When God Moves You Move … Just Like That

Photo Credit: Patrick Fore.

I remember when I was on vacation in the Caribbean and watching friends in a two-person Kayak.  Some couples were sailing right along while others were struggling and going in circles.  I noticed that the ones doing well were in sync with each other, their movements were coordinated and following the same rhythm with their paddles in perfect harmony.  However, the paddles of the other couples were all over the place.  They were yelling instructions and directions at one another, each expecting the other to follow their lead, unwilling to relinquish control. 

The individuals in those circling Kayaks are very much like us Christians when we are out of sync with God.  We insist on doing things our own way rather than submitting to His plans and directions.  And just like that struggling Kayak we go around and around in circles, sometimes enduring devastating consequences and wasting many potentially fruitful years of our lives. We love to quote Jeremiah 29:11. But do we know what God’s plan for our life is and if so, are we following it?

God will never leave us flapping in the wind and clueless.  When He is ready for us to move in a particular direction or take certain action, He will always let us know.  However, we have to be in constant communication with Him in order to discern when He speaks because God speaks to us in a myriad of ways, all lining up with His word of course; and if we are not sensitive and open we just might miss it due to all the noise and distractions of life.

All throughout Scripture we can witness God communicating His plans and giving direction. Sometimes He gives very specific instructions (Genesis 6:13-22 and 12:1-3, Jonah 1:1-2, Acts 9:10-12 NKJV).  But even when He is seemingly silent He still speaks through the principles and precepts in His word. And until such time as we hear from Him with specificity we are to sit tight and wait until we do.  The place we want to be and the safest, most blessed place is smack dab in the center of God’s will.  We don’t want to get out ahead of Him nor lag behind Him. 

It’s what my pastor, Dr. Dharius Daniels refers to as our “Grace Place”, our sweet spot where we and God are in sync and “vibeing” as the young folks say.  According to our existing and accepted cannon of Scripture Jesus Himself lived in relative obscurity for thirty years and when He did burst onto the scene, He only did what He saw the Father do and what the Father told Him (John 5:19, 8:28, 8:38, 12:49-50, 14:10 NKJV).  So since Jesus, our example and the one whose life we are to emulate had to be in sync with God the Father then we must do likewise.  Only move when He moves…..Just like that.