WATCHWORD:
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial: 31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So, when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.” Psalm 32:8-9
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” John 19:13
Meditation:
Making the Team
In high school, I learned that I made the basketball team! I had worked hard and had made it! As the first game of the season approached, I was thrilled to know that I would start! A couple of errant passes, a missed layup and a foul, and I found myself on the bench. Crushed!
While in college, I had aspirations of becoming an actor. I auditioned for a part in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and was cast in the role of Sebastian, one of the male leads. A few years later, in another city, I auditioned with the local Civic Theater for a role in Bus Stop, and was cast in in the role of Beauregard ‘Bo Decker, the male lead. My “aspirations” were encouraged.
Still later, while playing the role of Horace Vandergelder in Hello Dolly! I discovered a major flaw in my plans. There is a point in the play where my character rushes out on to the stage to make an important pronouncement. I made my entrance but for the life of me I could not recall my lines! I stood center stage for what seemed like an eternity, until a fellow cast member started feeding me my lines, and the play went on. However, the damage was done. My confidence was shaken. My aspirations faded away, the Oscar disappeared!
I believe we all experience missed opportunities, disappointments, and times when we failed to meet our goal. How do we get through those times? Sometimes it is a mind-set, or perhaps it is a conviction that this is all part of God’s plan for our lives. The resume’ of our strength and weaknesses, our talents, our limitations are all gifts from God. We are not living someone else’s resume’, we are living our own. We just need to embrace it.
Here are some truths: We are not auditioning, we already have the part in God’s Master Play. We are not trying to make the team, we are on God’s Team. We need not wait for God’s Gifts, they are already ours. We need not try to earn God’s Love, we already have His Love.
So, what are you going to do? You are living out God’s plan, with the gifts He has given you, with the assurance that His love will never fail you. So, what have you dared? Do you step outside your comfort zone with confidence? You may have forgotten your lines for the moment, and may not be sure of which way to go, stage right or stage left, but listen very carefully, for God is prompting you, and showing you the way.
Talking to God is a really good plan, right? Even these bumps in the road that we are all experiencing, they are all part of God’s plan, for each of our lives. You know He welcomes conversations with us. He’s listening, right now, are we? May God bless us.
Stan
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6.
Morning Prayers:
Heavenly father, you know every decision that I need to make every challenge I face please forgive me for the times I try to figure this life out on my own. I need you. I need your Holy Spirit to give me strength wisdom and direction for today.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your guidance. Forgive me for getting ahead of Your plans, and help me know when to stop and listen for Your direction. Your ways are perfect, Lord. Thank You for offering gentle grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
