Your Struggles Might Be An Indication of God's Leading

We've been talking all week about persevering in obedience.  If you want to see God move in your life it's going to take some effort on your part.  Every great individual in the Bible who did something BIG with God started by obeying.  Go ahead, look!  You'll find that everyone had something do to BEFORE God moved in their lives.  Even if that something was believing.  Joseph (the step-father of Jesus) was told, "don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife."  And Mary was told, "do not be afraid...for no word from God will ever fail."  And there are countless others who had to go, stay, pray, fight, have faith...

So what is it God has asked you to do?

It might be helpful if you asked yourself this question, What am I having a real struggle with right now?  What Am I having a difficult time doing?  The answer to those questions may just give you insight into what it is God is asking you to do.

Are you having a hard time being still and knowing deep inside that God is God?  Maybe you need to reaffirm your belief that God is in control and that you have absolute faith in Him.  Have you had thoughts of serving in a certain area at church?  Or maybe agreeing to be a part of a study or group?  Have you felt compelled to give financially but are holding back because you don't see how you can survive without that money?  Is there an organization that you've considered volunteering with but something always comes up?  There's a good chance that whatever you're struggling with right now is an indication that there is a spiritual battle going on inside you.

Let me give you a peek at a couple of my struggles and maybe you'll see how it works.

You may have heard us talk about the Pregnancy Resource Center (that has been in Augusta) opening up a new branch in El Dorado soon.  They are working hard to open as soon as possible but need help getting the building prepped and ready to go.  I have been trying to help them for some time but something always comes up.  And then I have this internal battle about doing something good for someone else that is outside my Real Life circle and spending that time doing something else.

My other struggle is one that you'll completely understand if you're in the ministry.  Real Life is growing - fast.  And when a church begins to grow and you start thinking about the future it is really easy to starting thinking that you have something to do with the growth.  Like, if I could just make the next right decision the thing will just explode and be wonderful!  But also, if you make a wrong decision everything will fall apart.  There is a GREAT desire to take the responsibility for growth carefully from Jesus and place it in my own lap.

So these are two of my struggles right now.  Once I recognize them as spiritual battles I can try and handle them in spiritual ways.  The PRC is a great organization doing a great work to help stem the tide of abortions in Butler County.  They are worthy of any and all help and it will stretch me to get involved in this small way and help them out for a day.  So I'll be laying linoleum tomorrow at their new office.  And as I was praying the other day I simply asked Jesus to help me do my best at following Him - being the "first follower" at Real Life and letting the whole church leader thing take care of itself.

What are you struggling with?  The outcome of that struggle could lead you into God's More Than for your life or it could keep you derailed in your spiritual growth.

Remember, God is more concerned with perseverance than perfection.  Don't give up.  Make a decision to step into that thing you've been struggling with and see what God does!  All you have to lose is a little time... but you could gain more than you have imagined!