I remember when I was in the fourth grade. I was the new girl at school and I was taking my first spelling test ever in this class. Now, English has always been my strongest subject. I've loved to read and write for as long as I can remember.
On this particular day, however, I felt a little nervous about my test. So, when I took it up to the teacher's desk, I saw another boy's paper and he spelled the word differently. Once I saw that, I quickly changed my answer.
You know what?
My answer was right. His... not so much.
I got a 99 on that test and I sobbed uncontrollably, because I knew I could've gotten 100% had I not been looking over my shoulder. I had never gotten anything less than 100% on a spelling test... until that day.
The day I doubted myself.
And nothing hurts worse than the pain of knowing that you allowed someone else's influence to get you off course when you could've been on the right path had you not wavered.
Similarly, we sometimes get distracted because we think someone else has the answer or the road map for our lives. We grope for answers and insights into what we should do, but what about seeking God? Only He knows the path you should take.
Never look at what God is doing in somebody else's life and assume that He's going to take you the same route. Your path is unique. What He has set up for you is specifically for you. No one else. Just as your fingerprint is uniquely your own, God's blueprint for your life is unlike anyone else's.
That's why you have to be careful not to get so caught up in advice from others, that you miss what your Chief Adviser is saying. Sometimes, I think we can know too much for our own good. By that I mean, our earthly wisdom often gets in the way of what God is trying to do.
Instead of remaining open to God's method, we interject our thoughts and ideas--or the thoughts and ideas of our greatest influences--into the plan of God. And trust me when I tell you, God is not in need of our counsel. "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" (Romans 11:34 NIV)
He is sovereign.
I know it can be hard to stay on the path He's laid out when you don't know where it's leading. But we get ourselves into trouble when we begin jumping ahead of Him trying to anticipate what He'll do next.
That's how we make messes.
It's true. We unnecessarily frustrate ourselves when we attempt to apply what we've seen, read, or heard to God's plan, rather than consulting Him regarding HIS will, purpose, and design for us. It's all too easy to think we know or assume that our preference, opinion, and approach should be adopted by God.
It makes no sense for the creation to tell the Creator how the manifestation of purpose should look, does it? I love the scripture in Isaiah 29:16 that says, "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'He did not make me'? Can the pot say of the potter, 'He knows nothing'?" (NIV)
Of course not!
Only God knows what's best for us. He knows the end from the beginning. We don't have that luxury. So then, we have to accept the fact that we have no point of reference for what God is doing. We must understand that the uniqueness of the path automatically takes us into the unknown.
And treading unknown territory is always uncomfortable. Yet, if God goes with you, you don't have anything to worry about. Since He's the one who carved out the path in the first place, only He knows how to get us where we need to go.
Today, I'm appealing to you to let God be God. Take your hand out of the situation. Know that your path is uniquely designed by Him, and it's tailor-made for you. If you place your hand in His hand and don't let go, He'll lead you to green pastures.
And one day, you'll look back on these times of uncertainty and see, all the while, God was preparing you to walk in your destiny. Just say yes Lord. Surrender to Him. Submit your will and give up all to follow God's leading.
When you do, then and only then, will you know what it means to live that abundant life Jesus Christ came to give you!
As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!
Dianna Hobbs
www.eewmagazine.com
