Well, it has been a while since I’ve written a guest blog. I don’t know about you, but I am A.M.A.Z.E.D. at the incredible things that God speaks through Jodi’s writings. I’m so proud of her stepping out and doing this weekly blog. I appreciate your graciousness as I have big shoes to fill this week. Okay…let’s go!

Psalm 139:23-24 says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

I think this scripture boils down a lot of what God has been doing in me.

God is using the times we’re living to search and test my heart and thoughts. I am finding, after decades of knowing Him, I have done well with doing things FOR God but haven’t always done so well with being real with Him about my heart. God is stripping me down by making me discontent with what has been the status quo of what it means to live for Him.

Do you feel a lot of searching and testing going on in you too?

The reason God is doing this search in us is because He wants to lead us along the path of everlasting life. In other words, He has so much more for us than what we have been satisfied with. Notice that He says that He will LEAD us. That means He will be with us all along the way. We’re not alone in this incredible journey of discovering God and His way. He’s leading us Himself! That’s how much He loves us.

Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

For us to be filled with Him (satisfied), we first need to hunger and thirst (be dissatisfied). Dissatisfied with where we’re at, admit to ourselves and others that we want more, and then take the steps to embrace what He reveals to us. Everything God does in us is to lead us to greater life in Him. If you see this process of dissatisfaction happening in you, it’s okay, you can trust Him. He is going to lead you to being filled with Him and His life.

2 Corinthians 4:18 says, “So we do not look at what we can see right now, the troubles all around us, but we look forward to the joys in heaven which we have not yet seen. The troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.”

God is working in our lives to be forward thinking. Not just forward thinking in days, months and years but forward thinking into eternity. When we stop looking at the here and now and focus on the joys of eternity, we will hold loosely to the troubles of this world. That is what has given Jodi and I hope through the loss of loved ones; short-sale of a home; cross-country moves; the isolation, loss and life-change of covid; the unsteadiness of our country and world; the hatred of people against those that don’t believe the same as them; and the fear of the unknown.

No matter how long this life happens for us, along with its troubles, eternity is going to come and it will last forever. Forever joy far outweighs temporary trouble. Let’s turn our eyes to our eternal God who is leading us along His path of everlasting life.

No matter what shaking you feel is going on in you, know that God is actively at work in you. As Philippians 2:13 says, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Trust that the questions you’re facing, the hunger and thirst you have, the searching, and the testing is all part of God’s eternal plan for you. It’s not up to us to change ourselves. God Himself is at work to change us.

May you have the joy and hope of knowing God is with you and active in your life this week!

Sincerely,
Dean