The Word - May 17, 2012 - GOD'S PLAN IS PERFECT WE'RE NOT

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23,24).

Our Heavenly Father has every intention that you, as His child, experience complete fulfillment as His plan is fulfilled in and through you. Psalm 139 in its entirety makes this quite plain. Unfortunately, there are two very basic obstacles that can creep in and keep God's plan from being fulfilled in your life.

The first stumbling block is that He needs an invitation. You must invite Him to reveal His plan for you. He really does have a plan, but He never forces us to accept it. God simply will not barge in and force His plan on you.

If you insist on doing life your way instead of God's way, no question about it, you will miss His best. As a result, we usually end up "paying the piper" and never have the deepest needs of our soul fulfilled. Those who chose to reject God's plan in favor of "doing it my way" end up filling their hearts with stuff; but end up with a futile life style that never gives peace and joy.

The second obstacle facing us is that to participate in God's plan involves more than that first response. We must be willing to follow when the Lord leads us in unexpected directions. If we hold to rigid, preconceived notions about what His plan must be, (according to us), we invite disappointment.

The Bible calls this mistake "Walking by sight, not by faith." When the path becomes open for some service for our Lord, but we become consumed with the difficulties instead of the possibilities, we usually miss the right path! I know that for sure! I also missed God's call in my life to be a pastor. By the way, His will for you may never mean "full time service as a pastor, etc. He has thousands of jobs that need to be filled in the lives of His children.

How about you? Is it possible your expectations have kept you from hearing God's voice clearly? Slow down, immerse yourself in God's Word; sit quietly to hear His voice. Don't you think it is time to look at your life and circumstances from our Heavenly Father's perspective?