Listening to the Holy Spirit:
Do not fear the winds of tomorrow, for He who follows My voice will doubt not his path. My way is not safe, but is not unknown. I bring you to still waters, but first the travel. Terrain of pits and rocks lie between, still, no fear should overtake you, for I know the way. Even amidst trial comes growth, reliance and true life. The lamb that strays and decides its own way, it is he who travels in peril. My voice guides. My Spirit gives direction to the blind, and strength to the weak to follow. Where is your faith? Do you not call me Lord, and yet in fear you do not follow? I am the Good Shepherd, but do you not trust My way? Draw closer, that you would not be hindered as you travel. I retrieve the lost, but in this there is a waste of what would be made great. Your own counsel is far less. Heed My voice. Do not fight your righteous call. The way of sin is waste and death to those who love its pleasure. I lead you to a place you do not know. Turn away from the snare, and follow. My Spirit calls that you would follow and bring glory in the following. Blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
John 10:4 (ESV) – When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
Prv 16:9 (ESV) – The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
Ps 37:5 (ESV) – Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
Taking It to Work:
I have always had a difficult time taking the time to plan, yet for most of my life I had positions that required that very detailed plans be made. In the engineering world I was in, the project engineer owned and was responsible for the program’s schedule. Projecting when milestones would be completed, and then doing your best to lead the team to making those milestones, that was the daily charge.
On easy, predictable jobs, I didn’t do too bad. On the more difficult jobs, where there were huge teams with lots of uncharted territory, I spent most of my time reprojecting missed milestones.
I do like planning for helping me to think through all the details, but I really dislike the fact I have to predict the future to be good at it, and in over a decade of project engineering, I found I am rarely good at predicting the future.
We both know Who is though, but guess Who I never invited to the planning meetings? Why was that?
I’m not completely sure actually. I was a committed Christian all through that chapter in my life, but for some reason, looking back, I never mixed my secular planning activities with my direct access to an all-knowing God. I think it was a big loss on my part, but in my defense, it was before I found out about FCCI. I wish I would have been connected much sooner.
God wants to connect your faith and work. Even though they may feel like two very different worlds, the same God we worship on Sunday is Who we are called to walk with at work on Monday.
Start by planning tomorrow, with the lead of our Wonderful Counselor. You may find your plans will match His just that much better, as His Word works in you, today.
