And We Dub Thee...

"The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD" (1 Sam 3:19-20).

I had a friend whom I went to high school with that everyone was sure, one day, would be first, an All-American Football player and later into the Pros. He believed God had other plans for him instead and went off to Moody Bible College and later became a published author and pastor. God redirected his life.

All of those early experiences had combined to contribute to the calling he is living out today.

He had his teachers and he had his coaches but he also had something else.

Often we look at our natural abilities and our internal passions and we begin to create our future. God does in fact desire that we mature in our natural and spiritual lives. God uses a host of teachers, friends, family and inspirations (mine were Ernie Banks, Hank Aaron and Gary Peters - baseball players all) and hopefully spiritual leadership as well (for me Rev. Jacob Kuipers) to affirm the gifts and roles that form our lives.

For me it seemed that some of these "mentors" in my life were trying to kill my dream of being a baseball player. I bet you had some who wanted to "reason with you," about the practicality of your life aspirations as well. God uses authority figures to provide key direction during the early development, through our teen and twenty-something years. He is using these people to help guide us to the ultimate destiny He has for our lives.

But one role - one inspired relationship must never be left wanting; that would be God in our life.

When we are young, we are often more impressionable than at any other time in our lives. The young person who can allow wisdom to rule over immaturity and impatience is a rare individual. And, that is a good thing. However, if you are able to receive from the God of your mentors, even more so than the teachers themselves, you will be so far ahead of your peers have more peace and joy in the growing than you could ever have imagined.

"God is continually preparing His heroes, and when the opportunity is right, He puts them into position in an instant. He works so fast, the world wonders where they came from," said A. B. Simpson.

As you might be going through a time of redirection in your life never forget that leadership of your life belongs to God. Put yourself in the way of His Voice - His Words - His Control - His Timing - Follow Him by worshiping and listening. Let God do the foundation work so that he can advance you to His ultimate destiny He has for your life.

The rest of us are waiting expectantly to see, "what hath God wrought!" in you...I remain...

InHISgrip,
~J~