Blackaby started his devotional with a verse I love to read – it just gets me excited about getting in on amazing things:
“Call to Me, and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3
Don’t we all want to know God Himself will answer us and give us the inside knowledge of “great and incomprehensible things”?
But, as he often does, Blackaby woke me up with his truth about me (and probably a few others of you out there). He said that too often we settle for much less than what God wants to do through us. He points to God’s words in Jeremiah 32:27 saying “I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for Me?” And we all, in chorus, answer “No, Lord.”
But then we face difficult situations – and we begin to whimper, re-examine our belief in God and lower our expectations of what God will do, especially in OUR lives. Here’s the big issue Blackaby highlights: When Almighty God speaks to us, what we do next proves what we believe about Him, regardless of what we say. Darn – so true!
It’s one thing to believe God’s miracles in the Bible, or a thousand years ago, or even in the lives of friends we have heard about – but me? Do I wholeheartedly believe God can do anything He chooses to do in my life?
OK, Moses and I have a lot in common. Blackaby points out that God revealed to Moses His plan to orchestrate the greatest exodus in human history, and He wanted to use Moses to accomplish it. Yep – Moses argued with God, was overwhelmed by what he was hearing and began to make excuses why he could not participate. I am right with you, Moses!
The tough question Blackaby dared to ask me (and his readers) hit hard. “Do you sense there may be far more that God wants to do through your life than what you have been experiencing?” I shudder. He suggests I ask God to show me what that is and, Heavens to Betsy, he suggests I be prepared to respond in faith and obedience to what God tells me.
First, I bring up my age, then I lean to the side of claiming lack of resources, and next I am digging into my pile of unfinished projects showing Him how much is going on in my life already!! Yeah, you know what scripture Blackaby pulled on me next – “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9. I am near-sighted and my view of what I think God wants me to do is probably way short of His. As Blackaby said, rarely does God do something exactly as we think He will.
He sure shocked Moses with all the shenanigans in dealing with Pharaoh – just when Moses thought they would be let go, it got worse, more than once! Sure enough, Moses returned to God crying out “why have You brought trouble…” and “why is it you have sent me?”. I relate.
Pulling it into a wise learning, Blackaby says “Much of the frustration we experience as Christians has nothing to do with what God does or doesn’t do. It has everything to do, rather, with the false assumptions we make about how we think God will and should act.”
Absolutely! I know I have done some things I was sure were the “will” of God and then things seemed to get worse. Blackaby points out that Moses completely misunderstood what the results of His obedience to God would be. Then when things didn’t turn out as anticipated, Moses became discouraged. Yes, God told Moses what to do, but He had not told Moses what the consequences would be, points out Blackaby. I feel his pain. I relate.
And I know Blackaby is right when he points out that it is foolish to attempt to do God’s work using our own “common sense.” We are not to ignore common sense but we do need God’s wisdom to help us understand His ways and we need faith in Him to guide us to the obedience required to follow His will. Especially when the events and surface appearance of things seems to be going way off track.
And no, you don’t get the excuse of “I don’t know His will”. I know I keep asking for the “postcard in the mail with clear directions” type of clarity. But honestly, when I am searching, reading His Word, praying, then really listening, and then back in His Word – He has made some things He desires of me clear enough. And when I am coaching others, He can drive a big point home with me about what He wants from me! He will communicate – I just need to listen.
Often the problem is in my driving the bus instead of getting on His bus and listening for Him to tell me when we are at my stop and which direction I go from there. Can you relate?
So, yes, this week is focused on our legacy of our life stories – and pointing out a benefit you may not have considered. Your assignment? As you look back on God’s activity in your life, do you recognize supreme wisdom in how He has led you? Can you see any place where you were completely off the mark? But He orchestrated you learning and growing from it? Where are the places you can see His presence and protection?
One of the people doing her LifeStory via my course shared as she finished how it amazed her as she looked back and recorded events of her life in her photobook. She saw in retrospect that God was present and protecting her at times when she did not realize it – but she could see it as she looked back. What a valuable insight and a great thing to pass along in her legacy.
And you know what is next! – you don’t get off the hook. Even if you just write down ONE example, story, situation or observation of God showing up in your life: leading, teaching, growing you and using you. You MUST record it (ok, audio is fine, also). And then put it in a place where you can be certain it will be there for future generations. And don’t tell me you wouldn’t like to have such a thing from YOUR great-great grandfather!!!
Let me know how I can help. [Do you know that “safe place” to put your story?]
