22 January 2009
Lesson three: Who belongs in your life?
"Where you go I will go."Ruth 1:16 NIV
"Ruth told Naomi, "Where you go I will go." You can spend your life anywhere with anybody doing anything, then suddenly meet someone and sense that there is a connection between you. It's what made Elisha quit farming and follow Elijah, an eccentric prophet; it's why Timothy hung out with Paul, an old man soon to be executed. You know intuitively, "I won't reach my destiny without you in my life." Looking back you realise if you hadn't met that certain person, or taken that phone call, or read that email, you wouldn't be where you are today. On the other hand, "Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye" (Ruth 1:14 NIV). Now Orpah's leaving didn't make her a bad person; it just meant her part in the story was over. Recognise when somebody's part in your story is over, otherwise you'll just keep trying to raise the dead. David pleaded with God for his newborn baby's life. "He fasted...spent the nights lying on the ground...and...would not eat" (2 Sam 12:16-17 NIV). But when the child died he had to accept that there was nothing more he could do, so he "got up...washed...changed his clothes...and he ate" (2 Sam 12:20 NIV). Acknowledge when something is over. If God means you to have it, He'll give it to you. If you've tried to make it work and it hasn't, accept His will in the matter. Get up, go for a walk, buy yourself a new outfit, treat yourself to a good meal; start living again! Never beg anyone to stay with you against their will. Their leaving is no accident; it just means God has something better in store for you (and possibly them too), so trust Him and move on!"
- I was sent this the other day and there was just something about it that struck me. By nature I am a "people pleaser" and often I place myself in situations of hanging on to things I should let go of; all because of that fear of being hated. I am a true work in progress, but I agree so much with the start of this devotion. Because of certain people walking into my life I have forever been changed and because of other people walking out of my life I have gone in a totally different direction than I thought I would. For example; I am in a job because of a woman I met in the halls of a building I worked at before moving to New Zealand back in 2006. It is truly amazing how one choice, life, or situation can truly change the course of where God can take you.
4 comments:
A friend of mine used to talk about this idea a lot. The smallest choices in our lives can drastically change us. Going right can take us to meet the person who will change our life forever, or we go left and continue life the way it is.
If you haven't read The Shack yet, I suggest you do. The writer speaks on the ripple effect of our choices. Discerning when and whom to let go is key. Bravo, Heidi!
i tend to hang on to long and then hurt the people that i have moved on to... or i go back and remember why i left in the first place.
it's so hard to accept what god has decided for us. especially me. i get my mind set on something and letting it go, moving on, no matter how hard or easy sometimes, i just can't seem to do it.
when i let go, i get blessings, such as my kyle. and i think him letting go let him get me...
god knows what he is doing ;)
and the story of naomi and ruth is one of my favorites i think!
Just for the record - I read that passage the night after our big chat and totally thought of you.
You are someone who is in my life because you are meant to be in it. You are someone who impacts on who I am and for that, I thank you.
Yours Always
Xx
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