Greetings fellow wanderers, Did you know that the tradition of putting candles on birthday cakes most likely comes from the Ancient Greek practice of adorning cakes with candles in worship to the goddess Artemis? The lit candles made the cake glow like the Moon (one of the representative symbols of the goddess).This has nothing to do with the following blog post, but my high school English teacher said you always need an enticing intro to hook the reader. Did we succeed? Not that the following subject matter isn’t interesting. But who doesn’t love a little random trivia?And now that I’ve got you: Last week, I was chatting with my sister-in-law kindred spirit bosom friend on the eave of my departure to Northern California, discussing my future plans and the sadness I felt to be leaving my coworkers and family.In the midst of my lamenting, my dear one offered this question: “How do you know that leaving is what God is calling you to do? Not to deter you from what you are doing, but I am curious how you know.”This was a most excellent question, and one that would be well answered in a blog, I think. For I’m sure many others battle with this concept. “How do I know God is leading me to do something? How do I know what He’s telling me to do?”We all experience and hear God in different ways. I, myself, have never heard him in an audible, crystal clear way, though many others have. On the daily basis, I stick to the things God has plainly laid out as his will for my life:
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” – Joshua 1:8
It’s easy to get caught up in lofty future plans and complicated “what ifs” when we really just need to evaluate if we are doing these simple things each day. Am I meditating on the word of God every day? Am I giving thanks in all circumstances? Am I loving others better than I love myself?If I’m not succeeding in these things, daily, then no epic plan to serve God and spread the gospel will really matter. But every once and a while we encounter those big life decisions. How do I determine what God is leading me to do in those circumstances? To be honest, I don’t fully know with certainty until after the fact. Take this past year, for example. This time last year, I had just moved to Southern California. I’d had a burden on my heart/a strong desire to live near my family (specifically my three older brothers) for a season. I knew the reasons were good reasons, but I also feared whether or not “it was what God wanted me to do.” I’d had a desire for some time to live missionally in the Middle East and I wondered if my moving to Southern California was simply postponing that.I can tell you now, however, with complete confidence that Southern California is where God wanted me this past year. In the same way that I had a keen desire to live life with my brothers, I have a pestering yearning to love and care for people I’ve yet to meet in foreign lands. I want to hold the hand of those who are lonely, I want to offer a drink to those who are weary and parched, I want to lend a listening ear to those who have been ignored and neglected.And I know these are things that are of the heart of God. And I have confidence that God will block my path whenever my plan doesn’t coincide with his. I suppose that is really the key to it all. Knowing and trusting that God can and will block our goals if he has something better in store.Well, I know it doesn’t seem like it, but I’ve been at this coffee shop for a good while now, and I am ready to go home. For those of you who took me up on my offer last time, thank you, and I have been praying for you.My offer still stands for whoever would like to cash in on it; I’d love to be praying for you! your friend,Heather
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