Have you ever had a list of ideals and they become the driving force in your life?
Everything is shaped around this list and if things do not fit into this confined box of how you see yourself and the world around you, then you toss those things to the side.
I do not believe that there is anything wrong with having goals and visions for your life but when God cannot even shake your list to do His will, there is a problem.
Your ideals can become idols; perhaps depending on how you look at it, ideals are idols in sense. This is simply my opinion, so you do not have to agree with me; but the definition of ideal is a conception of something in its absolute perfection; one that is regarded as a standard or model of perfection or excellence. Another part of that definition says that ideals can be goals or principles, but for many of us, they are much more than that.
I had a friend who was so wrapped up in her list of ideals that she could not see herself any other way. I asked her, "What if God wanted to exceed your list of ideals, but you will not let Him?" "What if the way you have seen yourself all this time is not how God really sees you?" Then I asked her where this list came from, and she mentioned that it is not a list of how she feels or sees herself, but how she believes others see her.
When we are looking at ourselves and our lives through eyes of other people, it may not give us a clear and valid picture of how Christ sees us. So we end up spending most of our lives, trying to attain what other people want for us instead of what God has planned for us.
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps (Proverbs 16:9 English Standard Version).
Sometimes our minds need to be renewed because they have been tainted by the world's view of how we should be, instead of how the original designer, the Lord, created us to be.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 English Standard Version).
Do not just accept what other people have to say about you. Find out what God says because His ways are higher and above what any human can fathom.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8, 9 English Standard Version).
God has so much more in store for our lives, if only we would just let Him guide us to it; but many times we feel the need to be in control of everything.
We need to know every detail in order to step out on faith; and then we miss out on so many blessings because we will not let go of our ideals to receive God's gifts.
Let go and let God do what He desires to do in your life.
It is better than you can imagine.
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