Posted Sep 05, 2022 |
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“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” ~Psalm 39:14.
There is no one who can be you as great as you. God made you, in His image, unique. We were made to stand out and be different from the norm. The norm tells you to be politically correct, everyone’s a winner, and it’s okay to identify any way you want. That is not what God says. God is the complete opposite of the world.
Look at what the world says is right and do the exact opposite.
Chances are you will probably hit God’s will on the preverbal head. To the world, when walking God’s way, it will look like you don’t fit. Why would you want to fit? Fitting into this world means that we make choices that are selfish, instead of selfless. It means that you believe God lied or made a mistake when He created you.
The Word says that God’s timing is perfect. His plan for our lives is prosperous.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” ~Jeremiah 29:11-13.
He designed us as fearfully and wonderfully made. We are unique because that is how he created you. God’s way is topsy-turvy to the world.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” ~Ephesians 2:10.
To a Christian, how people are dressing provocatively, in same sex relationships, changing their sexual orientation, cross dressing, or choosing to be in a pre-marital intimate relationships, appears different. That is just not true. Those behaviors are the norm for our society. They are the exact opposite of how God created us. It is Satan’s attack on how we were created and by whom we were created. Satan wants us to second guess who we are, creating insecurities and a need to experiment. We imagine that we are missing something.
You are missing something but not an identity!
There are distinct parts you have, that are masterfully made, to suit the gender you were created to be. Your design only fits with the opposite gender. God goes even further than that when he talks about two people being united as one: a husband and a wife. He honors that union and blesses it.
I have spoken to several people, through my practice and as a minister, about the order God provides for our lives. They come questioning why their life isn’t working out or why they are always suffering. When things are constantly going wrong, they seem to be shocked by it. Most of what comes from their lips are complaints, discouragement, and despair.
The one things I have been able to identify, that is lacking from their lives, is following after Jesus. I can ask them how long has it been since they have studied the Bible, had conversational prayer with God not just ritualistic memorized prayers, or participated in fellowship with other believers in or outside of the church setting. Inevitably the answer comes with shrugged shoulders or “I don’t know.”
Disconnect from God means disconnect for His perfect will for your life.
You cannot expect to have a blessed life if you are far away from the very source of life. God created life and helps it grow. If you want to flourish, you need to be near your origin.
When a seed is planted in the ground, it dies to itself, casting off it’s outer skin. To continue to grow it needs a direct connection to water and the sun. Those two things combined bring the plant to life, creating it’s best version of itself.
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” ~Jeremiah 17:7-8.
We need to get close to our source.
Just as a garden cannot grow, without key elements, neither can a lightbulb shine without electricity. Everything that grows needs to be near it’s provision.
If you are wondering why your life is not feeling put together, ask yourself if you are connected to Him. The fact is that this world is messed up and will continue to live in sin…because if we were still an Eden, we wouldn’t have a need for God. The Bible declares there will still be problems in this world that will directly effect us. However, when you are living for Christ, you respond differently which causes spiritual growth.
Spiritual growth means that our lives are better, not because the world is better but because we have guidance for how to handle the issues. God provides for His people. God will bless those who follow after Him. He makes the way to walk through the tough stuff and come out the other end still growing.
He wants to bless you and keep you. The only way that can happen is if you get out of the way!
We are the ones who hinder the blessings. We choose to make choices about our lives based on our feelings or what others might think. Be different. Choose to go against the world, the norm, for the topsy-turvy that God has for you. You will be blessed in ways you could never imagine. Doing things differently then the world has given me a health and loving marriage, kids that are also going against the world, a nice house, vehicles that work, bills paid, and a career that allows me to be active in ministry.
Satan still attacks. Stuff still breaks or stops working. Bills continue to show up. Death is still part of the circle of life. BUT GOD! I am taken care of, free of worry and flourishing.
In addition, please let me take a moment to warn you about something that can cause discord. When you come across the people that live in the world, don’t condemn them: it is not your job. Love them like Jesus, show them what they are missing and be around as an open ear for their questions. Give them encouragement and guidance through what the Bible says. Let God work on their hearts through your example of being loving.
Be uniquely you, follow the Lord, and see His perfect plan for your life unfold!
