The question, “How Do I Know What God’s Plan For My Life Is?”, is often batted around in places of worship and Christian literature. Both contibutors to this blog as well as several other people I know or am related to have often struggled with this question. Another question often heard is How do I REALLY know if God is prompting me to a certain course of action? These are indeed legitimate questions. As atheists and critics of people of faith and religion are quick to point out- God does not seem to talk to us through burning bushes or blinding flashes of light these days. Most people raise their eyebrows and wax suspicious when someone claims that God has directly told them anything.

Without going into a lengthy treatise abouty how God interfaces with man and how one develops discernment I will say that the sermon I heard this morning gave some very practical advice on how a person can detrmine what God’s plan for them might be. First let me say that I am a firm believer in freewill. I do not believe that God is like some cosmic movie director with a folding chair , a shooting script and a bullhorn who gets upset when we break character or diverge from the predetermined storyline. I do believe that God simply wants us to be who WE want to be as long as he hold Him at the center of all that we do.

With these qualifications spoken- here is the lesson outline from this morning’s sermon about how one can ascertain God’s plan. I understood that this outline was developed by an Instructor at Oklahoma Christian University for incoming college students struggling with this question. Its is in my estimation very practical:

1. What do I want to do?

2. What am I willing to do?

3. What needs to be done (in a Biblical perspective)

4. What do I have the capacity to do?

5. What do I have the opportunity to do?

6. What do my most spiritual friends and/or mentors think I should do?

7. Where is the convergence on these points?

Next, determine the course and GO FOR IT.

I personally think that this is very solid advice.

In my own life I find myself pointed directly toward working to reconcile Native American Indians, their worldview and life philosophy with the Father of all life, the true and ideologically undefiled teachings of the Bible and to Christ… the One , the only One that can bridge the gap between God and man and to convey to them that they DO have a seat at the table and a role to play in God’s Kingdom and in culture at large.

Blessings upon thee.

Think eternally. Act spiritually.

The Merton quotes are poignant and I believe that there is deep truth in them. These are similar to CS Lewis’ “Great Divorce” where the people are hurt by walking on the grass of heaven. The blades were like daggers to the feet of those souls from Earth.
It was only when the men and women were willing to give up there mortal lives from Earth, that they became substantial enough to not be injured by the grass of heaven.

I also strive to maintain “myself” as I want to be known to the world. I know my “self” is flawed, but still, the shell protects my heart from the pain that Love must carry.

When were you created? Well, consider this possibility; you have not yet become. God has not yet made you. God’s plan is beyond us and our understanding. His Holy power exceeds our understanding.
He can take a handful of dirt & water and produce a world of life and love.
He can take a dead deity and crush sin, death, satan, and pain for all eternity.
God has not created (past tense) me yet.

He is still touching my hand and filling me with His Holy power, otherwise I would have melted away a long time ago.

God bless,
DSM