I have been on an interesting journey with God when it comes to this new year. Some years ago, I made a request to Him about my life and kind of told Him what I wanted. (I assumed He wanted the same) In a nutshell it dealt with relationships and going forward after a divorce. In the mist of talking to Him about possibly remarrying and if that was something I wanted to do, I thought I'd yielded my ways to His. See, I was good. I felt that I no longer wanted to work that hard on a relationship, so being single, working my purpose and taking care of my kids was enough. It sounded sooo spiritual, until someone fronted me on that, so I changed my mind and figured I would open myself up to God and His will. (especially if it looked a bit like mine.)
STARTING FROM SCRATCH
In my prayer time, I told God,
"Lord, I am open to YOU and what You have for me,
but I don't want to start from scratch."
NOTE: This was what I TOLD GOD, not what HE TOLD ME.
I knew exactly what I was saying and it changed how I have responded since. See, I didn't want to be in a relationship with someone I knew nothing about. I didn't want to guess whether they were a man or woman, or if they have done jail time, or if they were hiding from the FBI. Basically, I wanted to have some clue about them and where they came from before possibly entering a relationship. It sounded good and fair, so I said "Amen" and went on with life.
PLAYING GAMES
I play this game on my tablet when I am bored or waiting in an airport or something. I have figured out this game pretty good. If I make a mistake it is because I am not paying attention, not because the game is that challenging. See the game has different settings, one is very familiar, the obstacles move at the same pace every time, so after awhile you can know when to jump or move and gain more points. But sometimes you can still mess up and miss out and have to start again. Other levels are random, they are not familiar and the territory changes often! This level requires that you pay attention, stay in the game and jump when you used to just wait and watch for added benefits or adversities. One level of the game is very familiar and kind of boring, the other is exciting, challenging and it makes me think. Life it much like that game...
THE FAMILIAR
After my prayer and time with God, telling Him I didn't want to start from scratch.... here I am, years later and I have been around the familiar quite a bit. I am almost tired of the familiar! Don't get me wrong, the familiar is not all bad, but it requires a lot less faith. There are no surprises with the familiar, the familiar makes you feel like you have more control because you understand it or you know how to maneuver around the obstacles. That is what happens when things are familiar. The familiar also limits your growth, because the boundaries are the same, no challenge. You are not required to go outside what you have ever done before- all you do is stay within what you know as ...familiar. I was talking to a friend the other day and I mentioned this to them. I told them, God will let you have what you say. We forget that sometimes! I asked for familiar and got it. The bible says "according to your faith, be it unto you." I got what I believed for, but I wonder what would happen if I actually opened myself up to something new God has for my life, The unfamiliar? What would happen if you did?
THE UNKNOWN
In 2018 open yourself up to the unknown. Don't lock yourself in to what you already did in 2017, 2016... even if it was successful. Open yourself up to what God knows, but you may not. We don't go from glory to glory by just living where we are, on the same level in life. Life is like that game, some of the best moves and joys will come in unfamiliar territory. It will require that you pay attention, pray and expect to adjust your game.
I know it can be kind of scary, because FEAR creeps in and makes us think there is imminent danger on the unknown path. FEAR makes us back up and avoid anything that we don't quite understand, but what is FAITH? It is substance of things that are hoped for, evidence of things we can't see.... the UNKNOWN!
As people of faith, let's position ourselves this year to venture into areas that only God has the map to. There may be things that you have TOLD God, that you may need to retract. It could be that He is waiting for you to operate by His words, not your own. The longer it takes us to realize we are operating on our own words, the longer it takes for us to take off on this great journey. As you go into this year, be open to the steps and opportunities that God gives you that may not look familiar. He will give you the ride of our life and each step will be an adventure of faith, growth and purpose!
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