“For we are (I am) God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us (me) to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Again today, I find these words sticking close to me, leading me in all different directions as I wonder just what are those “good works” God prepared ahead of time specifically for me to do? Have I missed them? Was I looking the other way and passed them by? Was I too busy with or distracted by worldly things? Do these good deeds get reassigned to someone else if I mess up? (I mess up a lot) I am grieved to think that I have missed anything that my Heavenly Father has prepared especially for me to do.

I look around at what others are doing and ask myself, “Should I be doing what they are doing?” I feel pulled in so many directions. There are so many good things to be involved in and so many needs to be met – where to start? how to choose? Time to be still and listen – then I hear His words –

“stay in your lane, the lane I have prepared for you – run your race, not someone else’s race – don’t look to the right or to the left at what others are doing – keep your eyes on Me – follow Me – I have them doing other things – do your assignment from Me, not theirs. Don’t compare, don’t imitate, don’t try to fit in – listen to Me, not people (men) – I am the different drummer – don’t try to do someone else’s work that I prepared beforehand just for them – if you do, you’ll miss your calling – be still, listen for My voice – I haven’t given up on you – the Potter doesn’t abandon the clay – you are still a work in progress – I am not finished with you yet – I am preparing you for the good works that are your service to Me – even as I am preparing the people and the places where you will serve Me as I purposed for you so long ago. I know you think you have a good plan, but I have a better plan, trust Me!”

Then I recall His words in Jeremiah 29:11,

” ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ ”

And I think about what Jesus said to Peter when Peter took issue with John’s assignment – that conversation went down like this,

“When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him (John) to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You (Peter) must follow Me.’ ” (John 21:21-22)

That’s what Jesus is asking me to do – He’s asking me to follow Him. Like Abraham, I need not know the destination – it is a place He will show me. My part is to fix my eyes on Jesus and to follow where He leads – trusting He will lead me into those good works He prepared beforehand for me to do.

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.’ ” (Matthew 16:24)

if I do that, I won’t miss what my Heavenly Father prepared so long ago for me to be doing now –

sincerely, Grace Day