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Saturday, August 14, 2010 7:31 PM 

“I urge you now to live the life to which God called you.” Ephesians 4:1

I’ve been contemplating this verse lately. Am I doing what God has called me to do? Am I living the life that He has for me, or am I living for myself? It’s so easy to get caught up in just living life as it rolls along. As Christians, our lives are not our own to live as we see fit. Our lives, my life, has been brought by a price.

It’s a little scary sometimes to just let go and let God lead, but think about this: God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and has a plan for you (and me!). He has a plan specifically designed just for you, that only you can fulfill. He desires good things for us; and He can use the bad things to help us get there. Don’t get me wrong, the bad things are hard, and they hurt, and sometimes you feel like you just can’t make it through them. I’ve been there, I’ve been in that overwhelming place of wanting to just give up. I thank God that He’s there, right beside us, leading us through.

So what holds us back from living full-out for God?

Is it fear that keeps you from letting go and giving your all? Isaiah 43:1b says, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

Think about that for just a moment. God is telling us specifically NOT to fear. He has redeemed us, but not only redeemed, but summoned by name. The Creator of the Universe and all that lies within has called YOU, yes YOU, by name! That’s an uplifting thought to me! I tend to forget my worth sometimes, and doubt my abilities. It encourages me so deeply to know that God calls me by name. I love that last phrase of the verse, “You are mine.” I belong to Him; He has called me because He loves me. So, if we belong to God, what do we have to fear?

How about doubt? Do you doubt that God can use you? Sometimes we listen to the lies of the enemy, that we are unworthy of doing anything of value (I struggle with this, and I think I’m probably not alone in it!). Jeremiah 29:11 tells us a different story. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

I love, love, love this verse! Those of you in my Sunday School class know that, because I quote it to you quite often! When I’m wallowing in the deep pits of self-doubt, I read this verse again and again. I like to insert my name for the “I’s” in the verse, to make it personal. Go ahead and try it, I’ll wait for you! Isn’t that amazing? It really lifts my heart when I’m feeling down.

God has a plan, and gives us directions to find it.

So many times when we read that verse, we stop at just that verse. There’s so much more there! Look at Jeremiah 29:12-14a. “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.

Listen to that! That’s like a personal conversation between you and God. Read it again, really read it. Mull it over in your mind. God promises to listen. How often do we just need someone to listen to us? He’s listening, and waiting for us to seek Him.

So, let’s say, we get over our fear, because God tells us to, “Fear not!”, and we stop doubting, because God has a plan, and is waiting for us to seek Him with all our hearts. Then what? How do we know what to do, what to say, when ,where, what, why??

Jeremiah 33:3 tells us, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

He knows we need His direction. He tells us we only need to ask, and He is ready to lead on.

The adventure of a lifetime is ours for the asking! Let’s take some time this week to seek God’s will for our lives. Spend some time soaking in His love, reading His Word, and talking to Jesus!

Father,

Thank you for loving us. Thank you that we have nothing to fear, that, in fact, You tell us not to fear. Thank You for having a plan, for always listening, and for your guidance. Lord, we ask for you to show us what you have planned for us. Keep us in the center of Your will for our lives. God, we only want to do what You want from us. Lead us today. We love you, Father.

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