Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

If you want something done, do it yourself!  That kind of thinking will lead you toward the self-destruction of perfectionism and becoming a control freak and narcissist.

At one time I must have believed that. Prior to asking Jesus to be my Lord and Savior, I tried to shape my entire destiny and the course of life. Then one day it was like I woke up. I woke up discouraged and disgusted with the course of my life thinking, What am I doing? This is not how I want to live my life! It was as if my eyes had suddenly been opened and I could see where my own choices and my own ways of doing things were taking me. It was not good and I knew that morning that my life had to change.

What triggered these thoughts? A short time prior to this event, someone had led me to pray a simple but sincere prayer asking Jesus to come into my life to be my Lord and Savior. I prayed it sincerely, but it seemed like I just went on with my life as before. I did go on with my life but didn’t know something had changed within me. Upon praying that prayer, the Holy Spirit—the promise from God to all who receive Jesus, came to live within me. I didn’t understand that the Holy Spirit was living in me from the moment I prayed that prayer, but my ignorance of it didn’t change the reality of it happening.

It was the Holy Spirit that opened my eyes to things I had never thought about before. I was seeing everything in life differently. I didn’t understand why. I didn’t understand that for the first time, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I was seeing life through God’s eyes. It triggered a deep personal self-examination. And then one day as I was beginning to learn to read the Bible, I came across the verse Psalm 127:1-2 (NLT). “Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is useless. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.”

It was a heart-wrenching revelation to see and admit that up until that point in time, I had been building my life my way and doing a horrible job of it. These verses helped me see that this was a useless endeavor. I was awaking to the truth that there was more to life than me, myself and I and I. I was awaking to the truth that God had a plan for my life and instead of me driving it, I needed to surrender my life to the Lord and let Him show me how to follow His path of getting me there.

Interestingly enough, a week later, through a series of circumstances, I made my first visit to a Bible-teaching church. It was there that I first heard the words spoken God has a destiny for your life. That thought seemed so big and so hard to wrap my brain around. I remember thinking, What do I do with this truth? How do I figure out my destiny? What if I just lead myself right back into another messed up life?

Then I heard the Pastor teach on Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT). The words built a new bridge between God and I. They put a rudder on the pursuit of my destiny. It sounds simplistic but the truth is, it’s anything but that. My pastor’s message revolve around the words, Trust God! Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” Though this was all new to me, I fully embraced these words and clung to them. I thanked the Lord daily for leading my down His path for my life. I learned that the plan of God is a plan that unfolds day-by-day as you seek Him and have faith and trust that He will lead you.

Over time, you eventually learn that you can absolutely count on God’s perfect Fatherly love and the Holy Spirit’s guidance into the plan for your life. You just have to stay close to God and walk it out a day at a time. As years pass, you gain the hindsight that only comes with time. You’re able to look back and see how He has guided you and been intimately involved in all the details of your life—that is, to the degree that you lean on and trust Him.

As you examine your life today, does your life reflect your way or His way? Do you believe you are in His plan and are you letting Him build your house as you follow Him? Can you trust Him and take steps of faith walking out His way, according to His Word? If so, He will lead you and guide you and help you follow His plan for your life and help you build your house.

In closing, the words from God through Jeremiah are more than nice or encouraging words. They are His promise to you! Start today by asking the Lord to lead you throughout this day. Even through troubled waters He will be with you. Trust that to be true!

Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NIV) “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.” 

In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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