mysterious and so much higher than our ways.  I cannot begin to wrap my mind around how we works everything together.  He knows everything that is to come - in each of our lives.  Yet gives us the privilege to choose - but its already known - and he works it all out for good.  He is sovereign to let us choose but to already know what we will do.  Ecclesiastes 3:15 - "That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks that which has passed by."

I want to BE someone pleasing to the Lord... He does not desire for us to worry about the decisions we make or the things we do.  A fruit of the Spirit is peace.  Jesus is the prince of peace.  He came to bring us peace.  Peace of soul and spirit.  Peace of mind.  Why can't we just live content in our situations and take each day as it comes.  We do not know what the next five minutes of our life will bring.  Something could happen that could drastically change our lives, or nothing could happen at all.  But we cannot anticipate what might happen.  I think we just have to trust God as our Father who loves us and our Lord who is in control over our lives.  That as we walk in Him, He takes us where we need to go - not necessarily where we want to go, or think we will go.

Our purpose is to fellowship with Him, to love Him, to bring glory to His name, to abide in Him, share His love with others...  Others things are just what we do to get by during our time here on earth.  I do believe the Lord is specific with us about our lives and does tell us things, so when we know that, we should walk in obedience.  But then I think there are times when the Lord doesn't give us the answers as clearly as others.  When we ask, we receive.  But we receive the way He wants to give it.

I just want to live a life that is honouring to Him.  A good point was made during a conversation I was having with my wise friend, Krista.  That in everything we do, we are either gratifying our flesh or our spirit.  And they are always in opposition with one another.  So in any decision we make, there will be discomfort or displeasure of some kind, either towards our flesh or towards our spirit.  Either way, one side will be unhappy and unfulfilled.  Which one would you rather live with.  Discomfort of flesh or discomfort of spirit.  While in the flesh it may cause some suffering, but you can bear through it.  Discomfort of spirit will tear you apart, with anxiety and restlessness.  So what will I choose?