4/1/2013
A DIFFERENT DIRECTION![]() Ever had something you loved to do and you felt like you could be really successful with taken away from you? Yeah me too, in fact, I’m in the process of seeing this happen right now. It can be rather difficult maybe even devastating. I {Lindsey} have seen myself go through a sort of mourning over this loss. However, this time feels different. Of course I have had this happen before. We all try our hand at things and at times have those things fail. That failure can seem very personal, like an attack on your character or your capability as a person, a wife, a mother, a Fill in the blank . I’m not going to lie, I have felt all of those things at one point of failure or another. This time, while the failure still hurts a bit, the truth of the big picture seems a lot more clear. I don’t have some sort of cheat sheet with all the answers, but my recent decisions to draw closer to God through more frequent and deeper study as well as through the writing of our weekly devotional has opened up my life to a purpose beyond the “this is what I want” mentality to “this is what I have been created for”. When I started writing our study, I was not entirely convinced that it would be successful. To be honest, I wasn’t convinced that I could be successful in the endeavor. As I continue to write the study I am more and more convicted that my being successful has nothing to do with it. God doesn’t need me to be successful. He doesn’t need me to worry about failing Him because I have been promised this “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until its finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6 (NLT) I don’t have to be successful, because God is a finisher. When He starts a good work, when He calls you to something, He is faithful to finish that work even as its completion stretches beyond your life here on earth. We each have a legacy to leave, and when we partner ourselves with God, when we allow him to take the lead, we allow our legacy to be one that will affect the world for years to come. The great thing about investing in the legacy that God wants for us to have is that it will grow as much as we have faith in it. Matthew 25:14-35 tells us of 3 servants who were each entrusted with talents. One servant was given 5 bags and upon the masters return had 10 bags to give back, another servant was given 2 bags and upon the master’s return had 4 bags to give back and the last servant was given one bag, but upon the master’s return he only gave one back. The masters reply to that servant was this, “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” Matthew 25:26-30 I don’t know about you, but I would much rather be the man who is trusted with more because he invests his resources well. I am already beginning to see the benefits of the faith that I am investing in God’s will for my life. I don’t know exactly where He will lead, I don’t know what other endeavors I may have to give up, or how I will accomplish the future goals that God has already set for my life. I do know he has a plan, and that He is faithful in completing the works He started. I know that He has given me a vision, a target “audience”, and a new bag of silver to invest when I have completed and as I am completing the task of writing this first devotional book. I have no clue if it will ever be a published work, no idea the audience that it may reach, but I know that God called me to and started this work and I can be sure that it will continue to have an impact on this world until Christ’s second coming. If that doesn’t scream “YOU HAVE PURPOSE, YOU ARE MEANINGFUL” then I don’t know what does. I challenge you to freely let go of the closed doors, to praise God in the hallway’s of your life, and to be actively pursuing the areas of ministry He places right in front of you. Don’t let fear of failure keep you from blessings of investing in eternity. Don’t allow your own loud voice filled with doubt overpower the quiet calling of God. I promise when you take that first step that voice gets louder. The calling gets bigger. The blessings become insurmountable. God fulfills His good works. He created YOU as a good work. Allow him to fulfill you. |
This space is reserved for Founder Mandy's perspectives and viewpoints of Scripture. Man is fallible, but God is not. It's strongly encouraged that you study the Scripture for yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in your understanding.
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