As I pondered what my list might hold, some items came easily to mind. Some were health related, some were family related, and some were finance related. But than I started to consider other more substantial goals. I started to think about my career, some further education, and a few other dreams. I thought about what steps I would take to try and achieve some of these goals. but the more I thought about it, the more I delved deeper into my own ambitions I became conflicted.
I started to wonder what room is there for drive in a life that is supposed to be marked by devotion? If I am supposed to let God guild my footsteps, how can I have a planed out five year road map?I do in fact have many plans in my heart, but are they God's purposes?
Right now I am reflecting on James 4. It is hitting me between the eyes. I can feel his words chastising me, cutting down to the bone. I could easily be the person he had in mind when he wrote this some 2000 years ago. While I can take some comfort in knowing that I am not the only person that has struggled with finding the balance between devotion and drive, that hardly solves my problem.
After all I know that I do not know what the future holds. But shouldn't that unknown prompt some planning, some preparation?
Today this blog is far more about questions than it is about answers. I wish I could resolve some of my own questions. I did stumble on this verse, Psalm 20:4; 'May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.' However this really is meant to be a blessing given to others, so it might be a little selfish to pray it myself. I suppose a few of us could get together and bless each other, but that feels a little like cheating.
How about you, is this something that you have struggled with? Have you found a solution? If so please share! Or are you stuck like me, caught between devotion and drive? If so share that too, we can commiserate together.
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I think it is important to plan our lives. I don't think God wants us to sit around waiting for Him to happen to us. That being said, I think we need to prayerfully plan our lives, seeking God's direction at every turn, and be willing to change our plans and our direction if God directs.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reflection Laura. I think you are right. Waiting for a burning bush, or the star to part on every decision is likely ineffective.
ReplyDeleteI've become friends with a Mommy Blogger who wrote a blog post this morning that ties in to what you're saying here - http://www.themommymatters.net/searching-for-what-i-already-know/ I haven't even had a chance to finish reading it (started before work), but I do think you'd find it connects.
ReplyDeleteThanks Laura, I'll check it out
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Chris. Like I said in my own post today, I think that God gives each of us passions and desires that are rooted so deep within our hearts that we couldn't imagine doing anything else. And I feel like it's in those passions that he carries out his will for us. We just have to do as much as WE can do and allow God to do what we can't.
ReplyDeleteCourtney, thank you for popping over. I am quite certain that I know the general purpose that God has given me. I really am pondering a few specific points right now that make things a little more complicated.
ReplyDeleteHowever both your and Laura's reminder to follow prayerfully after God given desires is very helpful.
Right now I am in the middle of the process of sorting out if they are God driven or self driven. Time will tell.