Matthew 6:10: “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
A good friend and I were talking a few weeks ago about how different our lives look now than they did three years ago. Plans that we had, things we were going to do (or absolutely not do), or things we had not even thought possible were either in the planning stages or being moved out of the way to make room for new adventures. The joke was tossed around that it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind.
As funny as that is (and I have to admit, sometimes very true for myself), I don’t think that is what happens the majority of the time, especially with women who have a relationship with their Heavenly Father and truly want His will in their life and the lives of their loved ones. I think that people who are honestly seeking God and His best for their life have an open heart and spirit, willing to listen to Him gently change their plans instead of just whimsically deciding to head in a different direction. This is especially important when the decision being made has the potential for lifelong consequences.
This takes on many different forms for different people: It could mean a career change, either going back to work or choosing to stay home while your little ones are little or even just doing a complete 180 degree switch in your career path. It could mean homeschooling your children through a particularly difficult stage in their life or for a specific period of time. It could also mean adding another child to your family, supporting your husband in a new career, moving across country for a better job opportunity, or taking your aging parents into your home and lovingly caring for them in their final years.
Whatever change in direction is happening in your life right now, it’s funny to think that we have that option because we’re women and that’s what we’re supposed to do – change our mind depending upon our mood. For some, that could very well be what happens. However, all joking aside, when God is the one who is prompting us to make the change in our life, even if we never find out exactly why, then I have confidence that moving forward will be the best choice. There will inevitably be challenges that have to be dealt with, but if He is the One in charge of the change, He will ultimately bless that choice.
What choices are on your horizon? Are you using a woman’s prerogative or are you open to God’s leading?
Cheri,
I’ve made a lot of changes over the past year and as I look back over some of the things I did, I realize that the big decisions were based on God’s leading, but a lot of the smaller decisions were probably based on the opinion of the crowd. All I can do is move forward now and do a better job of making sure it’s God’s leading and not me being driven by others.
Have a Victorious Day!
Marianne