Changes in life directed by God

Have you ever felt like you have reached a crossroad in your life? Before you there lies a split in the road and a decision has to be made as to which direction or course of action should be taken. Most of us will weigh the options heavily before deciding.

Based on personality styles, there is about three percent of the population who will make a quick decision, with the remainder of us taking a certain amount of time pondering before making a move.

There are those times when God takes the decision-making out of our hands because it’s time for a life change. Although we have been given free will, the Lord will order our steps and help us to choose his direction. He knows what is best for our life.

Changes that are “God produced” are always for our good, although sometimes we fail to recognize his plan at work in our lives. We may even offer willful resistance to those changes. It might take something sudden or troublesome in our lives to get our attention. We could find ourselves at the point where we are sick and tired of what life has become and will welcome change, recognizing it’s needed. Whatever the reason, we can be confident that changes will occur, because that’s one certainty of living.

Examining Scripture, we find two men referenced who experienced life changes. These changes occurred in their hearts first, and were significant enough that they produced name changes. Their legacy and names will not be forgotten. Saul became the Apostle Paul and Jacob became Israel. As we examine these lives, perhaps we will see ourselves represented in them. Like Saul, we may experience a “Damascus Road” where we meet the Lord on our way to fulfilling our own plans, as was his case. With the Old Testament figure, Jacob, his encounter with the Lord brought him face to face with himself, the “hidden man” and set his life on a course of destiny that lives on today.

First, Saul was running toward his mission of destroying those who believed in the Jesus. His heart filled with anger and self-righteousness, his zeal was evident as he proceeded down the Damascus Road. He believed with all of his heart and soul that he was doing the right thing. He was pursuing this course with a passion of “religious” belief. God had a plan for this man; one that would soon be revealed.

While traveling on his assignment, Jesus met him. Saul chose one road for himself, but God chose another. This marvelous encounter was to change the man, the mission and his message. Saul, the zealot, fell to his knees blinded by the magnificence of the light from heaven and heard the voice of God. He responded to this voice and divine call on his life and became Paul, the Apostle and author of the majority of the New Testament.

Who would have thought that someone so against Christianity, would be God’s choice as his servant? The Lord. We are not so different today. It is part of our nature to try and control our destiny but God’s plan for us requires a surrendered and humbled heart to his will. It requires an examination of our hearts in prayer. Saul heard, saw and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. His name changed, purpose poured into his life and a destined road was before him.

Second, Jacob experienced a transformation and destiny that lives on today as well. After his encounter with God, he was changed from a “conniver” to the father of a nation. The time had come for him to stop running from the past. He would have to address the hidden issues of his heart and a wrestling match with the Lord ensued. The blinders came off and God allowed Jacob to see his own true “heart condition” filled with manipulation and schemes. That reality, humility and repentance brought him to the place that the Lord intended. Jacob was now in the place where the Lord would fully release the appointed blessing. God says of him, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and men and have prevailed.”

These two men are examples of changed lives and appointed destiny. We too can experience the same. Where are you today? Just know that the Lord is there with you. Ask Jesus to be Lord of your life and allow him to impart into you an eternal destiny and legacy that will not be forgotten. He will meet you where you are, change your name to “my child” and it will be forever recorded in his book of life. This decision will bring blessings into your life.

Patty Scahill of Austintown, who is a conference speaker, author and hospice chaplain, attends Christian Life Church in Canfield.