Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold here, and there’s a raging wind with enough strength to blow the rocking chairs off the front porch and into the field. I’m sure am thankful for the warmth and safety inside this old farmhouse this morning. As I considered how much strength it takes to lift these heavy chairs and toss them into the field like dollhouse furniture, I considered the Strength of my God and how He can just as easily set me in a New Place too with no effort at all. Just like the rockers that “have their proper place” on the front porch of this old farm, God can move me from what I believe to be my “proper place” in a heartbeat with just the Command of His voice. So, I do my best to Tune-in to Him and I’m ready to move in any Direction He takes me in even when it doesn’t make sense. Isn’t that the way you look at His Plans for your life too?

It can be so easy to fight against the Will of God when things don’t make a lot of sense to us on the surface. We spend so much time second guessing and rationalizing God’s “next move” that we often miss out on the Opportunity to fulfill His Purpose for our lives. But when God has a Plan in mind, He has the Strength to fulfill it. It doesn’t take much Faith at all to flounder around waiting for clarity when clarity comes from Him in the first place… IF WE TUNE IN to Him and we believe that He has the Strength to fulfill any plan He has for us. Moses was asked to lead millions of people to the Promised Land and when He attempted to tell God that He’d picked the wrong guy; God took away His excuses. It didn’t make a lot of sense when God told Joshua to march around the city of Jericho 7 times, but Joshua did it He saw Victory up-close-and-personal. We’re only weak and useless if we chose to be weak and useless, because with God ALL things are possible and He’s got enough Strength to share with the world…IF we TUNE IN and Trust Him AND if we’re willing to get our of our “proper place”.

Sometimes a Strong Wind comes through my world and God takes me from my “proper place” and He sets me in an entirely different direction. Sometimes it’s not convenient and sometimes it makes no sense to me. Sometimes it means that I’ll suffer a little persecution by doing His Will and sometimes it means that I’ll have to be ready for Battle. Sometimes I’m afraid as I set off out of my “proper place” and sometimes I attempt to make excuses just like Moses did. But God knows my heart beneath my fear and frailty, and anytime I try to excuse myself from Service; He makes sure that I am reminded of Who my Boss is and His Strength Working through me overwhelms me. There’s nothing “unproductive” or “irresponsible” or “wishy washy” about being willing to move when the Strong Wind passes through. In fact, it takes Strength and Trust and Faith to step outside of our “proper place” and it takes Obedience to do what the Boss tells us to do even when it doesn’t make sense. I know that when God brings the Strong Wind to change my Course, it’s miracle time and the outcome can never be credited to me. I like to believe that God knows that I will ALWAYS give Him the Glory in the end, and maybe that’s why I’ve had a few more Strong Winds that removed me from my “proper place” than the average person. Giving God the glory through the Good, the “bad” and the “ugly” is the key to being a Vessel that God can use to bring Himself Glory no matter the circumstances and no matter which way the Wind blows.

The strong winds have rearranged the furniture on the front porch and we’ve lost a few limbs at the farm. But with just a few minutes of clean-up the rockers will be back in their “proper place”. As for me? I’ll keep walking the walk and talking the talk and I’ll keep striving to be a Vessel Worthy to be used by the King, and when He brings the Strong Wind and He decides to move me from my “proper place” to that Place where I can be used to glorify Him; I’ll be ready.

How about you?