COMING FULL CIRCLE
- Key Verse
- "Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?" (Psalm 2:1)
READ THE CHAPTER
Central Truth
We constantly try to tell God that we can control our own lives better than He can. But in the end we realize that God's plan will prevail.
Reflections
From the time I was born I attended church. I accepted Christ and became a Christ follower at the age of 15. I was very involved with my church and became the leader of my youth group in my senior year of high school. While I was in high school I also had an opportunity to work as a summer day camp counselor with kids ranging in ages from 5–13 years old.
During my freshman year of college I joined the Baptist Student Union (BSU) and served in their children's ministry. Before my second year of college I received a letter asking me to lead the children's ministry. At that time I saw other college students going to parties and bars and just having fun. So I decided that is what I wanted to do instead of serving at the BSU. The decision I made that day led to me not stepping into a church on a regular basis from age 19 until my early thirties. This was my time to party!
During those college years I joined a fraternity and held numerous leadership positions. I also continued working as a summer day camp counselor. After college I served our fraternity by mentoring and teaching leadership to college students. My life motto at this time was "Work Hard and Play Hard." It was a never-ending party throughout my twenties.
When I reached my early to mid-thirties I realized that I was missing something. That missing element was having God at the center of my life. After looking back I could see where God was developing me for His purpose even when I thought I was in control of my own life. I have been given the opportunity to lead a small group, plan social activities to help build community for our singles group, and mentor the son of a single mom.
What I've learned is that when you walk away from God, He never walks away from you. He will use even your time of disobedience for His purpose.
Discussion Questions
1. Was there ever a time when you said, "I can control my life better than God can"?
2. What was it like trying to control your life without God?
3. Were there times in your past where you can now see that God was watching over you?4. How was God molding and shaping you during this time?
Chip Smith
January 4, 2010 06:04 AM
Good morning Defonza: Looking back over the times when I have gone my own way and allowed my own pursuits to crowd out God in my life, I am filled with regret and the same time, gratefulness for God's mercy, especially after I read verse 12. For me also, God has been patient with me through those times. However, as I read this Psalm, I am overwhelmed with the prospect of God's judgment. I so desire to fulfill verse 11 and submit to Jesus in every area of my life. That is why I have logged into this morning's journal entry so that I can keep my mind and heart stayed on the LORD. Thank you for you frankness and willingness to share your story with us. It encourages me to press on in my pursuit to not allow anything to crowd God out any more.
Katy Copeland
January 4, 2010 07:20 AM
I too had a period of open rebellion against God when I was young. I said He didn't exist, but throughout that whole time in my life I knew that He did. The Holy Spirit was always there gently tugging at my heart, making me miserable in my sin, until I would just face reality. I'm amazed at how patient God is. The wrath in this Psalm is so slow in coming really. Lately, I've been convicted that my attitude is too often, "Lord, tell me what You want done, and I'll take it from there." When really, God is saying to me, "Just follow me and watch Me work! Then tell the truth about what you see." Letting go of where I'm going and facing my fears about what the Lord might ask me to say, and to whom has not come easy. Thank you Defonza, for this devotion. Very thought provoking. As for your name being "made up", God's made lots of things. I'd say it means "Holy Spirit original, hand signed by God."
Tim Hawks
January 4, 2010 07:24 AM
Thanks you for sharing your story, Defonza. This passage also reminds me of the times that I have a different agenda other than the Kingdom of God. What hit me this morning is the need to identify those times and tendencies as "rebellion". This helps put into perspective how silly it is to resist God power and neglect His love. God is truly merciful and gracious to receive me back into His care.
randy
January 4, 2010 08:09 AM
Hey "Fonz" - thank you for sharing this morning with us... and "How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!" Over the years I have found great comfort and strength through the Book of Psalm!
David Redding
January 4, 2010 08:43 AM
Defonza, thanks for your transparency this morning. Your story is a lot like mine and I'm sure glad that God is merciful and will never leave me, he carried me faithfully through some very difficult times while my back was turned to him. It is so comforting to know that he will be with me forever, no matter what I do or say, his grace covers all - because I never want to see my butt prints in the sand!
January 4, 2010 08:58 AM
Thank you Defonza for reminding me that God used the times that I walked away from Him to draw me closer in the end. I don't think that I would appreciate the closeness I now experience without remembering the gap that once stood between us.
Lynna
January 4, 2010 09:06 AM
Defonza you rock!!! I thank the Lord for your friendship and Godly example! You're right, God never walks away from us and He uses the messy parts of our lives for HIS glory!
KATHY F
January 4, 2010 09:36 AM
Wow, that's great and it sure sets me free of a lot of regret. I never looked at my "wild child" disobedient years as a time that God still loved me enough to USE those years to instill future usefulness in me. I always just felt like those were the 'dark years" that I'd just as soon forget about. Thanks for helping the Lord open my eyes! PS Cool- name Fonz...
January 4, 2010 10:34 AM
Defonza, I totally agree with you and I experienced the same only that my runnings away have been intermittent but unfortunately much longer. JLF
Norma Harais
January 4, 2010 11:41 AM
Thanks Defonza! It took most of my 30s to understand the liberating fact that although we may be quite imperfect,our acceptance in God's eyes is never based on how we perform, but rather on the fact that we are "in" Christ and God accepts Him perfectly.
Cindy S. Brown
January 5, 2010 07:25 AM
Fonz: Thank you for your devotional. God used it in a really cool way to show me how He's active and working in lives every moment of every day. It provided a springboard for me to share with a friend more about God's plan for His children. It was AWESOME!
KBrown
January 5, 2010 08:44 AM
Thanks for sharing a personal and private part of your past with us! I think what we do and experience makes us who we are and who we become. (AND those party years , believe it or not, were a part of GODS PLAN TOO!) so by using and sharing those experiences, we can maybe help our own kids get thru those college party times by understanding the pressures they are facing and showing that just like GOD, we are there for them and always will be, even when they stray.