journey onWord with us

My day started with good intentions and spiritual thoughts. Tuesday morning I had logged words about the Lord’s will for my business dealings that day. All of my great spiritual logic took place prior to boarding an airplane, and then during my first flight of the day. Spiritual Mike was seeking the Father’s best … and then the plane touched down. As soon as my phone came on, I saw the message. A friendly text revealed that my client had been called away and could not meet. Now I was in a battle for my emotions. Did I really want His will, or mine? To be candid, it took me awhile to regain my spiritual moorings. But in the end, I sensed the peace of accepting the Father’s will. Christ never took my detours in accepting His Father’s will. Not a day in His life.

The backdrop for one of His days was a very familiar story with the woman at the well. On Christ’s way through Samaria, Jesus met a woman whose life was less than appropriate. His love and care for her resulted in saving faith. Other Samaritans entrusted their lives to Christ after hearing her witness. Extra! Extra! Read all about it in John chapter four.

In the midst of the larger story, we find Christ having a brief, but powerful interaction with his disciples. It was a serious discussion about some not-so-ordinary sustenance.  Sandwiched between the woman leaving to go tell her friends about meeting the Messiah, and their return, we find the bigger-than-bread exchange between Jesus and his disciples.  As they returned from town, the disciples urged Jesus to eat.  Listen carefully to His response …

John 4:32-34
But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” Then the disciples said to each other, “could someone have brought him food?” “My food,” said  Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”

The disciples were concerned with food, but real nourishment for Christ came from doing the will of His Father. On this ordinary day, the Father’s will included leading a Samaritan woman to saving faith. When you and I are confronted with our personal interests vs. His agenda, I wonder how often we miss His will in that moment. If you are in Christ, there is no doubt that the Father has plans for you. His will for us is far more nourishing than any business or personal interest. But there are still days when I battle His will vs. my agenda.

You may never get distracted like I did on Tuesday. I wanted my way. After praying for His will and receiving it, I came face to face with what I really wanted. Have you ever caught yourself with those emotions? In contrast to me, on that ordinary day for Christ, He took time to engage the Father’s design. And a less than appropriate woman gained redemption. I regained my spiritual moorings Tuesday, but if Spiritual Mike (and you too) isn’t careful, wanting my way causes me to miss life changing opportunities. So I learned a good lesson, and I hope you can learn from my mistake. My Lord is in control and His will is always best.