"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good."
How many of you find yourself being disobedient? For some this thought may not have entered your mind in quite some time as we tend to focus on children when we think of being obedient or disobedient. What we may fail to remember is that we are all children... of God. I know there are times when I rebel and find that I'm disobedient when he calls me to change. Change is not always comfortable, often it's quite the opposite and can be painful and we don't like to have to go through the pain to see the plan do we?
I thought this week God would lay on my heart to share about his son's resurrection and the passion of Christ but he laid the word change on my heart to share with each of you instead. For those that know me personally, you know that last fall I was given a surplus notice that the position I hold is being eliminated. It was hard to hear those words. I was reminded by my supervisor that I wasn't being eliminated, simply my position. But I thought to myself, my position is my whole purpose for being here. Wrong answer. How quick am I to forget that God has bigger plans that just some "job", some "position" I hold. I am reminded to be ready to do whatever is good, change is good when it's God prompting it. Some may not have seen it as a God directed change but I do.
This past year God has blessed me and showed me such favor, nothing that I've deserved or earned but given to me because of my obedience. I've seen favor in my personal life and throughout my career. There have been jobs that I really wasn't qualified for, but God wanted me in that position for that season for a reason and he allowed me to learn what I needed to learn quickly. I can look back now and see how either I grew or another grew because of God placing me where he did. I've learned that my God really does open and shut doors.
After the initial shock of learning my position was going to be gone within the year, I gained a sense of peace that honestly I was a little surprised by. That's trust coming into action... I turned it over and let God take it from there and he did. He really did. Not only did he find me another position, he gave me options. When does that happen? Who does that happen to? To me, to you, to his children when his children are obedient and subject to rulers and authorities placed over them. I'd rather follow God's plan than the plans of man any day. No man (or woman) can create for us a plan that God doesn't approve first. Personnel didn't find me another position without God first giving his approval of where he needed and wanted me to be. That's how I know and find peace when the world around me changes, I know there is nothing and no one greater than my Abba Father. Psalm 84:11 says, "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless." We have favor and honor and walk blameless because the son of God already paid the price.
What change is God asking you to make lately? Career? Relationships? Physical location? Church family? Perhaps he's even asking you to change your thinking, your actions or reactions. Whatever change God is asking you to make, trust him. Our God has already been to all of our tomorrows, with that we should fear no change.
Blessings,
Heather
