Divine Direction 3 - Trust the Process

If you haven't been around my little space here for a few weeks I have been recapping a sermon series we are studying at Life.Church, Divine Direction. You can read post one Power to Become here and last week's post, Wisdom to Discern here.

This week we covered how to trust the process while God is telling you who to become and while you follow that process and have the wisdom to discern while in the process. All leading back to if you have been asking God what you should do in life...he will tell you. Trust the process. 

Divine Direction - 3

Trust the Process

Sometimes you have to do things today that you don't want to do to prepare you for something tomorrow. 

"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace." Acts 20:22-24

When God, the Spirit, is prompting you, pay attention! These moments of prompting and following the prompt is also know as abide. Are you paying attention?

"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem..." Acts 20:22

Have you ever had a moment that you felt God calling you to do something you just did not want to do but you knew it was what God was prompting you to do? It is so hard to fight our own urges and follow his lead but it is always so worth it! I know in my personal experiences when I try to ignore these promptings life just seems so much harder!

Trust those nudges because certain is uncertainty. If you're not living with a little uncertainty, you're not living with faith. Trust those steps he is showing us and if we take them then God will continue to show us our next steps. 

"I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there." Acts 20:22

"Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105

He won't show us our next steps until we obey the previous steps he gave us. If you aren't ready to obey God you aren't ready to be used by the prompting of God. Man, how hard is that to hear?! Because often times it is not easy to obey but to be called out and to be told we aren't ready, that is tough. We have to trust God's process for us. Predictable resistance. 

"I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me." Acts 20:23

Our prayer should be our plan is not so much about the future, my plan is to be obedient today. Stop thinking so much about the future and focus on TODAY. Be obedient today and our future will be taken care of. God will never leave you or forsake you. 

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying the good news of God's grace."  Acts 20:24

By doing the things we don't want to do today it is only preparing us for someday when we'll do even more than we want to do! It's not about you or I it is only about Jesus. It's not about making a name it's only about Jesus. 

Are you following the nudges that God is giving you?

View the complete sermon on Trusting the Process here. Also as I have mentioned in the previous series posts I am reading Craig Groeschel's book, Divine Direction which you can purchase here if you are interested. I am also doing the YouVersion Bible devotional Divine Direction and would love to study it with you!

 

Our God is Not a God Of Confusion

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ASK God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with NO doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind."
James 1:5-6

I'm taking a break from my Friday favorites today because I felt like I needed to share my heart. I recently read a devotional from Brighton and wanted to share with y'all because it is just too good and I think it flows perfectly with the series I'm posting now 'Divine Direction'.

 

Do You Lack Wisdom?

Whether you’re deciding on how to schedule your time today or in the middle of making a big life-changing decision, I think it’s easy to get caught up in the busyness and mess of it all (wondering – or even getting frustrated with – why God isn’t being more obvious with an answer) rather than remembering the simplicity of this truth and promise in James 1 – that God gives generously to all.
But we have got to hold up our end of the promise – which is to ASK and then to have FAITH (without doubting) that He hears us.

 

Our God is Not a God Of Confusion

You guys, I want to encourage you by reminding you that our God is not a God of confusion and He wants to guide you and direct your path.
In fact, he even gave us a “counselor” (aka the Holy Spirit) to live IN us and be WITH us as we navigate through life – in big things and small I think the question we have to ask ourselves is  literally, are we asking Him? I mean, are you actually slowing down (putting your phone away) and literally ASKING Him for wisdom?

 

He Wants To Guide You

Let me say it again, He delights in helping us and wants to guide us. BUT we have to show up. We have to slow down, and we have to make time for it

   

Divine Direction - Power to Become

This weekend we began a new sermon series at Life.Church that I have been anticipating for awhile. This series focuses on direction in our lives that God wants for us. Are you asking yourself 'What should I do?" or bet are asking God what you should do? I know I am so I'm more than thrilled to dive headfirst into Divine Direction.

A couple of weeks ago Craig Groeschel, our pastor at Life Chruch, announced his new book that had just been released to go along with the series, Divine Direction. I have read most of Craig's books and have loved them so I knew this would be one I'd certainly be purchasing. After church I went to buy my copy of the book when I was told it was buy one get one free to give away! I was so very excited because I knew this was a series that I was being led by God to share on my little space here. So, when I found out I was getting a copy of his book to give away to one of you I was even more excited! With that being said, the series started this past weekend and will go for three more weeks. I'm starting the book tonight so after I share about this first lesson I would love for one of you to follow along with me!

Divine Direction 

God Cares About 

Instead of asking 'what does God want me to do?' We should be asking 'Who does God want me to become?'

Putting who before do and why before what. 

"God's will is for you to be holy..." 1 Thessalonians 4:3

I know I find myself asking that very question to God all the time...ahh God what should I do?! So this was a slap in the face to think I can't remember the last time I really asked God what he wanted ME to BE. God will show us the answer to what when we become who he is wanting first. 

"You may think everything you do is right, but the Lord judges your motives." Proverbs 16:2

If we are out there serving others but deep down only doing it because we want people to think highly of us, then God is going to question that. We are serving but with the wrong motives which is defeating the purpose.
 

"Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."  Galations 1:10

"And whatever you do, whether in word or dead, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17

If you're becoming the right who, God will help you choose the right do. If you're driven by the right why, God will lead you to the right what.

Whatever you do, do it for God. In your job, in your home life, in your volunteer work, do it all for God. It is not about us, it is about conforming to Jesus and he'll guide us.

If you want to watch the first part of this series you can below from Life.Church.

As I mentioned I would LOVE to give one of you a copy of Divine Direction! If this is speaking to you and you want to follow along with the series with me then please let me know! I definitely want the copy of the book to go to someone that is feeling led to read the book and follow along while trying to find out who God wants them to become. If that is you, please shoot me an email or comment below and I would love to get the book to you!  

I only have one extra copy so it will be first come but if you are interested in purchasing Divine Direction you can do so here. 

AND even if you don't have the book I plan to do a  weekly recap of each series part here and would love for you to still follow along! Let's find who God wants us to be so we can be shown what he wants us to do, together!

 

Overcoming Offenses

This past Sunday at Life.Church we started a new sermon series, Ghosts of Christmas Past. Last week's sermon topic was overcoming offenses. I'll be the first to say I am very easily offended. I'm just a very sensitive woman and let a lot get to me that I shouldn't. This sermon really spoke to me so I wanted to share in case any of my readers are so also easily offended and this could be for you as well.

Ghosts of Christmas Past: Overcoming Offenses

For many, the most wonderful time of the year isn't so wonderful. A painful past or our own insecurities can overshadow the joy we're supposed to be feeling. What if this year could look different? It's time to let God heal the Ghosts of Christmas Past. 

Your life is too short and your calling is too great to live offended. "A person's wisdom yields patience, it is to one's glory to overlook an offense." Proverbs 19:11

Whenever anyone has offended you, try to raise your soul so high that the offense can not be reached. I love this verse so much that I have it now saved in multiple places as a reminder throughout my day. 

With God's help you can get over being easily offended. "Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each others' faults because of your love." Ephesians 4:2

With God's help you can get over big offenses as well. "Make allowance for each others' faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others." Colossians 3:13

We cannot enjoy the grace of God without extending grace to those who hurt us. If I would've heard this quote alone and none of the rest of the sermon I still would've walked away loving the sermon. This statement is so very true.

If you are interested in watching the rest of the series in the next few weeks you can view them here at Life.Church.

Fear & Anxiety

"The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?" Psalms 118:6 

Lately I have been experiencing a huge amount of fear and anxiety and I'll be honest this is totally unlike me and my body doesn't quite know how to handle it. Fast forward to last week there was a house in town that was robbed and in a pretty violent way. A few days later a house on the same street was robbed luckily this time the homeowners weren't home, without going into details.

These incidents have put me into pure panic mode. I'm not kidding like full on basically putting our house on lockdown as much as I can. I refuse to go to bed without Kyle, I watch in all directions every time I leave the house, I lock the door behind me when I let Haddock out, gun on nightstand, etc. I'm almost positive I'm driving Kyle crazy! I told him no more late night fishing trips until our alarm system was reactivated and now is, praise the Lord!

I hate this, with every inch of my body I hate this feeling. I'm ready to feel safe again in our own home. Others that live close to me as well think I need to calm down some, i.e. my husband, but for some reason I can't shake the feeling. I even panic for Haddock while we are gone but he is home.

Anyways, with all this fear I've been diving face first into God's promise of protection. Reading nightly devotions based on fear, praying my little heart out while I lay in bed and it feels like it is literally beating out of my chest and then waking with the sun in the morning feeling safe from the night and thanking our great God for his watchful eye overnight.

I thought I would share a little of what has been helping me if any of you are going through a spurt of fear or anxiety.

What I explained about is straight fear. When fear becomes anxiety or worry, its a bad thing. God didn't create us to live our lives in fear. He created us to live with power, love and sound mind or courage. God has given us a spirit to overcome that fear. One of the worst things fear does is it keeps us stuck, it causes us to freeze.

Fear will make you miss out on great things and keep you from having great relationships with people. There is so reason to be afraid. If we let Him, God will be in control of our lives. He will take away our fear and give us strength to get through it.

When we understand that God is always with us and we're in a situation that makes us feel fearful, we can stand strong and know, "I'm going to get through this. I can do this. This ain't no thing," because we know God is right there with us. He can help us get through anything.

This is what I have been repeating in my head each night. I literally beg God to overcome me with calmness and pull my anxiety away so I can rest. Kyle snores away and I toss and turn thinking I hear every tiny noise in our house.

"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discourage, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you with my victorious right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Are you experiencing fear and anxiety? How do you cope?

Source:YouVersion

15 Bible Verses For When You Don't Understand God's Plan

 

You don't have to know the plan to trust God's purpose. If only I could put this on repeat every 86,400 seconds a day in my mind...then I might fully grasp it.

"God I don’t always understand You, but I want to always trust You. Will You increase my faith and trust in You? Jesus, thank You for sharing in my pain on the cross. Amen."

15 Bible Verses For When You Don't Understand God's Plan

"Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You have little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:31

"Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure." Psalm 147:5

"When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" Psalm 8:3-4

"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."
Proverbs 19:21 

For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): “I am the LORD, and there is no other." Isaiah 45:18

"But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, oh you of little faith!" Luke 12:28

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9

"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations." Deuteronomy 7:9

"For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death." Psalm 48:14

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable." Isaiah 40:28

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!" Psalm 111:10 

Do you have a Bible verse you could share that helps you understand God’s plan when you can’t? Would love it if you’d leave it in the comments for me.