While growing up in this very messed up world we live in, I have learned that no matter what happens in our everyday life, God has a very important plan for everyone. Let me describe to you a little about how He is revealing His plan for my life.

I have had a fair amount of trials throughout my life. I would look back on some of them and say, "Oh, so that's why that happened." They say that hindsight is 20/20. I grew up in a family that tried to live up to the light we were given. I can't speak for everyone else, but I only had half the experience; I was doing everything in my power to do right and was leaving God out. After some time, I realized this and noticed that whenever I did it my way, it brought me grief. I would mess things up and then wonder what I did wrong.

After I graduated from High School, at age 17, I then worked several jobs. I messed up every time because I became an "at-home" Christian. I did not know how to have a real, abiding relationship with God. I gave my life to the Lord fully after three trying months in California. This time, I meant it. I was fully aware of what I was doing. The greatest thing about this is the peace that I feel hanging around me.

It's not the temporary peace that only lasts five minutes long; this peace stays with me as long as I have a two-way connection with God. I mean two-way as I ask God what His plan is and then I wait for Him to reveal Himself to me.

With that kind of connection, He is able to use me in more ways than I ever imagined possible. That's exciting! I believe God is leading me to go to school to study nursing the way the Lord intends us to study it, as outlined in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. I have thought about this possibility many times half-heartedly; but now He has a say in what I do and I am determined to follow Him. If He opens the door to me to go to nursing school, then I will go and do my best. What I love most about this road I'm walking is, I can't step in the same square twice with God leading me.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:31: "Whatsoever we do, do all to the glory of God", meaning to me, I can't take the glory for anything I do; I am to give it to God for He has brought me this far.

The Bible also says in Ecclesiastes 9:10: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might...", again meaning, I am to persevere in everything I do and complete it.

God also promises in Philippians 4:13 that "I can do all things through Christ Who strengtheneth me." I think that is my formula for success: giving the glory to God in everything, do everything to the best of my ability with God, going forward in the knowledge that God is always there to help me when I need it. There is one more thing: the Bible says in Proverbs 4:23, "Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life." In all that, God makes this beautiful statement. He wants us to protect our minds from things that would hamper our walk with Him. He also gives us a way to tell... "For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh." Matthew 12:34.

 

~~ Samantha ~~