Giving Thanks – Your Path into God’s Future

Have you ever been in a situation where you can see God’s abundant blessing on your family and work – and yet you feel there’s something more? Life is good, the kids are doing great and still you feel a sense of longing. You may not know exactly what you long for, but you’re not content to settle.

I call it a divine discontent, a sense in your spirit that God is calling you higher and further. Deep down inside, you know there’s a better future out there, something wonderful beyond your current here and now. Something beyond what you can even ask or imagine.

“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called…” Ephesians 1:18 NLT

A Wonderful Future

The apostle Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus that the eyes of their hearts would be opened. He wanted them to be able to envision the hope and future they have in God. Or, as another Bible version reads, “the riches of his glorious inheritance” (Ephesians 1:18 NIV).

Paul wanted God’s people to understand that there’s something beyond what we live right now! He wanted them to believe in a glorious future.

When I feel unsettled in my spirit, the very first thing I do is check my heart. I look inside to make sure my restlessness isn’t the product of ungratefulness.

Have I told God how much I appreciate His blessings? Have I acknowledged how very good He’s been to me?

I thank God for His goodness. I make sure He knows how very grateful I am for the many ways He loves and cares for me.

Open My Eyes to See

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20

After I’ve done a heart check and offered thanks to God, I ask Him to open my eyes and show me what lies beyond my current sphere, what I can’t see with my natural eyes.

What am I missing? What is He calling me to? How can I step towards it?

If you’re feeling unsettled, go to God with a thankful heart and ask Him for eyes to see what’s ahead. Ask for His light to shine into your heart and reveal what it will take to enter that promising future.

Stir Your Faith and Believe

“Jesus looked at them intently and said, ‘Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.’”  Matthew 19:26

Maybe now is simply the time to pray and believe what God is showing you. Stir your faith and remember that with God, nothing is impossible!

Or perhaps now is the time to prepare for the future. Will you need more schooling? Do you need to maneuver your finances to accommodate what’s ahead? Listen closely to God and take steps to be ready to step into new things.

Be thankful for your blessings today but press into what lies ahead. The timing may not be quite yet, but your future is bright when you are on His path.

Pray

 “God, I thank You for all the ways You care for me. Help me to see and believe beyond my current situation and into the good things You have planned for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

This article is an edited excerpt from Through the Valley—Move Your Life Forward in God, a 40-day devotional from Laura Woodworth. Find this and other inspirational resources at LauraWoodworth.com.