Stand in the Gap Part 1 - YouTube

 “God puts dreams in our hearts and writes a destiny over our lives. And if we trust Him enough to take Him at His word, we will find ourselves on a journey toward the fulfillment of that dream. Unfortunately, the path that takes us to the promise is always wrought with thickets and thorns. Nothing worth having ever comes easy or without opposition. Storms will come, lions will roar, and our fears will be confronted. God allows the path to be difficult because He intends to refine us preparing us for our place of promise.” From Faith Radio Website

We all must answer the question of am I following God or myself. I struggled with knowing God’s will for my life when young and I still do. I have come to accept that this is not just something that is true when young; it is a continuing challenge to follow God’s plan throughout life. We must surrender our will to follow His will.

Following God instead of dwelling on ourselves is a challenge. Most of us only increase our pain by dwelling on it or by analyzing it. We throw a pity party and expect others to join us. We spiral downward into depression, withdrawing into self-preoccupation. But the way to overcome is not to focus on ourselves or on the pain, but to focus on the needs of others. We need to get our eyes off ourselves and our problems and our pressures and our pain and look around? Who do you know who is suffering or struggling in some way? What can you do for them? Ask God to bring to your attention those you can care for. Because as you do, you will find joy in easing their burden, and in the process, you will ease your own.

God clearly demonstrates His plan for our lives by lining up circumstances in obvious ways that are unknown to us at the time.  I can point to several times in my life where things fell into place where only God could have made them happen. 

Some years ago I found myself in a serious season of growth. Our family had taken a step of faith and moved across the country to a place we felt God calling us to go; with no certainty of employment.  It was the first time I had experienced the sense God was calling me to a specific place. I thought this must mean God was calling me to do work in others when in reality it was about Him doing work in me.: My wife, Renee and I made a major decision in faith to move away from a city out of concern for our sons when they were 9 and 12. We walked away from our well-paying jobs in a metro area of five million people moving to a rural area sacrificing our income in hope of  having a better life. We knew we were taking a huge risk and were widely criticized in both places for walking away from the money and the job security, but we were convinced it was the right decision for our family. After moving we learned that jobs were scarce, but God had us covered. The local university was looking for someone to lead their campus as Academic Dean with my background and credentials and the local hospital cheerfully welcomed Renee onto their home health team. To say those things rarely happen would be a vast understatement, but they did and we are forever convinced God led us. While living there we celebrated both of our sons being saved and baptized, accepting Jesus as the true and living God. Looking back at that decision and those years we fully accept that God was leading us every step of the way.

An unforgettable memory was participating with millions of other Promise Keeper’s men at a March in D.C. with youngest sons, Jesse, and Joshua. Being invited by friends from church I cherish that time spent together. I spent those days in Washington with tears in my eyes and joy in my heart praying for my children to be saved and for the world to turn back to God.

God has given Christian parents the responsibility to raise their children in the way of the Lord. Parents, don’t fail in this mission. Don’t say you’re too busy. Don’t say you don’t have time, we don’t know when our last day on this earth will be, just as our son Joshua didn’t know his last day would be at age 27. It is vital that you seek Christ as your Savior. You will either spend eternity in Heaven or Hell, and that choice is yours.

How can you determine if following God’s plan for your life?

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.