The Future

"Do not limit the limitless God!  With Him, face the future unafraid because you are never alone."  Mrs. Charles E. Cowan


     When I read that quote a variety of hymns began to run through my mind.  Specifically two:  I Know Who Holds Tomorrow and No, Never Alone.  As the words to those and other songs tumbled over in my thoughts, the first part of the quote stood out to me.  The words echoed in my head.  I have limits on God.
     That is a very sad statement of fact about myself, but I don't think I am alone.  Let's examine how we live and think.  Do we jump out of bed each morning shouting for joy?  Do we, with total conviction and without the faintest hesitation boldy say, "OK, God.  There's the future.  My future.  I will face it without fear because I know you are there?"
     Probably we are quicker to say, "Well, if He wants me to go there He will have to show me."  Those words have come out of my mouth way too many times!  Like Gideon we throw out our fleece over and over again asking for sign upon sign.  Why?  Why don't we readily do what we know God is telling us to do?  We limit God.
     Do you ever use the excuse - I'm not good enough?  How about - I don't even know where to start?  Or maybe - That's going to take time and/or money I don't have.  Then there is the classic - I don't know enough.  Are you as guilty as me of using excuses to avoid what God has called you to do?
     If God has given you an idea, a burning passion, then just do it.  For me, it was simply picking up a pen and writing.  For some college kids I know it was stuffing backpacks full of sandwiches and hitting the streets to look for hurting, hungry people.  I had no idea when I started writing in that red notebook that my thoughts would end up here for the world to see.  Those kids had no idea that a summer night with nothing else to do would grow into a ministry to homeless people in college communities across the Southeast.
     You don't have enough time or money?  Paul said in Philippians 4:19 that his God can supply all you need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Are we serving the same God?  One year of our lives has 525,600 minutes.  They tick away quickly.  I waste a lot of them daily.  We need to ask God to keep us focused on the task He has put before us.  Are you really worried about money?  If God has sent you, He will supply.  You simply must believe it.  There is no way He is going to send you out to do His will and then abandon you.  It won't happen.
    I don't know enough about the Bible.  Well, those men Jesus chose to walk with Him were certainly not scholars.  Yet the leaders in Jerusalem saw the boldness of Peter and John, "perceiving they were unlearned and ignorant men."  They had never been to Bible college, but it was evident to all who heard them that they had been with Jesus.  So, what about me?  I never went to Bible college.  When people look at me will they know that I have been with Jesus?  Not if I don't guard my time with Him.  Not if I don't read my Bible.  Not if I don't spend time praying.  Not if I keep making excuses for not stepping out and living the life He has called me to live. 
     Are you limiting God by wasting time and making excuses?  Do you believe you aren't alone as you face the future?  Do you live in fear?  Friend, if we are doing those things we need to ask forgiveness from the One who created us.  I don't know about tomorrow, but I do know the God who holds my future.  I choose to live in the assurance that Jesus loves me and has a plan for my life.  I choose to believe I am never alone, and as I travel the path ahead of me I choose to experience God without limits.  How about you?