Leaving Room for God

Wait for the Lord and keep his way.
-Psalm 37:34 (NIV)

THE company I work for has an internship program with a local high school. One day I was working with a young man from this program, trying to explain a complicated computer problem to him. He kept interrupting me, finishing my sentences with what he thought I was going to say. But often he was wrong, and his interruptions made my explanation longer and more complicated than it had to be.

As I reflected on our conversation, I realized that I often treat God the same way. In my anxiety to be in control, I often fail to stop and listen in order to hear what God would have me do. Like my intern, I often end up having to backtrack and consider what God was trying to get through to me in the first place. If I don't slow down and give God the chance to work in me, I make my life more difficult.

Learning when to listen and when to act, leaving room for the Holy Spirit to move in our life, is something that we learn through an active relationship with God. The key is to cultivate openness with God that makes our whole heart available to God. And if we are patient, God's work will be completed in us, at the appointed time.

Prayer:
Loving God, help us to open our hearts to you so that we may live for you and bring glory to your name. Amen.


Thought for the Day:
When we stop and listen, God will show us the way.



From: UpperRoom - Michael Albanese