Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness Luke 4:1 WEB

I would not be here, if I had not first been there. So many times in our life we can look back and say those words. Where we were when we met our spouse, and how narrow a time frame that it was. Taking a job that we did not really like, only to find that it was a stepping stone for something better, or that it provided the skills that we would use later.

These things are not mere coincidences. God has a plan and purpose for those that follow Him. Jesus was led by the Spirit to where He needed to be. So was Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, Jonah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Peter, Paul and so many others in the bible.

We are commanded to walk in the Spirit, to keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). Paul wrote: 'But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won't fulfill the lust of the flesh' (Galatians 5:16). Notice the word 'fulfill', it means: 'To complete, execute, accomplish, perform, finish.' It does not mean that you will never have bad thoughts or a desire, but that you will not follow through with them. You push them out of your mind and continue on.

God taught me a lot of the skills that I use today, in places that I did not want to be. Many of my stories come out of enduring hardship, but I wouldn't be here today without having first been there. They become a part of your path, and only by looking back can you connect the dots that brought you to where you are.

One time after being laid off from work, I thought that I should be working at a Christian book store, surrounded by other believers. That would be so nice I thought to myself, working in a Christian environment. Instead He put me in the darkest, dirtiest job that I ever had, in a hole in the wall place that no-one ever heard of, in the midst of the worst sinners I had ever met.

It was a time of solitude. I polished brass at a machine and listened to the Bible all day with head phones. I prayed in the spirit most of the day and fasted a lot. As I grew closer and closer to the Lord, it became the most anointed time of my life, so far. Miracles began to happen around me and people started being saved, without me hardly saying a word. Soon I was surrounded by other believers. God had turned that environment, into a Christian environment. He thinks differently than us, but you can trust Him to do things right.

If God has brought you this far, and done all of that in the past, why not trust Him to take care of you today? You will be in the right place, at the right time. You are not going to miss anything that He has reserved for you. The hard things are just a part of the path, and though a road may have bumps, it will still get you to where you are going as long as you keep moving ahead. So stay the course, chin up. Your life still has a purpose.

Prayer: Heavenly Father I thank You for bringing me this far. I choose to believe that You have a plan and a purpose for me being where I am. Fulfill Your plan in my life and guide me to where I need to be, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

Note: Ladies, today is Thankful Thursday at the "Ladies in Distress" group (our RHM women's group)! You are welcome to join in our weekly sharing of thankfulness for the Lord's presences and any blessings you may have experienced, big or small! "Ladies in Distress" is a private group, so if you have any problems joining, just post anywhere and we will help you :). Here is the link: Ladies in Distress

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