Reaching Your Goals, Christian Devotional, sleep story, narration,
Description
Vocal Characteristics
Language
EnglishVoice Age
Middle Aged (35-54)Accents
North American (General)Transcript
Note: Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and may contain errors.
Align your goals to God's will. By Rebecca Barlow Jordan. In the past, I usually divided my new goals into categories, home, personal marriage and family, spiritual growth, to name a few. But when my husband retired, something changed, I wanted to accomplish things for Jesus. But I had left my workaholic drive behind. I enjoyed all of life and its activities. But my goals and lists had already shrunk in recent years. Still the conflict between complex and simple, good and best battled at times. I wanted to spend more time with my husband during his retirement, yet still fulfill God's personal calling on my life. So I began asking Jesus more intentionally. What were his plans for me? Did it really matter what I did as long as I tried to honor him? Was there something I needed to start amend complete? How could I find the right balance in my life? I needed wanted answers. I wanted to hear a personal word from Jesus. Jesus often answers with principles in his word rather than specific instructions, giving us the power of choice and discernment. But within days of my prayer, he directed my eyes toward a scripture verse that had my name on it. One that promised he would teach me what was best for me and direct me in the way I should go. And Jesus has been faithful to do that. An assortment of good things begs for our attention, but only Jesus knows what the best ones are. That's why I started exchanging my lists for a blank page and trust is at the top of that page. Heavenly Father align my goals with your divine plan and keep my path straight. May my achievements not only benefit me but glorify you. Amen. This businessman followed God's will for his life by Gerald Rainie. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat as the worship team played their first song. This was our pastor's last Sunday. He was taking an exciting new position as a regional director of the denomination. I was happy for him. But his move had me thinking even more about my own career. What was God's plan for my life for Pastor Gary? The road ahead seemed crystal clear. Why couldn't it be like that for me for nine months? Now, I'd been wrestling with making a career change. The idea was to work with my wife Ricky in her small company where she served as a court appointed fiduciary for vulnerable clients, managing their legal, financial and medical decisions. I'd even talked to pastor Gary about my struggle. Sounds like we're both moving into uncharted waters. He told me just follow God's direction. The difference was his promotion came with a pay increase. I was most likely looking at a major pay cut possibly to zero. I'd be giving up a job as the chief financial officer of a large credit *****, which came with a good salary and health benefits and walking away from a firmly established 25 year career. I prayed every day for direction but heard nothing in return. Now in church with my wife beside me, the worship team continued to play as I fought to pay attention, I put my head in my hands. Depend on me for everything. I heard the words clearly and immediately looked up where had that come from? I glanced at Ricky, her head was bowed. Ricky. I whispered as I nudged her. I think God just spoke to me. He told me to depend on him. Ricky nodded. Sounds as if you need to make a decision. We'd been all over it together. I wasn't usually indecisive. I was a numbers guy. I made decisions based on facts, return on investment data, trend lines. My goal was to minimize the element of risk. Maybe that meant staying where I was. I'd seen plenty of businesses fail and God wasn't always there to pick up the pieces. How could I be sure I wasn't throwing away my family's future and a successful career for nothing up on the stage. Pastor Gary read from Deuteronomy and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart do that. He said, and everything will fall into place. If only it were that simple. I whispered to Ricky. My heart was in this but my feet didn't seem to know how to take a step forward. I just couldn't make the leap on the way home from church. We talked about how the whole thing had started. Ricky had been telling me about a client of hers, an elderly woman named Lucille Anderson. Before Ricky took her case, Lucille had lost thousands of dollars. A situation that could have been avoided with some sound financial planning. I could help someone like Lucille. I said again, still trying to convince myself budgeting expense analysis, investments. That's what I do. I could make a real difference. It was hard to see how the work I did at the credit ***** benefited specific individuals. The job was more about ensuring the financial health of the credit ***** with me focused on the client's financial affairs. Ricky would be freed up to concentrate on their medical housing and health issues. Lucille's name had come up frequently in our conversations as a real life example of how I could be effective in this proposed new business venture for the rest of the day. I thought about what I'd heard in church. Why couldn't I have the faith of Pastor Gary? Why was it so hard for me to believe that I could depend on God for everything my stomach was in knots by 8 p.m. The cramps were so severe that Ricky rushed me to the er, doctors couldn't find the problem. Pain medication gave me no relief. I was in agony at two AMI was still in the, er, curtains drawn around my bed. Ricky was asleep in a chair but I couldn't even sleep. A doctor came in to review my chart. Your symptoms point to a bowel obstruction. He said, but it's not showing up in the tests. A nurse poked her head around the curtain. Doctor Lucille is ready to be discharged to West Valley. If you can sign off on her chart, she said, and mention the name of an assisted living facility. I'd heard Ricky talking about is that Lucille Anderson, by any chance I asked, Ricky opened her eyes. What about Lucille? She said, groggily, the doctor looked surprised. I'm sorry. He said I'm not at liberty to say if it's Lucille Anderson, you can tell me, Ricky said I'm her guardian. The doctor flipped through the chart. Well, yes, I see that you are. Then he pointed to the curtain. Lucille is in the next bed. The doctor led Ricky to her. I lay back on the bed, stunned the next bed. Only God could have arranged for the very woman who had sparked my interest in making a career change to be just feet away in my hour of need. What were the odds? I imagined a team of angels seeing to every detail and orchestrating the meeting. Now they would be dancing, clapping and laughing with the Lord. The message couldn't have been clearer. And as soon as I embraced it, my stomach pain disappeared. Lucille and I were both discharged that day, Ricky followed up with Lucille and I drafted a letter of resignation to the credit *****'s CEO. When I finished, there wasn't a twinge of fear or regret. At first it wasn't always easy financially, but we had savings to help and found ways to trim expenses. I focused on the warmth and satisfaction. I got from working one on one with vulnerable clients and from working in tandem with my wife in time, our business grew. I knew that God had me exactly where he wanted me.