Have you ever wished God would just clearly tell you His will for your life?  

I know I can relate with that desire.  Who wouldn’t want the roadmap to their lives from their Creator right in front of them?  But that’s just it…our Creator wants a relationship with us.  A moment by  moment, day by day, ever-growing relationship.  And if He gave us all the answers at once, it would negate a need for trust, faith, growth, dependence and hope in our Creator.

Because God is all about a relationship with His children (think of the Bible, it’s the most beautiful story of God redeeming His children back into a right relationship with Himself!) He longs for them to cling to His words found in scripture every moment of the day, and to allow those words to impact how they live their lives.

Most mornings, as I’m dropping off the oldest of the boys I nanny, I pray aloud in the car, “Lord, please give him a great day and help him make someone else smile today.”  I’d say only 20% of the time that prayer is even heard by the kiddos due to the usual teasing and overall loudness coming from the backseat, but regardless, I know God hears that prayer and every now and then the boys do too.
Over a year ago the Lord put that simple prayer on my heart to encourage and challenge these little men to look beyond themselves and to the needs of others around them.  And for a seven year old, making someone else smile who may not be having a great day, would be a huge step in becoming other-centered and Christ-like.
What I didn’t realize over a year ago was the impact this prayer was going to have on my own walk with the Lord and understanding of His will for my life.
I’ve learned that a huge way God daily speaks to us and reveals His will to us is by putting others’ and their needs on our hearts.  His will is that we grow in our fellowship with Him, and share His love with others.
It’s all about recognizing God’s voice, and obeying His command.  It’s all about God.  His will for our lives is to glorify Him in all we do.

Everyday, probably more than once, God will place someone on our hearts.  Sometimes it’s just to pray for him or her, but other times He also gives us a way to encourage that person. In His still, small voice, He is giving us an opportunity to share His love with another one of His children if we will simply listen and obey.

Maybe a friend comes to mind who you know has been walking through a really dark season recently, a simple text saying you are thinking of her and praying for her could turn her day around.  Maybe you made too much dinner last night and God places someone on your heart who could use the meal.  Maybe you get the idea to text your friend and offer to watch her kids for a few hours.  Or maybe on your lunch break you feel a nudge from the Lord to go sit by that co-worker.  You don’t know what you are going to say, but that’s God’s job, just obey and trust Him to lead the rest.  

I can’t tell you how many times I have received just the right words of encouragement when I needed them the most, and I’m so thankful that person listened and obeyed God’s prodding on her heart to reach out to me. 

More than likely we won’t know, while on this earth, the impact our words and actions  will have on others, but trust God’s Word, they will impact His Kingdom.

Colossians 3:23-24

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

 As we daily grow in our fellowship with the Lord through Scripture, prayer and time spent with others who love Jesus, we will see or hear His nudge more clearly.  We will experience the incredible blessing and fulfillment that comes when we make much of Him and less of ourselves.

I want to clarify something here, I’m not saying we all need to tie on our capes and become superheroes…responding to every need that comes our way,  that will do no one any good because we will quickly burn out.  Our job isn’t to play God, but rather to respond to Him when He calls on us.  When we hear His still, small voice nudging us to say or act in such a way towards someone else that will bring Him glory, let’s be sure to respond!

As a church body responding in obedience to God’s Word, imagine the incredible impact that God’s love can have on others both now and into eternity.  Together, we can challenge each other to respond when God asks us to love one of His children.

Hearing and obeying God is contagious.  If you don’t know where to start, begin with our church body.  Pray that the Lord will show you ways to encourage those in leadership or individuals in the congregation who need a friend right now.  From there, the Lord will continue giving you opportunities to share His love with others all around you!  We just need to be ready and willing.

Let’s be His hands and feet together in this world, and make someone else smile today.