Living Intentionally

I am guilty. Guilty of being negative. Guilty of not looking for the positive. Guilty of not looking at life through the lens of what God wants for my life. I have been in quite a funk the last couple days, probably even weeks about where I have to go every day for work. My work day has gotten down right consumed by bitterness. I have been explaining this feeling away with “it is just the way it is for right now.” However, I was met with a swift smack on the noggin by the big guy upstairs about how wrong that line of thinking is yesterday.
Sidebar…I have not been a big reader throughout my life, but I have always liked to read. However, if you were to ask me how many books I read in a year prior to this year I would have said, maybe 1. Now ask me this year and I can say 5! I haven’t written recently about the books I have been reading, but I am going to rectify that. So much of how I have been changing and growing are due in large part to the exercises and food I have been giving my mind. The amazing words of the authors I have been consuming have been such a gift. From Franis Chan, to Brene Brown and up right now Joyce Meyer.
Alright, back to my story and how God gave me a swift smack into how my mind has been running amuck. Yesterday I started back into the book, Battlefield of the Mind Winning the Battle in Your Mind, by Joyce Meyer. The very first quote was from Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Woof…talk about a dose of perspective. I proceeded with my day and happened into a meeting with a fellow colleague I had not seen for a while. I think God was throwing me a bone with this meeting. It was amazing the knowledge of circumstances he had that brought some peace about the past. But that wasn’t the end of God’s guiding hand. I then ran into folks that don’t normally work in my area. What a chance meeting this was.
I proceeded to talk to them about how I was feeling bitter abouthow I had been treated by work. They both could completely empathize; even with the feeling of bitterness over it. But then one of them said something so good and so right it was almost haunting. He said to me, “you know I don’t believe God wants anything bad or unjust to happen to us; however, sometimes he allows these things to happen to redirect the path you are on, because if not for that happening you probably would have never veered from that path. Which may need to happen in order for you to walk down the path he has planned for you. You see you don’t know what life has in store 3 years down the road, but He does.” MIND BLOWN! This really put me in my place. God’s plan is perfect. His lens is perfect. If we only stop to give Him our plans and allow His plans to take over He turns all works (good and bad) for our good. Living intentionally is key. Choosing the intentionality with each thought translate into each action.
God’s plan is so good for each of our lives. I am learning to get out of my own way every day. Thank you Lord for showing me!