Rick Warren has a great inspirational truth from God's Word for all of us to ponder.

God spoke the world into existence, and he spoke you into your mother's womb. Even now, he can speak into the chaos of your life to bring it shape and form (Psalm 51:10 MSG).

This is a Genesis event, where God speaks into the void and the darkness of your life, creating for you a new beginning.

God can create something from nothing; he can take a heart that is broken, impure, or failed and create a heart that is whole, pure, and purposeful. God wants to see you pure, so he takes an active role in creating your new heart and bringing order to the chaos of your life.

Your job is to submit to his sovereignty, humble yourself before him, and ask for his help.

Lord, speak a Genesis moment into our hearts and into the circumstances of our lives. We acknowledge "everything that we have--right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start--comes from God by way of Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 1:30 MSG).

Renew in us a steadfast spirit (Psalm 51:10), no longer chaotic or moved by events, circumstances, or feelings. Give us lives shaped by you and by your Spirit flowing through us.

So many times as I talk with those going through a challenging time I hear the question "What If". This prompted me to take a look at why we are trying to go back and "correct, re-do" what we think might have been mistakes made in choices and decisions. I love Oswald Chambers take on this for October 4. He says: THANK GOD FOR THE SIGHT OF ALL YOU HAVE NEVER YET BEEN. YOU HAVE HAD THE VISION, BUT YOU ARE NOT THERE YET... WE HAVE SEEN WHAT WE ARE NOT, AND WHAT GOD WANTS US TO BE, BUT ARE WE WILLING TO HAVE THE VISION "BETTER'D TO SHAPE AND USE" BY GOD? THE BATTERINGS ALWAYS COME IN COMMONPLACE WAYS AND THROUGH COMMONPLACE PEOPLE..."

FOLLOWING IS AN "ENCOURAGING EMAIL" WHICH I SENT OUT MONTHLY TO MANY ACROSS OUR NATION AND AROUND THE WORLD.

WHAT IF?

Down through the years I have heard these words over and over “what if”? As we take a look at our lives, we could all no doubt look back and say: “what if”.

What if I had married someone else?
What if I had listened to sound advice?
What if I had turned my life around sooner?
What if I had taken better care of myself?
What if I had gotten help earlier?
What if I hadn’t changed jobs?

On and on we could go, but STOP, let me encourage you that this is not Plan B for your life, it is Plan A.

There were many in the Bible who no doubt had this question: What about Mary & Martha, Job, Joseph’s brothers, Jonah, Sampson, Saul and David?

I want to encourage you today with these words:
“ GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE AND HE IS USING ALL OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES TO MAKE YOU INTO THE PERSON HE HAS CALLED YOU TO BE”.

I like this quote: “IT’S NOT WHO YOU ARE THAT HOLDS YOU BACK, IT’S WHO YOU THINK YOU’RE NOT.” Author unknown.

James 1:2-5 “CONSIDER IT A SHEER GIFT, FRIENDS, WHEN TESTS AND CHALLENGES COME AT YOU FROM ALL SIDES. YOU KNOW THAT UNDER PRESSURE, YOUR FAITH-LIFE IS FORCED INTO THE OPEN AND SHOWS ITS TRUE COLORS. SO DON’T TRY TO GET OUT OF ANYTHING PREMATURELY. LET IT DO ITS WORK SOYOU BECOME MATURE AND WELL-DEVELOPED, NOT DEFICIENT IN ANY WAY. IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING, PRAY TO THE FATHER, HE LOVES TO HELP.”

I Timothy 4:7-8 “DO NOT WASTE TIME ARGUING OVER GODLESS IDEAS AND OLD WIVES TALES. SPEND YOUR TIME AND ENERGY IN TRAINING YOURSELF FOR SPIRITUAL FITNESS. PHYSICAL EXERCISE HAS SOME VALUE, BUT SPIRITUAL EXERCISE IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT, FOR IT PROMISES A REWARD IN BOTH THIS LIFE AND THE NEXT.”



Our Father in Heaven: My desire is to forget about the “what if’s” and strive toward the “now’s in my life”. I ask Your help and seek Your wisdom in putting the past behind and looking forward to Plan A in my life today. I know You have created me for such a time as this and I am tired of carrying this baggage around daily. You are my strength and power for this I am grateful. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.