God has been growing me in my decision-making. He is teaching me to read the indicators of what He is doing around me and in me. Where does He have me in the Word? What is the theme(s) right now of His journey with me in transformation? What is He doing in people around me? What circumstances is He highlighting in response to the decisions I am making? Where is He taking me in prayer? When life is a constant prayer processing with my Shepherd, I'll recognize His voice and follow His leading.
The story of Balaam's donkey provides a wonderful example of being attentive to God's indicators for leading us. His donkey spoke to say "Why have you struck me these three times?" He reprimanded Balaam for not recognizing that he (the donkey) was acting out of character when he ran off the road, pressed him into the wall and laid down. He asked Balaam to consider whether he had done that before, or anything other than fulfilling his duties. Then Balaam realized these were indications that God was putting a block in his way. He had missed it. Was he so set on going that he was no longer watching attentively for what God was doing and saying? God never wants me to hold onto a plan He lays out as the final, unchanging plan. His plans are "living plans" and subject to His remolding, honing, redefining.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I love the idea of "living plans"... The molding and the moving that He does in any given day!
ReplyDeleteI really like what you shared about Balaam, Ellen! It makes me think of what a friend shared with me recently about listening to God, and being willing to change the original plan if He leads that way. If Abraham had held fast to what God had instructed him to do in killing Isaac, he wouln't have put the knife down when the angel told him to stop. But he did listen and when God changed the plan, he responded right away!
ReplyDelete