Following God

I’m so thankful that God has not made us robots. We are each unique and different in our own way. Too many times we feel like we have to conform to fit in. We long to be like someone we admire. We think we are not enough. But let me tell you, if you are following God, you will be in the right place at the right time doing the right thing.

Are we all perfect at following God? No! But as we set our hearts to follow Him, He will lead us. Don’t think it has to be something big and important before you’ll know that God is leading you. When we lived in a more urban area than we do now and I was working outside of the home, I used to, on purpose, listen on the inside as to which way to travel to school in the morning and home in the afternoon. There were several different routes available. Was that something big and important? No. But it helped me to be more sensitive on an ongoing basis so when it is bigger and more important, I would already know how to listen.

God will use anything! I have had many examples of this in my life - where God used something very un-religious to show me something. Recently he used a game of Solitaire. That’s right, Solitaire! I was listening to a show online and playing Solitaire, as I often do when listening to something online. Let me tell you what happened.

I clicked on one card and that ended the game. I clicked “undo” without really thinking. I usually just close the game and move on. But this time I clicked “undo” without planning ahead and then I thought “Let’s try a different way.” I really wasn’t thinking I could win the game. I just thought it would be fun to see where it took me. I got to one point and started to make a move that made sense but hesitated. “No, wait, I need to do this.” I ended up winning that game! I went from shut down, game over… to winning!

Immediately I knew God was speaking to me through that Solitaire game. It can look like it’s over, but it’s not over until He says it’s over. We just need to keep close to Him and follow His steps, follow His voice. It won’t always make sense. It may even just seem “weird”. Sometimes it may feel like we are following our own thoughts, our own ways, or our own intellect. But He is behind it all! He is the one orchestrating things. Trust Him to show you what to do, where to go, who He has called you to be.

A couple weeks ago that old saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” came to me. I’ve been thinking about it off and on. I thought, “Really?” The verse in Psalm 23 about God leading us beside still waters came to mind. “Lord”, I thought, “I want to follow You and I want to drink what You have for me, take part in what You want for me!” God has a way of leading you to water and showing you just how wonderful it is to drink. No, He won’t force you. But if you’ll partake of what He has for you, follow where He is leading you, it will refresh you as much or more as a cool drink of water on a hot day!

So I encourage you to be open to God’s leading in your life. Watch for His hand in things. It won’t always appear in ways you think He will. It will often seem very un-religious. When Jesus was here on Earth, He often used everyday things to make His point: coins, fish, leaven, sand, stars, trees, etc, etc, etc! Just listen. You’ll hear Him. I guarantee it will make you smile when you do! I’m so thankful that God has not made us robots. We are each unique and different in our own way. Too many times we feel like we have to conform to fit in. We long to be like someone we admire. We think we are not enough. But let me tell you, if you are following God you will be in the right place at the right time doing the right thing.