Seek and Forsake
opportunity
Don’t You Get It?
Some people are slower than others when it comes to understanding. Recently, I was sent an article to read and in it there were terms and acronyms that I didn’t understand. It took me a little while, but I finally began to understand what the writer was saying. There are subjects and abstract truths that are more challenging for some than others. Decades ago, special classes were made in schools for those who were not able to keep the learning pace with the others. What I have found is that this educational pace applies in more than academics. This is an another amazing thing that God has slipped in on humanity. Those who may be slow in understanding mathematical formulas, sentence structures and processes can be quick to understand the love of God and receive it.
Think about it, God has placed you in a school called life, and understanding what life is all about is what many struggle with. What good is it to be intellectually astute and admired by the cultured in today’s society, but spiritually ignorant and completely ignored by heaven? Jesus put it this way, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and yet loses his soul?” Matthew 16:25
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called.] But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
No matter what your education level is, God in heaven reaches down and gives you opportunity to get a higher education in the spirit. No matter what your intellectual level is, at some point there has to be the understanding that there is no pathway to eternal life that does not go to the cross of Jesus Christ. No one passes the cross and moves on to eternal life without a complete confession and surrender of their life. We could never pass the eternal life exam no matter how much we studied, but that is where the understanding comes clear—Jesus Christ took the exam, made the A+ and gave us the credit. Hallelujah!
The Good Struggle
Recently a friend contacted me about a major decision he has to make in his life. He lives a few states away from the place he feels God is calling him to, but he has years of investment where he is and has excelled in his career there. Sometimes it’s hard to leave a place, while at the same time, there is that pull to go to another place. You’ve probably experienced that more than once in your life, as I have. My friend said, “I feel it,”and then said later, “I am struggling with the decision.” He has been a great friend all my life and asked for prayer. I told him when you struggle with a decision, that is a good struggle to have. Why would that be a good struggle?
Maybe you’re at a crossroad yourself, and it’s hard, and you’re uncertain about what to do. This a good place to be and it’s a good struggle to have. A struggle to make a decision means that you care deeply about the place you are leaving. It means that what God has to say about it matters to you. It’s a good struggle because it gives you the opportunity to reach out to people you know who pray for God to make it clear. It’s a good struggle because you know that your own flesh and the devil can lay good opportunities in front of you. It’s a good struggle because there may be no greater tool God uses to draw you closer to Him. God could reveal directions and answers so clearly instantly, but He chooses to let us exercise our faith and draw near to Him. This tool is one way God measures how much we value what He has to say. It’s a good struggle because often we can’t figure it out and we get to rest and wait on that revelation from the Lord.
When God opens an opportunity for you or impresses upon you to make a major decision, there is a blessing waiting for you wherever He is leading you. Let me encourage you, at every major intersection of your life, pray and seek God like never before. He wants us to come to Him and show Him that He truly is Lord of our lives. When you come to the good struggle to make major decision, remember these directions:
The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.” Psalms 23:1-3
“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This [is] the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.” —Isaiah 30:21