“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”   Jeremiah 29:11-13 (niv)

I often hear people ask and wonder so often myself;
“What is God’s plan for me?  What does He want me to do?  What will bring Him the most glory?”

Ever since I returned from the She Speaks writers conference, I have been struggling with the direction I feel God has for me.  I have an unsettledness inside me to continue writing, but see no real path.  I long to glorify God through whatever it is I do, and if writing isn’t where God wants me, I want to know…I don’t want to waste mine and His time if this isn’t the path He wants me on!

I was talking with a friend about this and God spoke to me through her when she said;

“I think we get stuck because we want to do the right thing, but end up doing nothing because we don’t want to do the wrong thing.  Just remember how MUCH God loves you and that His desire for others to be ministered through the gifts He gave you, is greater then your desire to use them.”

So what do we do, how do we know what path to take?

Stop.

It’s time to have a talk with God.
Let Him know what you’re struggling with and ask Him for direction.

“I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words.”   Psalm 17:6

“Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.”   1 John 3:21-22

Listen.

Stop with the noise!
God speaks quietly.  In fact, many times it’s a longing or desire He places within us.
So, what moves you?  What are you passionate about?  What is it you think you want to do?

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”   Psalm 37:4-6

Take a deep breath.

Stop doubting!
God has a plan for us and even had it planned long before we were born!  As long as we stay in His will, He will not fail to show us what that plan is.

“For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you.'”   Isaiah 41:13

Take a step.

God responds to faith…and sometimes He waits for us to take that first step before He acts.
Move in the direction you think is right.
Trust that He will lead you and know that if it is not the right path He will change your direction.

“I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”   Revelation 3:8

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”   Proverbs 3:5-6

 

“Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.”
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.