We will never get where we are going without God. He is our compass. When we learn to tap into His strength and trust Him for our direction we get where we want to go. We can learn from the Israelites. This is why scripture is here. To remind us and teach us, so that we do not repeat the errors of the past. The only way to do that is to keep the ears of our hearts open to hear from the Holy Spirit as He guides us through the nonconformity of the world. We can have confidence in His way of doing things. It is not the way the world does things. It is most often counter to the world's way. This is why we can be hesitant, because our logical mind tells us to fear the uncertain. However, we can trust boldly that God is the only certainty we have. He will provide. He will deliver us. He already has.
So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”
Hebrews 3:7-11 NIV
When we trust in the world we are surrounded by evil unbelief and dishonest deeds that go on all around us all the time. Becoming consumed by watching this behavior can lead us to rationalize its happening and then accept it as common practice. It will distract us from the purity of God’s way and lead us off course from the greatness that awaits us. The devil doesn’t have to tempt us away from God and His work if we are simply distracted by the world. We must stay firmly planted into today so that we can keep ourselves and each other accountable to not conforming to the world. Sin only slows us down and keeps us weak to be able to quickly react to the voice of God. Keep a firm grasp on His existence in our lives and know that He is in control of everything. There is nothing that we have to do alone. We are never alone.
See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.
Hebrews 3:12-14 NIV
Considerations for your planner:
- Where do you want to go in life? Write down how you depend on God daily to make a way?
- Why do you find comfort in following the world? Write down how you can challenge your comfort and grow your trust more in God.
A Story of Turning Away from the World:
It is easy to hit overwhelm and worry. I am surrounded by other people and examples on social media that share about overwhelm and worry being normal. I think it is great to share and find some normalization so that people don’t move to guilt and shame over worry. However, I also think it is dangerous, because this sharing can make me feel ok, maybe even comfortable with worry.
God never intended fear and worry for my life. Knowing this makes me turn away from it and turn to Him. I can either worry or trust in God. I cannot do both. Holding on to this reality keeps me dependent on Him. It helps me know that I can let go of worry for tomorrow, because being present is where He is.
This is the best way I have discovered how to remove worry and overwhelm in my life. The moment I feel it and recognize it happening I stop what I am doing. I take a deep breath and focus on what is happening right in front of me. I become as present as I can be. The action of being present makes worry and overwhelm melt away. Then I remember that God will help me with everything that is coming. I do not have to fear, because He is above the world and I am already provided for.
- Anonymous
Strengthen the Christian Planner Family by sharing your experiences. We'd love to hear a story about God's work in your life. Use the form linked below to submit your story.
