#3 - Discerning the Voice of God

Ordinary Or Extraordinary

God’s plan for your life will often come through unexpected events that push you in a direction you would never have gone on your own.

EX:

Esther experienced this unexpected push in her life.

The book of Esther opens with a wild seven-day party in the king’s palace. As the icing on the cake, the custom was to bring the queen out to dance. There was nothing unusual about the king asking Queen Vashti to dance; what was unusual was that she refused. 

Greatly embarrassed, King Ahasuerus decided to get rid of his queen and find a new one through a national beauty contest.

Over one hundred women were selected from the provinces for the king’s consideration. Esther, a young orphan girl, was chosen as one of them.

Sometimes, when things happen that you can’t explain, it lets you know that somebody else is in charge. As Christians, we don’t believe things happen by chance. We believe God’s plan prevails.

Overnight, God placed the orphan girl Esther in the palace. 

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Esther’s plan for her life probably didn’t include being queen. She probably dreamed of raising a traditional Jewish family. I’m sure she imagined holding hands with her fiance under the olive tree, while planning her wedding ceremony.

But while Esther dreamed of an ordinary life, God was orchestrating an extraordinary life. While she was planning everyday things, God was planning supernatural opportunities for her.

1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV

9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

Often, while we are busy grabbing lesser things, ordinary things, mediocre things, God is planning extraordinary things for our future. Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t reach for the stars. God sees the potential you possess and when you follow His plan, you end up going places you could never have dreamed of and accomplishing more than you ever imagined.

Do you tend to dream of things that are well within your reach?

Or do your dreams require you to trust God to move mountains only He can move?

Ask God to help you dream beyond the ordinary and to reach for the extraordinary plan he has for your life.

Halfway To Destiny

Destiny is living according to God’s plan for your life. You become a person of destiny when you realize that God has a plan for your life and a place of destiny for you and your family. 

God’s plan for your life is not just for you; it is multi-generational. God’s plan for your family will outlive you. He’s doing things now to set up your children and grandchildren for His destiny. 

Genesis chapter 11 tells us about Terah, the father of Abraham.

Terah was a man who only went halfway. God told him to go all the way to Canaan, but he reached a city called Haran and settled there. He became relaxed and comfortable, and he made up his mind that the journey wasn’t worth the effort anymore. “I’m only halfway to my destiny”, he thought, “but I don’t want to go any further than this lush valley. It’s just too comfortable.”

Imagine Terah thinking, “All the bills are paid, and I don’t have to pray a lot. I don’t have to be stressed out. I don’t have to use faith to get what I need. I’m in a comfortable place, and it would be best if my family just stayed and lived here.”

That’s where many people are today—they’ve settled for less than God’s plan. Many of you have gone far and know there’s more out there, but something in you is saying, “Well, why go that far? Just relax. Why trust God for more when it’s so comfortable here?”

But the Lord is saying, “I have new plans for you. I have new opportunities for you. I have new people and new places and new plans that I want to release into this season of your life.” 

If we’re not careful, we’ll become like Terah. The Bible says that he “came to Haran and dwelt there….and Terah died in Haran”. Terah never reached his place of destiny. He lived and died in Haran. 

Genesis 11:31–32 ESV

31 Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife, and they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan, but when they came to Haran, they settled there. 32 The days of Terah were 205 years, and Terah died in Haran.

Our lives should be about more than simply living and dying. God has a marvelous plan in store for us if we will only listen and learn to discern His will. As we follow His leading, He will bring us to our place of destiny.

Have you grown complacent with where you are in life?

Could there be a God purposed destination that you are stopping short of?

Consider asking God if you are in the right place. Ask God to point you in the right direction and show you the next steps to take.