Tag Archives: God’s will

But~Five Minute Friday

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“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

This Queen Bee has a Big But

One Christmas not long ago, my mom got me these “Queen Bee” slippers. Not only did my feet slide right in comfortably, I liked to believe the title fit perfectly in my life as well. You know, in charge of my “hive,” anticipating what comes in and goes out, and with all the hard work paying off sweetly? In other words, I like to be the queen in command of everything. Maybe you already knows how that has turned out. Unfortunately, my prayer life suffers from my trying to wear the crown of control too.

When I pray, I earnestly tell God that I desire to be radically used by Him.  The words however, are usually not yet off my tongue before I feel a tightening in my chest and the next breath caught in my throat. Yep, there it is.…I know it and God definitely knows it because it’s a reoccurring reaction in my prayer time…..It’s my BIG BUT getting in the way! (Sometimes I crack myself up, haha!)

Seriously, wanting to be used by God, to hear his calling and answer is my sincere desire, BUT:  I want to do it without leaving my comfort zone, sacrificing too much, or suffering in the process.  In other words, I want to do God’s work BUT do it MY way like a “Queen Bee.” Can you relate because you also have a big but like mine?

Remember with me the “Parable of the Talents,” told in Matthew 25:14-30.  Jesus shared with his listeners a story about a man who gave his servants some of his money to take care of in his absence. Two of the servants used the money they’d been given to make more for their master.  The last servant was too afraid to take a risk…he had a “big but” if you will; and so, he buried the coins only to return what he’d been given.  I’m afraid I’m an awful lot like that third servant by offering a poor return on God’s investment.

God entrusts us with talents, time, money, and other gifts.  What we do with them is up to us. Will we use them to serve God or will we, ME, make excuses or let fear keep us from doing what He asks of us?  So, what’s a gal (or guy) with a BIG BUT to do? I don’t have it all figured out yet but here’s where I’m learning we need to start:

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.  May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on firm footing.”
Psalm 143:10 (NIV) (emphasis mine)

Did you catch that? We’re not supposed to do the work God has for us on our own. (You’d think I’d have learned this by now). It’s God’s instruction and guidance we need to depend on to make the task before us attainable. It’s also important to be willing to put one foot in front of the other and “walk the walk” through our everyday lives in preparation for all God calls us to do. 

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying.
Be thankful in all circumstances, for
this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)

I’m certainly not there yet, maybe you aren’t either, but we need to remember it won’t happen all at once. However, if we’re willing, I believe with prayer, practice, perseverance, and taking baby steps as we follow after God, our BIG buts will shrink until they disappear from our prayers all together. I look forward to that time when they’re finally “behind” me. Will you join me in praying to be willing and take the first step on our “but-free” journey of doing God’s will, God’s way, and following the true King’s lead? It’s about time I take my crown off for good. How about you?

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses
to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down,
 especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of they awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT)  

Joining once again with http://www.fiveminutefriday.com writing to the prompt “But”.

Five Little Words ~ Five Minute Friday

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“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’ ” Matthew 6:9-10 (NIV)/ Pixabay

“Not my will, but yours.” Five little words. Literally, they are small words but when combined together, their message is life changing! Jesus spoke these five words as he struggled with the knowledge of what He was about to face. In that moment, He asked God to take the job He was there to do away from Him. And yet, in the same breath Jesus added those five little words confirming His commitment to God’s plan.

“He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.” Luke 22:41-43 (NIV)

I don’t know about you, but I find the five little words: “take this cup from me” much easier to say than telling God I’m willing to let go of my will and follow His! “Not my will, but yours” opens us up to all kinds of challenges! Like the fishermen, we may have to leave behind what we’ve known and are comfortable with, even if we don’t feel ready. Great sacrifice may be required of us as it was asked of Abraham when we don’t feel strong enough to handle it. “Your will be done” can even cause us to endure suffering as it did for Jesus though we lack trust. Yes, “take this cup from me” slips from my lips more easily than it should!

“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV)

Did you catch those five words in the middle? “Equip you with everything good.” God doesn’t expect us to do His will on our own! When we accept the sacrifice of the blood of Jesus, our lives are changed! All of our even if’s, don’t’s, can’t’s, wont’s, and anything else that can get in our way of doing God’s will are worked on until they become the good that we need to equip us to be able to accept the cup He offers.

What’s God calling you to do? Is there an idea, project, a person’s need, or dream that won’t go away? Do you find ways to avoid it? Make excuses for why it won’t work or isn’t for you? Boy, I sure do! But, remembering that we are not on our own to face the things of this world and that God is strengthening and preparing us for what’s ahead makes it possible for us to kneel down and confidently say those five little words: “Not my will, but Yours” and believe them!

Today is the five year anniversary of Kate leading the writing community at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com
My goodness! I wanted to really stick to the five minutes today in honor of that, but of course, once again, I went over.  Well, there’s always next time.  I encourage you to click over and read the other wonderful posts on the prompt “Five”. And as always, I’d love to chat with you! Share in the comments what you feel God is calling you to do and I’ll share mine with you.  We can then pray for each other to trust that God is equipping us for the job! 

Big Buts

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“Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.” Psalm 86:11 (ESV)

Do you have a big but? (Sometimes I crack myself up!) Well, I do! Today, while praying during my devotions, I earnestly told God that I desired to be radically used by Him.  The words however, were not yet off my tongue before I felt a tightening in my chest and breath caught in my throat. Yep, there it was.  I knew it and God definitely knew it because it’s been in my prayers before.  

My BIG BUT…….

Wanting to be used by God, to hear his calling and answer, IS my sincere desire BUT:  I want to do it without leaving my comfort zone, sacrificing too much, or suffering in the process.  In other words, I want to do God’s work BUT do it MY way!  

Do you remember the “Parable of the Talents”?  (Matthew 25:14-30)  Jesus told his listeners a story about a man who gave his servants some of his money to take care of in his absence.  Two of the servants used the money they’d been given to make more for their master.  The last servant was afraid to take a risk…he had a “big but” if you will; and so, he buried the coins only to return what he’d been given.  I am afraid I’m an awful lot like that servant; offering a poor return on God’s investment.

God entrusts us with talents, time, money, and other gifts.  What we do with them is up to us. Will we use them to serve God or will we, ME, make excuses or let fear keep us from doing what He asks of us?  

So, what’s a gal with a BIG BUT to do? I don’t have it all figured out yet but here’s where I need to start:

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.  May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on firm footing.” Psalm 143:10 (NIV) (emphasis mine)

Did you catch that? We’re not supposed to do it on our own! (You’d think I’d learn by now). It’s God’s instruction and guidance we need to depend on to make the task before us  attainable. It’s also important to be willing to put one foot in front of the other and “walk the walk” in our everyday lives to prepare us for all God calls us to do. I’m certainly not there yet and it won’t happen all at once, but I believe with prayer, practice, perseverance, and taking baby steps as I follow after God, my BIG but will shrink until it disappears from my prayers all together. I look forward to the time when it’s finally “behind” me! (Get it? behind? I did it again!) How about you? Is your BIG BUT getting in the way of doing all God calls you to do? I pray that this may be the first step for you AND me on our “but-free” journey to doing God’s will God’s way!     

 

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Wise Wednesday 10/12/16

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comparison-001

“Oh, I wish I had long, straight hair like her instead of my wild, curly hair.” “How could I let myself get this heavy when they look so slim and fit?” “I can’t speak in front of them. They know much more about the Bible than I do.” Why would anyone want to read what I write when there are so many better bloggers than me?” “They wouldn’t be my friends if they knew how many more times I fail than they do.”

Comparison. To be honest, it’s been a way of life for me for as long as I can remember and I always end up feeling I come up short.  It’s easy, especially with social media, to find someone who appears prettier, thinner, smarter, wiser, or more talented and successful than I am. Ever been there? Jumping in and spending time in the comparison pool is just like treading water.  It gets you no where fast and is exhausting!  The longer we stay there the more shriveled our souls feel and our joy truly is swept away with the tide.

Try as I might to avoid immersing myself in all the ways I don’t measure up, I somehow seem to dip my toes in and before I know it I’m being pulled under. Why? It’s hard to stay afloat when I’m weighted down with me, me, me.

“Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 (NLT)

I’m not there yet, but I am beginning to realize that God never intended for us to compare ourselves to one another.  He created each of us, just the way we are, to do His perfect will. Stop for a minute. Just think about that…..The things that we may wish to change are the same things God gave us with a purpose.  Switching our focus from “me of this world” to “God has a plan for me in this world” offers us relief from drowning in comparison. We’re not supposed to be like anyone else! Let that sink in.

I had to take a break from this post and come back today because as I wrote these words on Wednesday I became disappointed with myself for not being able to tell you I have this comparison thing whipped.  I. Don’t.  Knowing comparison is not what God wants for me and doing it anyway makes me just plain frustrated with myself! Do you have similar struggles? I’m glad to say that since beginning this Wise Wednesday post, God has reminded me that our transformation doesn’t happen quickly.  It’s a lifetime process.   My prayer today is that we become more aware of those things, like comparison, that keep us from seeing who we really are and that we’re able to change the way we think so we can joyfully splash in the good and pleasing will of God!