Mess Me Up, Lord!

“A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NKJV

Have you ever noticed how God is really good at messing up your life? He’s been messing mine up for years!

For example, just yesterday I was looking forward to a day off and He sent me to work instead. On Super Bowl weekend, no less! What’s with that?

But, you know what? It turned out to be a good day after all. If I hadn’t gone to work:

• I wouldn’t have gotten to work with Carla, Erin, Meghan, Narcilli, Leslie, Jennifer, Laura, Vicki, and Alex. I sometimes hate my job, but I love the people I work with! BTW, you all did great yesterday!
• I would have missed out on praying with a woman overwhelmed by depression, offering her hope for a better tomorrow.
• I would have had to go through the pain of watching my Patriots lose to the Eagles.
• I wouldn’t have had a 2 year old girl, with the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen, dance on the exam table, just to make me laugh! That was worth coming in all by itself!

God loves to mess up our plans. Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” Just when you think you’ve got your life figured out God throws a monkey wrench into things. He’s been doing it since time began:

• David was content minding sheep, but God wanted him to lead a nation.
• Moses was on the fast track to be the next Pharaoh, but God called him to set His people free.
• Gideon was hiding in a pit, threshing wheat, when God chose him to defeat the Midianites.

God has messed up my life so many times through the years, but I’m so glad He did! If He hadn’t:

• I never would’ve met Ana, who’s been messing up my life now for 36 years – in so many wonderful ways!
• I would’ve missed out on the joy Rishana, Andrew and Alex bring me. Without them my wallet might be fatter, but my heart wouldn’t be so full.
• I’d have stayed in New York and missed out on having friends like Shawna, Christian, Heather, and Christine.
• I’d have never left Chehalis and gotten to live in the beautiful Wenatchee Valley or know the wonderful people at the Cashmere Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Over and over God has messed up my life and fooled with my plans, but my life is so much richer and rewarding because He did.

Today, God wants to mess up your life too. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”  Your Heavenly Father wants to take you places you’ve never been, show you things you’ve never dreamed are possible, and mess you up in so many beautiful ways.

I know you’ve got your life all planned out, but take a chance and let Him direct your steps instead. His plans for you are “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.

Give Jesus your heart today. Put your trust in Him. Then stand back! He’s going to mess up your life in so many wonderful ways!

God bless and have a wonderful messed-up day!