Change of Plans...

"Sometimes your plans don't work out because God has better ones." -Anonymous  

It’s funny how we can pray everyday and yet be so disconnected from God. But we’ve been talking to Him, right?  So there’s no way we can’t be “in tune” with Him, right?  Except…..what exactly are we seeking God for? Our will or His will? When we associate our desires apart from God we're actually limiting ourselves to the things that our finite minds can think of as opposed to the infinite wisdom of God. We want our own way so bad that we allow the devil to convince us that what God desires for us won't measure up to the grand plans that we have for our lives.  This couldn't be more false.  The devil's greatest attack on us is to somehow get us to believe that God is withholding something good from us.  We often throw tantrums with God for closing a door that we deemed as "good" not realizing that God was only protecting us from something we thought we could handle. 

"We make our own paths first and THEN try to trust God, then wonder why things never work out." 

 There have been too many times to count that I've hesitated on going to God first with the desires of my heart.  Sounds silly I know, but that's only because I was more interested in what Leah had planned and was afraid that God's desires would mess them up. Like if I prayed for God's will I'd be on the first thing smoking to Zimbabwe on a missions trip (absolutely no offense to those who are called to ministry in Zimbabwe lol). It's as if we've convinced ourselves that our way is better than God's way.  We tend to get Proverbs 3:5-6 backwards.  We make our own paths first and THEN try to trust God, then wonder why things never work out. 

"When our hearts intent is to please God first, THEN He grants us the desires of our heart."

One of my favorite scriptures and also one of the most wrongly used scriptures is Psalms 37:4, where the psalmist says, “Take delight in the Lord and He will give you your heart's desires.”  We hear that scripture and we run with it….so much to the point that we skip through the beginning part and focus on the latter.  We're so quick to forget that, “delight yourself in the Lord,” which is SO key!  The word “delight” by definition means to “greatly please.”   When our heart’s intent is to please God first, THEN He grants us the desires of our heart.  Why? Because those desires are coming from Him.  When we make it our mission to serve God first, He begins to plant specific desires in our heart....and the beautiful thing is…..it will all be for His glory. 

Stop allowing the enemy to convince you that God won't give you His best in every area of your life. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has "plans for good and not for disaster." When you seek God first for EVERYTHING, you'll never be off-track or off-schedule, you'll be exactly where He wants you to be. Remember: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek His will in all you do and He will show you which path to take.......and I guarantee you, His path is worth taking.


-Leah

Bible Study*

For more information on this topic, check out the following scriptures:

Proverbs 3:5-6
Jeremiah 29:11
1 Thessalonians 5:17

Matthew 6:33
Hebrews 11:6 

Psalms 37:4

Psalms 27:4

Chances

So every now and then I like to share a song that's been heavy on rotation on my ipod.  Often times we take God's grace for granted, but what would it be like if we really ran out of chances to get it right with God?  I don't know but I'm glad for a patient God who loves enough to help us get it right.  Enjoy!! 

Why do I do things that won't bring me closer to You
No reason or excuse for most of them so I do them
Responsible for my part in pushing You away
And when I deserve to be left alone, You stayed

Couldn't help but notice something
That just keeps happening
Doesn't make much sense to me
But He does it again and again

Lord, I promise this is really the last time
(We've all said these words)
Sorry for not praying, it must have slipped my mind
(I never wanted You to hurt)

If You get me out of this one
I'll never do it again
When will I learn my lesson?
What would life be if I ran out of chances?

My closet so full of things I don't want You to see
If You knew all about me You'd question my belief
I know I haven't paid for each of the mistakes I make
So, thank you for keeping secrets, Lord
Let me just say

Couldn't help but notice something
That just keeps happening
It doesn't make much sense to me
But He does it again and again

Lord, I promise this is really the last time
(We've all said these words)
Sorry for not praying, it must have slipped my mind
(I never wanted You to hurt)

If You get me out of this one
I'll never do it again
When will I learn my lesson?
What would life be if I ran out of chances?

Uncover, expose me
That's the only way that I'll be free
Make me uncomfortable
Even if there's something I don't wanna see

I don't wanna live outside Your will, oh no
I've said it a thousand times
And I really wanna get it right

Lord, I promise this is really the last time
(We've all said these words)
Sorry for not praying, it must have slipped my mind
(I never wanted You to hurt)

If You get me out of this one
I'll never do it again
When will I learn my lesson?
Where will life be if I ran out of chances?

Where is your heart?

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;

    test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 

Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life." -Psalms 139:23-24

Sometimes you just have to take a step back and breathe.  These past few months, I have been the busiest I've ever been in my life.  Between ministry, work, family and friends I've been attempting to stretch my 5'5 self in about 1,000 different directions...and let's just say, it hasn't been working.  At first it was all good, but after attempting over and over to be in three different places at one time, I started to feel burnt out.  In my efforts to please everyone, I learned that you can't always say, "yes."  I mean really, what good is it be present but not be effective?  Even worse, I was finding myself drained in my ministry work.  I was learning the hard way that you can't pour out the Word to others if you're not taking the time to have the Word poured into you.  Eventually my fuel started to run out and I began to run strictly on fumes.....I became physically, emotionally and spiritually drained.  

"...for me, obligation is my commitment to people, obedience is my commitment to God."

As Christians, when we begin to feel "burnt out" it starts to form a blurred line between doing things out of obedience and doing things out of obligation.  What's the difference you ask?  Your heart. I associate the word, "obedience" with love.  The Bible tells us in, John 14:15, "if you love me, obey My commandments."  See although both words still equal commitment, for me, obligation is my commitment to people, obedience is my commitment to God.  I was finding myself more committed to my friends and family than I was to the One I deemed as Lord over my life.  

"In essence, I was giving God what was left of me after I had already given my best to other people."

I take pride in being a great friend, but it was never God's intent to spend so much time serving others and leave little to no time to commune with Him.  In essence, I was giving God what was left of me after I had already given my best to other people.  This is also where we can become more susceptible to sin.  Often times when we feel drained and burnt out we begin to see church and all other ministry enthused activities as a "job" and we start to serve others grudgingly as if it's a burden.  Right where satan wants us, in a place where we begin to lose our desire to serve and please God.  Wow.  What first started as a delight is now becoming a duty and we come to a point where we would just rather be spiritual couch potatoes because it's too draining to actively serve in ministry.  Again, what good is it to be actively involved in ministry and not effective?  

"Are we more concerned about what people think than what God thinks?"

Sometimes we have to ask God to search our hearts.  Take a deep dive into even the most hidden places of our lives and test our true intentions.  Are we confusing pleasing people with pleasing God?  Are we more concerned about what people think than what God thinks? Now, don't get me wrong, the Bible clearly says that we are to love one another, however in our efforts to love and to be loved by others, we can unknowingly be placing them on the same or higher pedestal as Christ in our hearts.  

To all my friends and family, bear with me if I seem distant for a little while.  I'm using this time to not make any commitments to people, but rather allow God to show me the areas on my heart that need to be more committed to Him.  Every now and then we need a heart check so we can put back in perspective that we're ultimately only called to serve people out of our service unto God.  

Remember this simple formula: God > Everyone else.

-Leah*

Bible Study
*For more information on this topic, check out the following scriptures:
Ephesians 6:7
Psalm 139
John 14:15
Psalm 100:2

Thank you!!!

To each and every person that's supported the blog:

I just wanted to take time out to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has not only supported my writing, but me personally over the last two years.  Every phone call, text, comment, "like" on Facebook/Instagram and Retweet is GREATLY appreciated.  It's a blessing when you can be a blessing to someone else.  

Continue to pray for me that I become more consistent with posting the things that God lays on my heart.  I truly wanted this blog to help encourage others and I hope that it continues to do just that.

Not sure what God is going to reveal to me on this go round, but that's the beauty of it, right? :-)

#StayEncouraged  #WalkWithMe

Love,

Leah