God’s Guidance & Answers

I’ve been accepted into graduate school at University of Saint Francis!

It was through God’s guidance and reassurance that I chose to take this step. I have a passion for urban ministry and, through this higher-education in their Organizational Leadership program, I hope to bring my skills in non-for-profit to the benefit of a ministry. This was a huge leap of faith for me because I never imagined myself reaching this level of education. It wasn’t from a lack of self-confidence but just that I never thought I would choose to do so. God has opened the doors for me to go and given me the passions I have. I am confident that, just like he has been with me through my undergraduate degree, he will give me the strength and confidence I need to do this.

Decerning God’s plan for your life can sometimes be difficult. In my own life, I have found it less difficult than trying to figure out my decisions on my own. Knowing my life is entirely planned out by God is the foundation I find my hope in. I know that even when I don’t have the answers, God will guide me on the path he has for me.

This confidence in God can be found in the truth of who he is. The Bible describes the characteristics of God, here are a few examples.

In Matthew 19:26, Jesus says, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (God is all powerful).

In Isaiah 40:28, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable” (God is all knowing).

In Colossians 1:17, “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (God is present).

From these passages and years of growing in my relationship with Jesus, I have found my confidence and purpose in the Lord. Surrendering to Christ and accepting his salvation and forgiveness for our sins is when we receive the promise of eternal life in heaven with God. (And receive the Holy Spirit, who is our guide.) Through Christ, we are also saved from an eternity in hell for our sins. Jesus is the answer to all our problems, both the serious (life or death) and the superficial (day to day). Surrendering your life to Christ is letting go of sinful patterns and selfishness, and choosing to live for God’s glory and purpose. In John 3:16 it explains the love God has for us; “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Out of that unconditional, unending love is the reason for living for God. He loves us so much that he saved us from eternal death, through Jesus Christ. From that love, I have found my hope, my security and my foundation.
In Psalm 136, it repeats over and over again about God’s steadfast love.
Psalm 46:1-2 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

Psalm 62:2 – He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.

My purpose in life is to live for God. And since being in college I have prayed that God would shape me into the person he wants me to be for his purpose. It has taken me through meaningful experiences and difficult ones. But my hope is in God and I know that everything happens for his purpose. Even when I am afraid, I know my God is with me every step of the way.
Proverbs 3: 5-6 – 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.

Psalm 25:4-5 – Make me know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you, I wait all the day long.

Philippians 1:6 – And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

All of this to say that surrendering to Christ and letting him guide you in life is totally worth it. Let my life be a testament to the living God, he is alive and active. Praise be to the one who guides my life and opens doors to my future education.

Psalm 26:3 – For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness.

Eyes that See & Ears that Hear

Praying for God’s wisdom can grant you a deeper understanding of him and the world around you. James 4:8 says that when we draw near to God, he will draw near to us. In the last few years, I have prayed more specifically for God to grow me in different areas of my life. Such as my confidence in myself, the way I love others and how I could be better equipped for the future he has for me.

Out of that, God has granted me wisdom and understanding; “having eyes to see and ears to hear”. Jesus makes reference to this in the Gospels, but it is also mentioned in Revelations and other parts of the Bible. I am not an expert on this or know all the theological significance, but I know it has to do with the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. You receive the Holy Spirit when you confess your sins and identify your need for Christ as your Savior. Putting your faith in Christ, and allowing his light to shine through the darkness in your life, has many blessings. The Holy Spirit is a gift from God, because of the faith you put in Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the defining power force behind being a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:16-18) and with being born of the spirit (John 3:5-6). There are many more truths that could be covered about the Holy Spirit. Romans 8 and Acts 1-2, as well as many other passages, can be studied in order to understand further.

Jesus said that “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you.” (John 14:26)

He is described as our helper but he is also our teacher. When we read scripture, the Holy Spirit is interpreting and showing us the truth of God’s written word. This is mentioned in John 16, when Jesus is explaining the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He says in verse 13 that the HS will “guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come,” meaning that the Holy Spirit interprets the wisdom and truth that comes from the Father.

The Holy Spirit is part of our Triune God. God is one in three persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is a significant part of believing in God. Each fills a role and are equally different but equally connected.

All this to say, having eyes that see and ears that hear is a blessing. It allows me to see the truth spoken in a sermon or grants me understanding in how to handle situations. This wisdom is from God and not from my own thinking. God receives all the glory when I am able to understand his truths and when he uses me to speak his truth to others.

Even though I have always viewed having eyes to see as a blessing, lately I have begun to see the weight that it brings. Being able to see and understand God’s truth means that I am going to be held accountable. When you have eyes to see, you cannot choose to be blind to the truth. We cannot pick and choose to be open to some truth, while acting like we didn’t see the truth that hurts us. Integrity is something that comes out of actively choosing to live a life that glorifies God. The goal is to walk with Christ daily and surrender more and more of ourselves. It’s a journey that involves many obstacles but it is through God’s grace that we make it through. His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

I have been overwhelmed by the struggles in my life and this pressure to live up to God’s truth has been adding to it. The standard God has set is completely valid considering it is entirely for our benefit. He doesn’t want us to live in the darkness of our old sinfulness. In my revelations, I have also been crushed by God’s love for me. The depth of grace God grants us is unending. I am WEAK but he is STRONG.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2)

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)