Transformational Tip
When I look back at my childhood, I realize a big disconnect that dramatically affected me through my teen and early adult years…and I still battle it’s ripples even now. The disconnect…what my parents really wanted from me as a kid was quite different from what I thought they wanted from me. Lots of reasons for this, but I wish I would have known then what I know now about my parent’s heart. Similarly, a lot of my spiritual (then leading to psychological and relational) problems have to do with another disconnect…between what God really wants from me and what I thought God wanted. God doesn’t need our plans and ideas. He needs our attention. He doesn’t need our time; He wants our adoration. He does not want us to spend hours thinking up things for Him to do and bless; He wants us to spread His Word and further His Kingdom here on earth. I am so grateful that we serve a God that is not dependent on our strength, our time, and our money. What a mess that would be. I believe that He wants us in a place where we know that it is Him leading. He is our shield and a shield works best in front, not behind us. Our question must be, “What is it you want me to do Lord?” Most of us don’t even know our own hearts. Our ways are not His ways.
Today, take a piece of paper and draw 2 lines down the page dividing it into 3 equal parts. First, without thinking, write down the first things that come to mind about what God desires you. Then, in the middle section, write what the Bible says God wants of, from, and for you. Lastly, in the section on the right, write down what others would write about you based on what they observe from your daily behavior and if they could see into your thoughts(who you really are). Click here to share with the Stepping Stones community your thoughts on what God wants from us.
Prayer
O God, thank You so much for loving me how I am. I want to know Your desires and plan for me, and at times I have glimpses of it and actually live it…but then the world clutter and my old tapes start playing and I lose sight of Your real desires for me. Thanks for persevering with Your plan for me even though I take the long way to Your goal. Thank You for the trials that can cause me to trust You. Help me give praise to You during the really tough storms in life. I know You are working all things out for your Glory. In Jesus’ name; and all God’s children said – AMEN!
The Truth
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose
Romans 8:28
And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.
Zechariah 13:9
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Deuteronomy 6:5