Going in the Right Direction

Going in the Right Direction 

by David Brenneman 

Many in my life go on and on about what they know.  I don't know if it's a sign of maturity or of wisdom, but the older that I get the more apt I am to state that there's much more that I don't know. 

Right now, and I am perfectly fine in confessing it, I am at a loss about the true direction of my life.  Seems as though God's decided to use my life's situations as a basis of things to write about. Again I am not going to complain. Paul often wrote of deep things concerning his own life.  

Much of my thoughts revolve around Proverbs 3:5-6 these days, especially when I am seeking to know God's plan for my life.  In all reality I just don't know where to go from here. Employment wise or personally.  I have no dreams or ambitions ahead of me in this present moment.  Desires? Have plenty of those but God's response to those has been for me not to pursue them because they do not fit into His plans for mankind.  Yes, those thoughts and ideas are that big.  

I always look forward to my time praying on my way to work.  Just Jesus and me and almost nobody on the road.  No problems with being open and honest, more often than not just pouring out my heart.  

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. And in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.  Try praying this...honestly if you dare to know the truth.  

Many are too happy with the compromises they have achieved with their own walk with Jesus and the world to do so. 

Unbeknownst to them that's exactly what Satan wants of Christians.  To establish compromises.  To permit things that God has unequivocally stated are sins in their lives and or to dismiss saying something to others about their practiced sins.

Do you want what Jesus wants of you and for you?  That's where I am at these days.  Unless Jesus changes His mind about my desires those things will sit on the shelf.  My mind has been both blessed and cursed with being able to troubleshoot problems.  I have solutions to several world issues in regards to various things and when asked, God's confirmed or has told me of whether or not they would have worked.  But in this present time I am not to pursue them.  With that said...I have already achieved most everything that I dreamed of being able to do in life.  I have no ambitions to do anything else. No dreams to dreams of something to accomplish that matters in light of eternity.  Which brings us back to prayer and Proverbs 3:5-6. 

Paul wrote of my being Christ's workmanship.   That I am created in Christ Jesus for good works that I might walk in them.  This means when I understand and when I don't.  Currently, I frankly, don't. 

I have several favorites of the giants of the faith, Daniel is my first, Joseph is next.  Many times during my life I can feel the parallels to his.  The years of not knowing how the vision given to me aligns with how life is going.  You read in Genesis about Joseph you read that the Lord was with him.  He was with him because he was keeping his heart set on the Lord.  You read in 1st and 2nd Chronicles and 1st and 2nd Kings of all the various so-called Kings over Israel and Judah who's hearts were not fully devoted or were devoted to the Lord. The Lord was with Joseph because of his devotion to the Lord. Regardless of how agonizing his life was.

Regardless of how completely confusing his life was.

Wrongly treated by family and sold off, several wanting to kill him.

Wrongly accused and sent to prison. 

Wrongly kept in prison and forgotten, or so he thought...for years. Yes, years. 

In all his ways, because of where his heart was, the Lord prospered him. He trusted in the Lord with all his heart and in all his ways he acknowledged Him and regardless of what his eyes saw, the Lord made his paths straight. 

My life isn't what my eyes see. 

My life isn't what my ears hear.

My life isn't to be about how I feel as my top priority. 

I will surely mess up life by putting those things first.  

Psalm 23...we walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death.  We do not take up residence there.  We don't book a hotel stay. We don't wallow in the misery of that moment. We are to press on. 

"And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;  and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:3-5 NASB 

"Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4 NASB 

Sometimes we acknowledge the idea of fight or flight. Joseph, Daniel, this wasn't an option in order to bring about the results that the Lord Jesus had wanted.

I still pray about my future. Praying for to be doing what He wants of me.  To be able to provide for my family.  To be of service to God.  To be found by Him doing that which He has in mind for me.  

Are you doing that?  Is what God wants of you a priority to you?  Are you a person who's been compromising, trying to do what brings you the least amount of pain in living life as a child of God?  Joseph and Daniel refused to compromise and the Lord Jesus blessed them for it.  

While I wait on the Lord, I will continue to do whatever He puts before me to do. 

That's what Joseph did.  He did his best at whatever God put before him.  

Satan loves to add off ramps to the path that God's put before us between us and Heaven.  All kinds of exits.  Jesus said to be alert.  Are you? We are to test things to see if what we are told are true by God's word.  Do you? We are to pray without ceasing.  Jesus knew the will of His Father because of His constant time with the Father.  

Proverbs 3:5-6.