05 Jul LOVE = REACH Day 23
Oftentimes in life we find ourselves at a crossroads. We are faced with a decision. Sometimes these decisions are easy. Other times, they are not. When the choice we are leaning towards isn’t typical, defies conventional wisdom, it is all too easy to take the easy road, the TYPICAL road. I’ve found this to be even more true when God is calling me, leading me, stretching me. Human wisdom says that what I KNOW God is directing me to is foolish. That I should run, as fast, and as far, as I can.
God does not want us to live typical lives. His plans for us are anything BUT typical. His plans defy conventional wisdom. God’s plans require us to lean FULLY on Him. God’s plans require we trust Him. God’s plans mean letting go of ourselves, our pride, and allowing God to work through us.
Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
So what are we to do when we feel the Holy Spirit leading us to the impossible? Trusting God in these times truly is a test of faith. Reaching out to the person who you just know hates you. Quitting a good job, leaving family and friends, and moving half a world away. Taking in that foster child, the one who’s had an extremely difficult life, loving them, and adopting them. And the list could go on and on. What do you do in these seemingly impossible situations?
TRUST! In the words of an old hymn that I love, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” Oh, I forgot to mention obey, didn’t I? Obedience is something we all struggle with, always will struggle with. Obedience goes against our very nature. Don’t believe me? Ask your parents! It’s no wonder that we also struggle to obey our Heavenly Father. What He asks of us tends to be even more difficult than what our earthly parents ever dreamt of!
1 Corinthians 3:18-20
Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
I think Paul summed it up here pretty well. To the world, God’s ways will ALWAYS be foolish. Yet, the wisdom of man is foolishness to God. If we are truly seeking to align ourselves with God, then, likewise, we should be seeking His wisdom – and EXPECT those around us to consider us fools.
So, as we seek to love, in action, we should EXPECT our choices to be declared foolish by those around us. Yet, as Jesus promised us, with God ALL things are possible! Even those impossible dreams that God is planting in our hearts.
Let me close with one final Bible passage:
James 1:5-8
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Point being, if you’re uncertain, if you don’t know, ASK God for wisdom and He will give it to you. But when you ask, believe, don’t question. TRUST Him! Let Him lead you. I can guarantee you the plans God has for your life are far bigger and more grand than anything you can imagine!
Guest Blogger: O. Bumpus