Over the last few weeks, I’ve been enjoying Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer, There are so many stop-you-in-your-tracks lessons, and one stuck out to me that I just had to share. The timing is perfect, not only because we’re in week 2 of a new year with new vision and new goals. But because for me personally this week, as I returned from vacation, I’ve felt like I’m walking through a fog. Maybe it’s my body detoxing from holiday indulging since I returned to my Arbonne clean eating (likely). Maybe it’s me feeling overwhelmed by the plans I’ve made and the road ahead (also likely). Yet there is a light shining through the fog, and I know its the Holy Spirit with a grand invitation for me to participate in all God has predestined for me in this exact time of my life.
In the book, Priscilla reminds us of God’s promise that we are His workmanship, created in Christ for the plan He presdestined for us before we were even a twinkle in our mother’s eye (Ephesians 2:10). And as we walk along this journey, He allows our spiritual eyes to be opened to His activity in our life. These moments of awareness are His invitation to join Him in the purpose designed especially for us, one that not only impacts us but that is meant to impact generations. The challenge is, we get so overwhelmed, caught up in and bogged down by activities that we plan, that we think only we can handle. And that can leave us in a fog, without the drive to participate in His plans. Think about it. How many times have you invited yourself to do something that you wanted to do? To start it when you wanted to start it, to end it when you want it to end it. And to to see it only the way you wanted to see it. Without leaving space for God to lead you.
I can’t even begin to tell you how often I’ve plowed ahead with my own plans rather than waiting for God’s invitation. No wonder so many of them have fallen flat. They weren’t His; they were mine. It’s so easy to get caught up in the world’s new year routine: setting goals, creating vision boards, and even me creating my “best year yet” sheet. There’s nothing wrong with those things. The challenge is stopping to ask God to open our eyes to see where He is working and His invitation to work with Him there, before, during and after we do that new year routine thing. Are we willing to watch for the invitation and then actually RSVP to participate? Or will we ignore the invitation because our own plans seem better? Or we don’t think His plans could live up to what we see ahead or in someone else’s post. Or because what He’s inviting us to doesn’t look like we pictured.
In my own experience, I know this Hustle with Heart ministry was not on my radar and His invitation to write, speak and coach on pursuing success His way was not what I pictured. Its an invitation I ignored for a while, then turned down more than a few times because it didn’t match my plan. Until He opened my eyes to be aware of His movement in and around me. Until His divine interruption and redirection. It was then I began to experience His definition of success: unsurpassed peace as I grow into the person He’s made me to be and see the impact my business can make because of Him. It was then I began to experience what Priscilla says in the book, “true success in any endeavor can only come when the father has initiated the activity and invited our participation.”
So let me ask you. Will you join in His purpose or will you keep your head down and pursue your own? It’s a daily decision because we can accept His invitation today, and tomorrow get caught up in the world’s noise. Happens to me all the time! How patient and faithful is He to love us unconditionally and continue to invite us! His invitation waiting. How will you choose to RSVP?
