It all started about 6 weeks ago, this process that God has taken me on.
I've recently learnt that when it feels like your world has come crashing down around you; it's not always a bad thing. It allows God an opportunity to come along and build it up again, it gives him the chance to throw away the rubbish bricks I had used in my foundation, to crush the broken bricks that had been there from my past and put solid bricks in there place. It allows Him the chance to finish the work He started and cover me in a new paint, a shiny paint.
So the next few entries over the next few days and weeks are truths and revelations God has opened my eyes to these last few weeks. And I'm trusting Him to complete the good work He has started. To take me from strength to strength.
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James 1:2-4
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.I've recently learnt that when it feels like your world has come crashing down around you; it's not always a bad thing. It allows God an opportunity to come along and build it up again, it gives him the chance to throw away the rubbish bricks I had used in my foundation, to crush the broken bricks that had been there from my past and put solid bricks in there place. It allows Him the chance to finish the work He started and cover me in a new paint, a shiny paint.
So the next few entries over the next few days and weeks are truths and revelations God has opened my eyes to these last few weeks. And I'm trusting Him to complete the good work He has started. To take me from strength to strength.
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James 1:2-4
That was great to read.Makes sense in many areas of life.
ReplyDeleteWhat l have been learning lately is something a little similar : and that is to hold on to plans lightly. That might sound small or obvious , but not to me!
I am the sort of person who would idealy like to give God a yearplanner and ask Him to fill it in well in advance!
Our Lord does not do that and especially not for the Christian who has already penciled in a few events on her agenda . Even if the year I am invisioning is filled with "good" things or even what we would happily call "good deeds " one cannot just slip them past the Lord's sanction. On that road lies no peace.
So a few years ago I determined never to embark on anything without a definite "go-ahead".
Sounds good , but in fact I was still merely laying out MY PLANS.
God was gracious and taught me slowly.He helped me accomplish things that He had not asked of me and He even used me to His Glory at times.
So I continued laying out my plans and talking to the Lord about them and unless some intervention took place , went ahead.
Then , about two years ago , l think , I began to understand how to wait on Him , to hear His Voice more clearly and to distinguish between His Will and my Wants and Plans.
Knowing I was ready the Holy Spirit allowed a very deep unhappiness to enter me when I was embarking on a MY PLAN. Difficult to understand at first because my aims and objectives seemed good ones.
With the unhappiness came an uneasiness - not crushing guilt - I soon saw the difference - but a gentle guidance.
Committed to something , I would ask His forgiveness and that by His grace even this could be useful to His Kingdom.
What a learning curve!
Now for this past twelve months or so , a new revelation.
Let me explain - I hate to admit this , but a few Christians irritated me when they would not commit to an arrangement. These were folk whose walk with the Lord I greatly respected. I kept on coming up against this.
It soon became apparent they understood how to "hold on to plans loosely" !
This wasn't one group of Christians , one family or even just in one country !
It's amazing how , when you are ready ( and willing ) our Lord starts opening ones eyes to a truth seemingly every where you look.
None of these folk ever admonished me when i named times and dates . They just said gently " Well lets see " or words to that effect.
I am so grateful for my Lord's gentle leading.
This doesn't mean there are not times for instant action and it doesn't mean there are not times to say yes to something awhile in advance . We are not talking about disorganised lives - although at first I rudely thought they were just that - disorganized!
No , it's just part of the way the Holy Spirit teaches us to hear the soft , gentle Voice of our Heavenly Father.
And all of this because of Jesus , the One Mediator between God and man - 1Timothy 2 verse 5.
Hold on to plans loosely! At first you might annoy Christians like me - but we are the ones needing to come "into line ".
Do it gently and humbly and you and they will reap rewards.
Brig is this how one adds comments?
ReplyDeleteAre you able to read what I wrote?
Now do you comment here or on my "page?" if you want to?
Can anyone else read the bit I wrote?
Can I move my bit to my "blog space"?
I enjoyed writng "Holding on to plans loosely"