Gratitude Day 591

Mark 4:24a – Then he said to them, “Be diligent to understand the meaning behind everything you hear, for as you do, more understanding will be given to you. 

I’ve read a ton of those figure-out-your-life type of books. You know. The ones that promise by the end, you’ll be more in tune of your life purpose and know how you should live your live.

For everyone one of those books that I have read, I still struggle. I long to have my life carefully laid out for me so there are no misunderstandings. This shouldn’t be difficult, right?

I’ve written more prayers, said more prayers, begged God to be abundantly clear with me about certain things in my life.

Too often, I feel crickets. Nothing. Silence.

If you are one of those people who knows exactly what you were going to do and be, bless you. Please pray for the rest of us.

There have been times when God has spoken very clearly to me. I LOVE it when God makes it clear. It’s comforting to feel like I’m on the right path, even if the next steps will be hard and difficult.

But this is not always how God works. I believe God grants us free will … the opportunity to make our own decisions. God’s plan for us is that we take ownership and have influence in what we do and don’t do. What path we take and don’t take. We get to make choices because it’s our life.

Sometimes, we want to blame God for every poor choice in our lives when it’s not God who makes those choices.

Countless times, people have asked me what they should do in a certain situation. It’s not my role to tell someone what to do. This should happen between you and God. In the meantime, look for opened windows and closed doors. But what is a person to do when the windows don’t open, and the doors remain ajar? It is disappointing when it only feels like silence.

Emily P. Freeman, an author I have been reading lately, encourages people to look for arrows. Little indicators that begin to take you in a certain direction. Rather than looking for the entire answer, just follow the arrows, she says. What about when the arrows feel invisible? Then, my friends, just be. Stay in touch with God and wait.

This is difficult for those who feel we need to be accomplishing things day in and day out. We feel naked without a to-do list and without doing something, the day feels wasted.

Life as more than a to-do list. Instead of always needing to have things figured out, I’m trying to allow for dirty windows and overused doors. Space to let things simmer and sort themselves out.

This feels uncomfortable and inefficient. But when our souls can be quieter with more opportunity to listen, something amazing just might happen.

Today, we get to choose which opportunities that cross our path we will grab and which we let be. This is free will. When unsure what to grab, it’s easy to get stuck with what to do next, especially when nothing feels clear.

Then, it’s easy to stop appreciating every day for what it is. Simply, it is today. Another day to fully love God and fully love our neighbors. Jesus made it totally clear. This should be our life mission. Just these two things. How we live this out will vary from person to person and from day to day. Stay in this lane and we will find joy and contentment.

For God’s guidance in how to live today, I am grateful.

Blessings –

Dianne

Almighty God – We can put too much time into wanting to hear Your voice in our lives. Other times, we simply do not want to hear and so we keep ourselves so busy that we can’t hear. Comfort our hearts that even if we miss something from You, it is OK. Help me to love You more fully today as well as be clear that I will try to love my neighbors, even when this is hard. May I know this is enough. Amen.

Stop by diannedeatonvielhuber on Instagram today for a few more thoughts about today’s Lenten topic.

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