How is God using your today to prepare and purpose your tomorrow?

Today’s guest post is written by Beth Niemann…

The last part of 2012 was a time of trust and a strengthening of my faith. I’ve become amazed that our great and tender God cares about the details of my life, and even wants to be in them!

You see, about one-and-a-half years ago, I had the opportunity to step into a women’s ministry position in my church, leading a morning bible study. All of the ladies were much older than me, and I was enormously intimidated, but I felt compelled and excited at the same time. These ladies accepted me with open arms and we began a journey together of growing in knowledge of the Word, growing in love for our Sweet Savior, and growing in service to our community. I loved these ladies and LOVED the good thing we had going.

This past September we began a study by Priscilla Shirer called Jonah. It was my idea to do this one. I had heard it was a good one, challenging the participants to a more committed obedience to God. Priscilla asks the reader to consider what it is that God may be asking you to do in this season of life. Something that maybe you would be willing to do if you could only recognize it. Or, maybe there is something that He’s asking you to do, but you are running in the opposite direction.

About 3 weeks into the study, I realized that God was asking me to step down from leading our morning study. And for a girl that had finally found her passion, this was a sore disappointment! “What?! Step down?”

I didn’t immediately trust these thoughts, because this was the farthest thing from MY mind! I questioned God at least a hundred times over the next couple of weeks with questions like,

“Who will lead them?”

“Why now?”

“What will I do with this passion now?”

I can assure you He never answered one single question of mine, but He did kindly confirm this decision for me and gently pried my fingers off this study group and gave me great peace.

“So, now what?”

I had surrendered this group to God and I couldn’t help but wonder what was next. A few more weeks went by and the first of a sequence of events began to unfold. I was contacted to see if I would be interested in serving with a team of women who would promote a Living Proof Live event coming to our area, and help form a lasting network of friendships among the women who will be attending the event. Thankful for the opportunity, I said, “YES!”

When the team of women working on the Living Proof Live event gathered together for Christmas, we were asked to bring a favorite book wrapped up for a gift exchange. I was the last one to take my turn, so there was only one book left. As I began to reach for it, the giver quickly grabbed it and exchanged it for a different book, which she felt I just really should have! I read the back of it and flipped through it slowly. This book, called Anything, was exactly what I needed at that time! I thanked God as I drove home and marveled at how he had used someone I’d never met before to assure me that He was up to something and was continuing to prepare me for whatever was next.

As I neared the end of Anything, I became absolutely sure that God was calling me to lead a study in my home that was written by the same author. And although I was sure, I was again intimidated by this “new thing” God was doing (Is. 43:19). I had never led a study from my home. After all, I really don’t like to clean and the idea of inviting women into my home on a weekly basis made me squirm! I begged God to equip me and waited for him to lead me to the women I should ask. And that He did.  Our Friday morning ladies bible study has been a strong group of hungry, transparent women who desire to grow in Christ.

So, this is my story about how God has used my “todays” to prepare me for what He wants me to do next. What He prepares us for is different for every person, but the key to experiencing these preparations is obedience. Priscilla was right. If we run from the changes He wants to make in our lives, he can’t use us. But if we submit each day to Him and obey in the big and small things, He can use our passion for His glory!

How is God using your today to prepare and purpose your tomorrow?

(The current Preparation series is intended to help you look for, notice, and acknowledge God working in your life. At the end of the month, I’ll give away a free ticket to the Living Proof Live with Beth Moore event in Springfield, IL, October 25-26, 2013. All you have to do to qualify for the free ticket drawing is to comment on one or more blog posts throughout the month of March. The ticket will be given away on April 1st (and it’s not an April Fools joke!). (If you live too far away to attend the event, I have an alternate giveaway and will then pass along the ticket to someone else.)