According to God’s Purpose

Romans 8:28
We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.  

A windshield is 90% larger than the rearview mirror for a reason. We have the ability to recalibrate our attitudes and actions in the same way. Because of Romans 8:28, we can recover from our afflictions and our straying away. The idea of recovery involves strength, a willingness to look at things in a new light, and the balancing of spiritual life with the real-world conditions. 

 I was a young, very focused career woman in my 30s. I had time for nothing else other than work; and I traveled about 50% of the time. I had strayed from attending church or even studying, totally focused on what I thought was necessary for a career. Then cancer hit, suddenly taking my life and turning it upside down. During my struggles, I was so discouraged at one point I finally got down to praying. The prayer went something like this, “God I have used every bit of my strength to overcome this obstacle. I feel I have no energy to continue the battle. Give me the strength to carry on.” From that prayer, my life suddenly changed. First, I learned to glance in the rearview mirror, but keep my eyes toward the windshield and the road ahead. How? 

First, my heart was redeemed by realizing I needed God’s help and direction; I cannot move through life on my own. It is God’s plan, not my own plan that must be worked. I repurposed my resources, realizing God had given me abilities and talents I was not using. I was not allowing others to help me and I was not reaching forward each day pressing for the goal God set for me. I learned to “lean” on both God and others. I took to the words of Isaiah, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past,” instead I looked for God’s will on how to move forward and accomplish His work. My old life was to change; it meant learning to do things differently, using parts of my body and mind that I had not used before. Giving up a former career plan and choosing a new path. I thought “Zen” was hokey, but I learned its benefits. I thought that exercising would bring back function, but I learned that you must do it the right way by listening to the experts’ how-to. I thought I could go back to my life the way it was, but I learned I was missing an opportunity God was placing before me, a better plan for life.  I had a future love, future adventure, and a future of creativity that I never knew was coming until I looked in the windshield!   I learned nothing that had happened in my life had been wasted, but it certainly needed to be repurposed in order to travel down the road ahead.

Do not miss the adventure! Do not miss God’s Call to travel down the road ahead! Roll down the window, let the breath of God hit you in the face, and look forward through the windshield of where God is leading you.  

Try this prayer to help you get refocused when your astray, “Dear God, I am worn out, it is time for me to take the next step, to recover from my ailment, regroup, redeem, and to repurpose my resources to Your plan. Here and now, I recommit myself to Jesus Christ. I am yours Father, lead me and I will follow with gladness and gratitude. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Karen Horton