Where are You? – Part Two of Five

Posted on December 4, 2021 by Mike

DECISIONS

Following God’s plan for your life is not always easy. Sometimes it’s difficult to be certain we are even going in the right direction. Sometimes we have a hard time seeing precisely what God wants from us on any given day. “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14) The world we live in wants our emotions to take over when we are unsure of God’s presence. The enemy wants us filled with anxiety and frustration that leads to anger and other unpleasant states of mind. We find this in Psalm 37:8-9, “Cease from anger and abandon wrath; do not get upset; it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be eliminated, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.” God is always with us. No matter what’s going on in our life, God is by our side at all times. Wait for His clear direction.

What has God Designed You to Do?

Our best decisions will be made when we consider what it is we do best – what it is that God has designed us to achieve. When we analyze all the possibilities, along with the help of the Holy Spirit’s supply of solid wisdom, we have a winning strategy. “Comply with sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck. Then you will walk in your way securely, and your foot will not stumble.” (Proverbs 3:21-23) We have to work together with God to determine what needs our attention and what is a worldly waste of time. Sound wisdom consists of careful analysis, asking all the right questions, and keeping what’s important to God at the top of our list.

Seek Any Needed Help

In every decision we make, we need to look at the long-term possibilities and potential problems. When we take a nearsighted approach to any situation, it’s easy to make mistakes or miss details that will make a big difference. Sometimes creative solutions are needed and our personal expertise is lacking. Knowing when to seek help is essential to finding the best path forward. “For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another.” (Romans 12:4-5) Our brothers and sisters in Christ are put in our lives for a reason. We complement each other. They are there for us in our service to God and we are there in support of their efforts as well.

Manage the Risk

Only when we carefully consider all of the available possibilities, and all the available godly advice, should we ever consider taking any risk in our mission; however, if we have carefully considered the negative outcome of any purposed risk, and decide those potential negative results can over time be corrected, some risk along with prayer may be the right way to go. Trusting God to provide is always a secure path; however, God wants us to do our part as well.

Time is Short

In all of our decisions, we need to keep in mind that our time here on this earth is short. It’s important for us to manage our time well. All the minutes, hours, days, weeks, and months should be considered in everything we seek to accomplish. Our personal mission may be to simply nurture our friends and family with God’s love or we may be called to a much larger mission field. Whatever the case, how we manage our time is a critical factor.

RELATIONSHIPS

Our lives need to be filled with other believers all pointed in the same direction. “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (Matthew 18:20) The combined spirits of sincere followers of Jesus Christ are a powerful force. We need to align ourselves with like-minded people who are looking out for each other. However, be aware of those who pretend to be on your side but in truth are moving in another direction. In Luke 6:26 we read, “Woe to you when all the people speak well of you; for their fathers used to treat the false prophets the same way.” Not everyone who pats you on the back has your best interest at heart. It’s important for us to nurture those who have our back, but at the same time we need to step away from those who we discover have an ulterior motive for their praise.

One with God

When our relationships stand firm on the solid rock of Jesus, we can be comforted in knowing that we have a special association like no other. Of course, we need to seek peace with all the people in our lives, even those who disappoint us. “Pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.” (Hebrews 12:14-15) God’s desire in life is that we have fellowship with other believers. God’s desire in our life is that we point unbelievers to the saving grace of Jesus. God’s desire is that we all become one with Him.

All scripture references are linked to Bible Gateway so that you can read each verse in context. Bible Gateway allows you to change the verse to your favorite translation and compare it side-by-side with multiple translations. In addition, you can select to hear an audio version of any verse by clicking on the speaker icon. Keep the Bible Gateway App on your phone so that you can visit the Word of God at any time during your day.