Have you ever noticed how God often works in unusual and surprising ways? When we’re least expecting it, He can grab hold of us and show us the most amazing things!
One day as I started my morning prayer-journal time, I said “God, my mind is kind of blank this morning.” I was getting ready to have surgery on my ankle in just a few days, which really made me nervous and distracted. I wanted to connect with God, but my mind was flying in 10 different directions at once. So, with my thoughts racing, but having a real need and desire to focus on Him I prayed, “God, I’m going to start with ‘ACTS’ today.” ACTS is a wonderful prayer format I learned many years ago, using the acronym; A-Adoration, C-Contrition, T-Thanksgiving and S-Supplication. It helps me keep first things first and not let my prayers turn into a laundry list of Help me’s or I need’s. And so I began my prayer with A ~ adoration ~ fully intending to move on to C, T and finally, S. But God had other plans. We never quite got past the A. Here’s what came out of my “blank” mind, once I decided to focus it on Him:
“Father, you are amazing! I am blown away by how you work. You, the God who commanded Babylon’s armies, changing the course of history using entire nations and civilizations to accomplish your will, are the same God who reaches down and places Your loving, powerful hand into my life ~ directing my steps, orchestrating people and events so that Your plans and Your will are also accomplished in this one sinner’s life! Amazing!
You are the Master Weaver! You place each person in my life and orchestrate events, using them one step ~ one need ~ one event at a time, to prepare me for my next assignment, my next adventure. ALL of it, every step along the way, building and enhancing, being used like the threads in an intricate tapestry to create a glorious finished product, the divine purpose that You will one day unfold. I am in awe of how I see You working in every new place or new situation You lead me to in my life. It’s as though I am a small thread in your beautiful work of art. And this year perhaps you’re completing a section with the mountains, and I SEE the image coming together as you create it ~ plan it. And then, just when I think we’re done, you move me on to become part of another section of your tapestry – and now perhaps you’re weaving together the colors and scents of the trees. I watch and am so honored to actually participate as You use me in Your work to create this beautiful picture of a green ~ lush forest.
And then it’s finished and I think, “Thank You for using me to do this Lord!” What an honor it has been to be part of what you are doing in this world. But you’re not done yet. You move on to work on the next section of your huge tapestry of life. Each section ~ each season of my life ~ each place of growth and learning a wonder in itself, yet an even more amazing miracle when I am allowed to look back and see how each of these sections or seasons of my life are actually being woven together to create something much bigger. The final picture ~ the tapestry of my life will be so much more than each of the individual parts you let me play.
But even more amazing than my life is just a small section, yet a very important one, in Your much larger tapestry ~ Your plan for all of mankind. Your purpose is being fulfilled in and through us from the beginning of our story as far back as Adam and Eve, all the way to Your glorious return when every knee will bow! God, You ARE amazing. And I am but a tiny thread in this galaxy-wide tapestry You are creating. Yet You have given me the honor, privilege and responsibility to play an important part. Without my part, a section of Your work of art would not be complete. Or more likely, I would miss the adventure of being used to create it, and you would have to use someone else. Because Your purposes will be accomplished, and whether you use me as a part of it or not is really up to me.
Will I say yes? Will I take the chance? Will I obey? Will I listen and follow your still small voice? Yes Lord. I want to “play”. I want to be part of this amazing thing You’re doing! Thank you for the honor of being part of your plan.
God is creating something so much bigger than we could ever see or imagine, and He wants us all to be part of it. Will you say yes? Will you listen and obey? Will you follow the still small voice of God as He prompts and tugs and leads you to be part of His plan to use you as a “thread” in His eternal tapestry? Oh what an adventure it is when we allow Him to guide our path and take us on the ride of our lives! Listen to Him. Seek His will for your life. Learn what your gifts, talents and passions are because He will use what He has given you to accomplish so much more than you can ever accomplish on your own. Take a chance. You will never be sorry you said “Yes” to the Master Weaver!