Proverbs 31 says a virtuous woman of more desirable that rubies and Psalm 37:23 says; The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. I have often said; You can’t steer a parked car. You have to be taking steps to have them ordered, directed by the Lord. It is a good thing to have dreams and aspirations, I dare say it is even a God thing. But, I can also say that even in vocational ministry there are things you hope and wish for that don’t happen the way we wish they would or not when we wish they would. This is where understanding and believing that God is proactive when it comes to the plan for your life becomes essential to our thinking. I also think it important to remember, and this is a tough one, your plans aren’t ever better than God’s. If you are His child He is going to guide and direct you along the way and one thing I have learned over the years as I pursued God’s will for my life is, that He is faithful to put up stops signs and close doors when I get out in front of Him. When He shuts a door, no one is going to get it open. (Revelation 3:8)
God is not just watching over you Christian, He is watching out for you too. He has a vantage point you don’t have, He sees your whole life and all you can see is this moment. He isn’t trying to make life miserable for you or as hard on you as possible. He is always doing what is best for you and that includes keeping you from things that could cause you to stray from him, including things this world calls, success. I truly believe that: Someday we are going to thank God for all the closed doors and times He said no to our requests because we will understand fully His will was best and right all along and ours was not only less than the best, it could have been disastrous. We have all read the stories of lottery winners or sports heroes and movie stars who made it big whose lives are a catastrophe. They change marriages like they change clothes, many of the blow through money so fast they are broke by the times their careers end. It is not so with God’s plan for you. They never turn out that way!
If you are reading this book and are hurting because of disappointment, divorce, betrayal, self inflicted wounds or just life in general, and all the things we are talking about seem like a foreign language to you. Maybe you’re not sure about all the scripture references and what they mean and why are they important and even necessary to Dancing with the Scars. There are reasons you are reading this book and one of them is you are looking for help because life hurts. You are looking for something that will help you process things that have taken place in your life and rocked your world. I am here to tell you there is hope in Jesus Christ and your search for that illusive inner peace and joy can end here. It begins with what we mentioned a moment ago about introspection, taking an honest look at yourself. If you do you will find that you are indeed a sinner and you therefore need a Savior. You may not be a murderer but I can say with full confidence that every one of those reading this book is a liar and some are thieves and gossips, others are sexually immoral and still other coveters of what others have. No matter how you look at it or try to minimize it the Bible is right; All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) I can assure you that recognizing you are a sinner is one of the most wonderful things you can do because it opens the door for the Savior, Jesus Christ, to wash away your sins with His own blood. You see the Bible also says the wages of sin is death and the God sent His perfect Son into the world to die the death you and I deserve and by His death pay in full the sin debt of the whole world. The sad truth is many make their way through life without ever having experienced the wonder of being forgiven their sin and the fullness of the Spirit of God dwelling in them.
The Christian life isn’t problem free, it isn’t pain free or sorrow free, but it is debt free as far as sin is concerned and when your debt free in the sin category you are also guilt and worry free and can enjoy life and it’s ups and downs and twists and turns, not without disappointment, but you will not travel through those things alone. God will be with you you, He will sustain you, the Bible describes Him as: a present help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) So if you need help, let Him help you, He is the very thing that Superbowl rings and world riches cannot bring and the One that can bring peace to a constantly searching heart. If you do not know Christ as Savior and Lord, ask Him right now to forgive your sin and tell Him you believe He is who the Bible says He is and that you are what the Bible say you are. He will forgive your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness and the empty void that disappointment, discouragement and despair leaves from life’s disappointments and unrealized dreams, will be replaced with the peace that passes understanding that guards your heart and mind in Christ Jesus! (Philippians 4:7) Don’t waste another moment, it will be the best decision you have ever made!
Excerpt from “Dancing With the Scars” now available on Amazon.
