Your Will Vs. My Will

Have you ever wanted something and then prayed about it? You waited for God's will...only to have Him close the door while you continued to pound on it? I used to do this constantly. I prayed and ended with, "...but your will be done God." Deep down, I only wanted His will if it was directly aligned with my will. I could come up with all kinds of reasons why I deserved to be blessed with this or that. But God often had other plans, plans that were completely opposite of my well thought out, perfectly organized and rationalized plans. I often wondered, "Where are you God when I truly need you? Why couldn't you give me this one thing? So and so has it. Wha, Wha, Wha,...Me, Me, Me...Why, Why, Why...sound familiar? I hope I'm not the only one who lived like this for years. It's normal to want things, to ask God to give you favor. But it's not good to question God's will or motive's behind when, who, or why He decides to bless people or situations. God knows your heart and when you may need growth, a lesson, a little discipline or a blessing...remember, you are his child *"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6 God is a loving and just father. We need to remember that HIS PLAN is bigger and better than ours. *"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

While car shopping this past weekend, we had a BIG hurdle to overcome; a car that we were upside down in (owed a lot more than it was worth.) We prayed about it, asking for God's favor, direction and wisdom. He blessed us with an awesome loan (very low interest rate), but after two full days of frustration on Saturday and Sunday and people trying to get money out of us that we didn't have, we felt discouraged. We began to wonder if maybe we were supposed to just keep our big ol' gas guzzler. But we decided to continue to wait on God.

While sitting and talking Sunday evening, exhausted and not really knowing what to do, it hit me. It came out of nowhere, the realization of GROWTH! In the past, we would have done whatever it took to get a car, (like writing a post dated check for the $$ amount for a down payment with money we didn't have.) Which would only put us in trouble later on...(aka beating down the closed door.) But this time, we waited, even if it meant we couldn't have what we wanted (a new, economical car.) *"The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty." Proverbs 21:5 We've grown, we finally understand the importance of being in GOD'S WILL and knowing, HE KNOWS BEST. He sees the BIG picture.

On Monday morning, my husband called me and said the people at the credit union had worked some things out for us to lower the balance on our car. So we headed out to look again, with the knowledge that "a door had just opened."  We pulled into a local dealership, after talking to a friend of a friend who knew the General Manager (yet another opening.) We were introduced to him and given the VIP treatment. They worked everything out, no problems whatsoever. They even brought a car up for me from their storage lot with a blue tooth built in. It wasn't something that I thought I could afford (the extra's) as the money we had only allowed for the bare minimum model. But once again, the door had  flung wide open with complete ease! We drove off in our brand new car...excited about the extra's thrown in. We were completely blessed by God's favor over the entire transaction!

This is an example of God answering the way we had hoped. We'd gotten to a place on Sunday evening where we were ready to just keep our old car. We had grown in our trust and faithfulness. *"All a man's ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart." Proverbs 21:2 It's been a LONG road, but each step of faith has taught us to know that there is no place more safe, peaceful and comforting than being in GOD'S WILL, even if it goes against yours.

Today if you are facing a situation that has you battling; your will vs. God's will, stop and pray, open up your scriptures and WAIT ON THE LORD. Seek Him throughout the day and ask for HIS WISDOM and guidance in all areas of your life. Be open to walk away from the closed doors and through the open ones. God has a good and perfect plan for your life...and sometimes it may not include all the things you had planned. Stop beating on the closed doors (your will) and walk through the open doors (God's Will.) Let Go & Let God! *"A man's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?" Proverbs 20:24

Blessed w/my new car when I put GOD in the driver's seat!

 "Does God listen to his cry when distress comes upon him? Will he find delight in the Almighty? Will he call upon God at all times? I will teach you about the power of God; the ways of the Almighty I will not conceal. You have all seen this yourselves. Why then this meaningless talk?" Job 27:9-12

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

LET ME!

story & photo by: lisa petrarca

Struggling under the weight of worry, fear and anguish over my son being attacked and kicked in the head...I found myself praying and listening to praise music all the way to work one day last week.

The burden was too heavy and I asked my Father in Heaven to please carry it for me. Continuing to feel the stifling heaviness as I exited the freeway, I pulled up behind a car. Staring at the license plate in front of me.

It hit like a brick between my eyes, as I read, "LET ME!"

I realized that I was holding on too tightly, I wasn't allowing the Lord to work in the situation. I was too focused, too close to the problem, my mind suffocatingly clamped over all that was going on, I wasn't allowing the Lord's peace to come in and take over. I needed to take a deep breath, mentally step back and allow my Heavenly Father to help me handle what I was feeling, with His immeasurable love, comfort and understanding.

As I sat in church a few days later, looking out the window as we sang, I noticed a father with two young children playing at the park. He was flying a kite while the little girl and boy ran around him, smiling, laughing, carefree...looking up at their father with complete and total trust and love.

Our Heavenly Father wants us to do the same with Him. Lay your problems and worry's down at His feet today. Spend some carefree time with Him, He will protect, guide and love you. He will handle all that you've been carrying, He is calling out to you, "LET ME!"

Job 26:1-4 "How you have helped the powerless! How you have saved the arm that is feeble! What advice you have offered to one without wisdom! And what great insight you have displayed! Who has helped you utter these words? And whose spirit spoke from your mouth?

Job 26:7-14 "He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing. He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight. He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it. He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness. The pillars of the heavens quake, aghast at his rebuke...And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?"