God's will Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Daily Thoughts about God

“They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?” Exodus 14:11

Being the naturally organized person I am, I tend to be a planner, planning as much as I can as far ahead as I can and getting irritated with anything that gets in the way. So it was only natural recently when I was planning a trip that after getting my airline ticket on-line, I mapped out the ground plan.

I was flying into a major city airport at afternoon rush hour that was exactly on the opposite side of town from my hotel. Not wanting to take the time and expense of a cab ride, I checked the train schedule and found out I could get on at the airport and off near my hotel. I then got an on-line map from the train station to the hotel and found it to be less than a mile straight down a well traveled road and then three blocks on another street. I decided I could walk and get some evening exercise.

Initially, all went as planned….. off the plane onto the train and then off at the station. I walked past three perfectly good waiting cabs and proceeded down the road. It was dark by then, but the sidewalks were wide and the lighting good. Then, about a half mile into it, the sidewalks ceased, as did the lighting. It was then I realized I had to walk under an Interstate highway the banks of which were covered with heavy underbrush.

So, there I was, walking on the highway in the dark, wearing a dark suit, pulling my luggage and wondering how many pair of eyes were looking at me from the underbrush like sharks eying a mackerel. Would I get run over or mugged? At least I had voted before I left.

Then, the road forked and I went the wrong way. Finally, after walking a couple of miles in a circuitous route, I found my hotel and wondered if those cabs were still waiting at the train station. It looked so easy and short on the map.

When our children were small, we would use each trip as a geography lesson and show them our journey on a map. It looked so short. Maybe that’s why they would say about an hour into the trip “Daddy are we there yet?”

The map of life is like that. Our plans look so easy on paper, but walking out life’s journeys is quite another story. Look at the journey out of Egypt when the people asked Moses if he brought them into the desert to die.

The key is that we have a map and in order to do that, we have to have a specific destination. If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.

I’m amazed that so often when I think I know where I’m going God shows me I’m absolutely wrong. Certainly I do wander off of the path every once in a while, but God brings me back to that path again and again. He is faithful in doing this no matter how far I stray.

As long as God’s will is your destination, He will provide the map to get you there, so follow His map for your life and enjoy the journey.

by John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
Used by Permission

Comments: If you don’t see our response form, please go to https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/john-grant_map-of-life/

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: http://thoughts-about-god.com/four-laws/

Subscribe to Daily Devotionals by Email

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23, emphasis mine)

One of the most common questions of the Christian life is this: how do I know God’s will for my life? It’s a very important question. As Christ-followers we want to be obedient. We know that God has a plan for each of us and we know that His plan is for our good. So why doesn’t God just write out His plan so we can dive in? And what are we supposed to do until He reveals His plan?

It can be easy to slip into a never-ending holding pattern thinking, “I’ll just stay right here until I get a very clear direction from God. Preferably in writing. In triplicate if possible.” When we stand still, at least when I stand still, it’s often out of fear more than piety. (Or if I’m being really honest, I stand still because I’ve heard something I don’t like the sound of so what I’m really doing is waiting to hear God say something else.) But time and again in the Bible we see God telling people to start moving and His plan is revealed along the way. When God calls Abram in Genesis 12 He says, “go to the land that I will show you.” He doesn’t tell him his destination until later.

So how do we start walking? The other night at small group we were talking about this very topic and our leader told us that the when they launch the space shuttle the navigation system doesn’t kick in until it leaves Earth’s atmosphere. Why? Because there’s nowhere to go but up. Until the space shuttle enters orbit they don’t need to direct it because there is only one way it can go.

It’s the same for us. If we do the basic things God has asked us to do, we can be sure we’re headed in a good direction. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the spirit and then ends with this phrase, “against such things there is no law.” If you are actively pursuing love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control and asking God to develop these things in your life, you can’t go wrong. You will be headed in the right direction. As you are walking God will continue to reveal His plans for you.

In that same small group meeting our leader quoted another pastor who said that “God uses what’s in your hands to get to what’s in your heart.” So if you are wondering what God’s will for your life is, look at what you have in your hands. Are you an excellent financial planner? Do you love horses? Are you really good at making people feel welcome? Do you have a great voice? Take the things that are in your hands and look for a way to use them for God.

God created each of us specifically for the good works he planned in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10) Ask God to show you how to use what you have. Pursue the fruit of the spirit in your life and you can rest assured that you are pursuing God’s will for your life. Walk forward in confidence, abiding in prayer. There’s nowhere to go but up.

Father, Give me the courage to start walking. Remind me that You will come with me and that You know the way, even when I can’t see it. Amen.

What holds you back when God tells you to start walking? Have there been times when you stepped out in faith? What happened?

By Claire Colvin
Used by Permission

The Map of Life

Nowhere to Go But Up

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23, emphasis mine)

Further Reading

Tag: <span>God’s will</span>

The Map of Life

Nowhere to Go But Up

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23, emphasis mine)

Further Reading