Page 131 - Grace150 Devotional

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our
prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of
love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:2–3

Strategy and planning always seemed to come easy. An intuitive thought
process served me well in my business career. Where are we today, where do we
want to be, and how do we get from here to there? So, what could be different as
I made a significant career transition and designed a life plan around those same
types of questions?
By God’s grace, the difference would come at a heart level. As I reflected on the
above passage and journaled one morning, God seemed to show me the journey
I was on was less about strategy and planning and more about faith. While it was
okay to think and plan, I didn’t have to try to come up with a perfect solution.
I couldn’t see around every corner, I couldn’t predict in advance what might
happen and what the outcome would be. But He could. Through His love and
grace, He always had my best in mind.
In turn, my motivation could become a labor of love and not striving. Love for
Him and love for others. No longer motivated by fear but the eternal hope I have
in Christ. How transforming and freeing!
Lord, thank You for the transformative power of Your Word that can change
our hearts, how we see life, and approach life each day.
– Steve Ivaska

devotions for the journey DAY 124