Does God's Will Change?

This question is kind of tricky if you think about it. My first thought to this question was "of course it changes." I was thinking in terms of God giving me different paths to walk down and different seasons of life to experience. But as I sit here and think about the question more and ponder on all that God has taught me this summer I think I want to change my thought to "It doesn't change." Let me explain...

Since I have been in college I have spent my summers away from home (in Illinois) and Murray. Two summers of my life were spent in Orlando, Fl and last summer was spent in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. This summer is much different for me. I graduated in May and started working full-time for a law firm here in Murray. Surprisingly, it has been really hard, but so good at the same time. God has taught me alot this summer. Possibly more than any other summer. I believe that God had to keep me at home to test me and show me that my faith really is genuine and not just living the "Christian life" for a campus ministry. He had to put me out on my own to show me that my walk is between me and Him, not me and a ministry. He has also taught me that His will for me is the same whether I am at home or away.

"So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him." - 2 Cor 5:9

Wow. That is so powerful and convicting. I have been thinking all summer that yes this is a full-time job, and yes I do feel called to stay in Murary a little while longer, but I don't know how long for. So I spent the first half of my summer longing for the next stage of life. The stage when I would know what God wants me to do. The stage when I am being used by God. The stage when my life starts. The stage when I am away in another nation sharing the gosel and not at home.

But now I am understanding that my life has already started. I am in God's will right now. I am being used by God right now. God wants the same for me right now. Elizabeth Elliot explains in her book, "Let me be a woman" that every stage of life is a gift from God. We need to be thankful for every stage and live it to the fullest and not constantly be looking around the next corner.

"Longing slays the appetite for living." -Jim Elliot

God wants me to have hands open for His use right now in my life. Whether I am at work, teaching little kids bible stories at church, meeting with older women from the church, or just hanging out with friends, God wants to use me. God wants me to have a heart that is pleasing to him! Which means having a heart that is delighting in Him in whatever I am doing. Even if that means sitting at home on the front porch watching the sunset and reading a book. Every minute of life is to be used to God's glory.

"The chief end of man is to glorify God by delighting/enjoying Him." -John Piper

So I have come to the conclusion this summer that God's will for my life never changes because He has called me to bring Him glory in everything I do whether at home or away. He is pleased with me delighting in Him.

Here it goes...

I want to use this blog as a way for me to build my faith in the Lord by remembering everything He has taught me since He made me a new creation through Christ three and a half years ago. I have been saying for about a year now that I wish I had time to look back in my old journals and just meditate on all that God has done in my life. So I now have the time to do that!

"Remember the wondrous works that He has done, his miracles and the judgments He uttered." 1 Chronicles 16:12 

In the old testament, the Israelites forsaked God because they forgot all that He had done for them. So God constantly tells them to "remember this; remember that, which I have done for you." In Exodus God reminds the Israelites that He brought them out of the land of Egypt by His strong hand. The Lord sent them a pillar of fire and a pillar of cloud to guide them to the wilderness. 

I never want to become a woman who  forgets what God has done for me! So if you would like, you can join me on my walk as I post old journal entries! I might also post some things that God is teaching me now so that I won't forget those either! I hope this can be encouraging to you!