Who Knew?

When you look at yourself right now, who are your best friends? Whose company do you enjoy most? Who do you invest the most time in? Who do you see yourself hanging out with ten years down the road? I ask these questions because lately I've been hanging out with a friend from elementary/middle school who a I never would have imagined that I would still be friends with. And, I must say, it has been one of the greatest friendships. We have had such wonderful conversations and a lot of fun together. She has invited me to bible study, and we have had had a lot of time to chat outside as well. As we talk about our faith, I have grown a lot, and she has helped me to be a better daughter and friend. She has been a great listening ear as well, as I talk about my problems, concerns, joys etc. 

We never know what God has planned for us. We can plan all we want, we can set goals, we can chart out our life, but no matter what we do, or how hard we try, our plans will never be as grand as God's. God knows what is best for us, and He brings people and situations into our life at just the right time, the time when we can handle them, learn and grow from them, and eventually, appreciate them. 

Jeremiah 29:11

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.

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

So what have I learned? Trust God in all circumstance and He will lead us where we need to go. 

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 

Gods ways are always better than my own, and when I let go and let Him be in control, things will work out! I need to put my plans in His hands, no matter how hard that might be. We humans like to be in control, but God asks us to give that up and to wholly surrender to Him. 

Today, during communion, the guitarist sang Sweetly Broken (by Jeremy Riddle) and I really love this song, especially the chorus:

At the cross You beckon me

You draw me gently to my knees, and I am

Lost for words, so lost in love,

I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

Because God's grace and redeeming love is so amazing, we should be lost in His love, we should let ourselves break apart and surrender ourselves to Him, so that He can restore us and give us new life. 

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

And with that new life, we have a responsibility.

Colossians 3:1-25

1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God's right hand in the place of honor and power. 2 Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. 3 For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. 5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don't be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. 6 God's terrible anger will come upon those who do such things. 7 You used to do them when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you. 11 In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. 12 Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful. 16 Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father. 18 You wives must submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. 19 And you husbands must love your wives and never treat them harshly. 20 You children must always obey your parents, for this is what pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, don't aggravate your children. If you do, they will become discouraged and quit trying. 22 You slaves must obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Obey them willingly because of your reverent fear of the Lord. 23 Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ. 25 But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites who can get away with evil.

I pray that God will work in me, and that He will help me to be fully surrendered to Him, so that His will is done and so that His glory can come. 

To Him be all the glory, forever and ever, amen!