Seed Thoughts

By Lynette Hagin

“The Lord will guide you always: he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” — Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)

Last month in Seed Thoughts I wrote about following God’s plan for your life, and I ran out of space before I could finish sharing all that God had given me. So I will continue on that subject this month.

In these last days it is vitally important that we understand God’s precise instructions concerning our lives. Once again, Jeremiah 29:11–13 (NIV) says, “ ‘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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’ ”

The Message Bible says it this way: “ ‘I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.’ God’s Decree.”

Often, our problem is that we do not want to take the time to pray to our Heavenly Father and listen to His plans for us. We want Him to give us the plan without seeking Him.

It takes time and practice to develop a skill. Becoming an accomplished musician takes many hours of practice. I hear people say, “I wish I could play the keyboard like so-and-so.” I reply, “You could if you were willing to spend the time they have improving their proficiency.”

The same is true in our spiritual life. Some say, “I wish I could be used of God as much as so-and-so. You could if you were willing to spend as many hours communing with our Heavenly Father as they have. Hearing and obeying God’s voice is vital in these days. Isaiah 1:19 says, “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” If we want to succeed as God desires, we must take time to listen to His voice and then be willing and obedient to follow His instructions.

God will put the pieces of the puzzle of your life together perfectly if you will allow Him to be the controller of your life. You must desire His will and plan more than anything else. He is preparing you for something great!

Often we get impatient with preparation time. I occasionally marinate a piece of meat overnight before cooking it, and the end result is delicious. But preparing that meat takes time. With your life, you might sometimes feel as if you are in the marinating season—apparently making no progress. However, God may be preparing you for something that takes a lot of groundwork.

In our early years of working for this ministry, my husband and I traveled with our children in a motor home, and I cooked while we were moving. Sometimes the roads were bumpy. I remember cooking pancakes on a griddle that was shaking so badly that I had to hold on to it. I had to plant my feet firmly on the floor of that motor home to keep myself stabilized.

I had no idea that experience was preparing me for something I would do 30 years later. When we travel in our aircraft, I serve as flight attendant, and during overseas trips I must prepare meals. As I was putting together a meal recently on one of our overseas flights, we suddenly encountered turbulence. Without thinking, I planted my feet solidly on the floor of the plane and held on to the food. I was able to complete the preparations in spite of the turbulence. Suddenly I thought, Wow! God trained me for this many years ago. It’s the same job, but in an airplane instead of a motor home! I couldn’t help but chuckle and praise God for His foresight.

I want to encourage you—allow God to season you! Let Him make you all that He desires, in His time. His plans will bring you good, not disaster. Learn to rest in Him. Don’t be concerned about the future. Allow God to lead you one day at a time. Enjoy the piece of the puzzle you have right now. Savor the moment. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. God is putting the puzzle pieces of your life together to form a beautiful picture. It will be completed perfectly if you will listen to and heed His voice.