What's next Lord?

Last week we talked about how God’s plans are often different from the plans we create for ourselves.  The second page in our layout is titled “What’s next Lord”.  I have probably asked this question a million times.  Anyone that knows me knows that I like to be busy.  I like to do things.  I have a very hard time sitting still.  God created me this way so He knows it’s my nature, yet sometimes that is exactly what he wants me to do; be still. 

I want to follow God’s will for my life and sometimes I realize that I am at a crossroads.  I am at a place where I know change is needed and I can see that I need to let go of some things, responsibilities, activities, and relationships….  I often find myself stuck in a place of questioning and searching for the next step God has planned for my life.

Recently, while doing a study of Moses’ life, I realized that sometimes God wants us to draw close to him for a period of time.  There is no specific thing planned for us other than a time of getting to know Him better.  Moses had 40+ years that God used to prepare him for leading the Israelites out of Egypt.  It took 40 years for God to prepare Moses for that responsibility.  Forty years of Moses learning to shepherd, learning to be patient, learning to be obedient, learning to lead, learning to love, learning to trust.  Was Moses sitting out there with the sheep praying to God, “what do you want me to do next?”   I wonder how often we waste this time because we are searching for something to do for Him when all He wants us to do is get to know Him better.

I often get so caught up in trying to discover what God wants me to do that I don’t take advantage of the time that He gives me to draw close to Him, to learn about Him, to develop my relationship with Him.  What if I stopped worrying about what He wanted me to do and took one day at a time.  Committed to serving Him in everything I do.  Committed to spend time with Him each and every day getting to know Him better.  Committed to allowing Him to lead my life without me having to know what the plan is.  Committed to letting go of my need for control and my need to knowing what is going on.  Committed to taking each step mindfully aware that God is in control and all I have to do is be obedient to Him and keep taking it step by step.

I have to admit that this is so hard for me.  I am a planner.  I enjoy planning.  My natural instinct is to plan out each day but I am working on it.  I am trying to not let my to do list rule my day, not to let my need to feel productive rule my life.

So I leave these squares blank and one day I will fill them in but in God’s timing not mine.  I pray that I do not waste a moment that He gives me to draw close to Him, to praise Him and to allow Him to work in me to prepare me for the plans He has for my life.  I pray this for you all as well.

The Lord will work out His plans for my life -- for your faithful love , O Lord, endures forever.   Don’t abandon me for you made me.  Psalm 138:8