I don’t want to miss God’s plan just because I am rushing towards my will. I once wrote a post about Peter Farrant – do you remember? – and he told me, “John, slow down and smell the roses!” We can become so preoccupied with our plans that we miss His purpose. I can usually tell when I’m driving the stagecoach of my will. Physically I have signals and signs. It’s when I have shortness of breath, tightness in my chest, and sometimes even a slight burning in my throat. Lord Jesus, help, a life can be expedient and profitable.
Life: Expedient, Effective, Profitable
Quite frankly, the reason there would be any negative physical effect on my body is because running by the horsepower of my will is sin. But at the end of the day, I’d rather experience the excitement of Christ’s Life than to be anxious in my own willfulness.
This life is based in the movement of His sovereign hand. If I trust Him, then I know everything is in His sovereign Will. The benefit of this lifestyle is that you experience the rest and peace of Christ. Additionally, there is the joy of experiencing Him in life. It is impossible to run on my own steam and in my will and still experience His Wonder.
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient.
1 Corinthians 6:12
The Expedient Route
Say I have a trip planned to New York. In planning my trip, I have many options. For one, the route I plan to take. Two, the means of transportation; I can walk, ride a bike, take a train, go via greyhound, or I could fly. In this case most would say that the most expedient route would be flying. In other words, the most profitable route (Strong’s G4851), but is it? Logically this route would be most expedient. But my life and doings are not to be based in logic. The Lord orders my steps, not me. Expedience for the child of God is His Will –not convenience, practicality, or logic. And with that said, my most profitable route might just be by bicycle.
Look at the maps of Christ’s journey. There is no logical explanation for the routes He chose. But in the Will of the Father, it was not only profitable, but expedient and perfect as well. Again, expedience and profitability is found in the Will of God, not logic.
Expedient Life Test
How was this revelation tested in my life? After all, I don’t get the opportunity of writing a post without its serrated edge cutting my life. So here is how this particular blade cut me. First, every single stoplight on my 2 1/2-hour commute to Atlanta turned red on me. Also, every hesitant driver in my vicinity chose to move in front of me and ride their brakes. Yep, if an obstacle could jump in my way, it did.
Then when I finally got to my painting class, one of the students asked how my drive in was. I told her of my frustrations, and guess what she said: “I wonder what you were saved from?” In case I had missed the point, the Lord made sure I knew of His sovereignty over my steps. Remember, I was dictating this very post while on my journey to class. God is always faithful to make sure we get His message. Thank you, Jesus!
My lesson here is He orders my steps and my anxiousness is only willfulness. I am to be looking for Him, enjoying Him, and trusting Him as I walk in this world. If I would open my eyes and heart, perhaps my divine interruptions just might be an answer to my prayers—or the hidden blessing of experiencing His Life.
As I read your post I am sitting in the hospital for the 4th time in the last six weeks watching my daughter. Right before I started reading this morning the young med tech came in trying to be so quiet as to not wake her and make sure she had what she needed. The Lord said to pray for him and bless him so as I sat in the corner I prayed. We have had a lot of red lights the last few weeks and at times I’ve been frustrated, overwhelmed and anxious but I am reminded to proclaim… Read more »
Praying for your daughter Denise and all of you! May He be revealed in all of your moments and during this apparent interruption. May He be the hidden Blessing in this light momentary affliction, which will soon reveal His glory. Standing with you! For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]! So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal… Read more »
John, I so identified with you, that my body was tensing as I read, “every single stop-light turned red” on your journey. I as well, have had a check that God may be saving me from some potential accident or ‘just slowing me down. I seem to stay on ‘full-speed ahead’!!!! MY WILLFULNESS AND ANXIOUSNESS IS SIN.
Thank you John for putting willfulness into perspective, a really in-my-face reality of being led by God’s Holy Spirit.
The craziness for me goes along with the lie that I am GOD and taking HIS place…… I resign (again).
Bless you
Throw’er into neutral Sue and let the Spirit take you. Bless you and love you!