Romans 8; 28 ‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.’

DAILY READING; Luke 9:1-27; Genesis 15; Psalm 8

Dr. Nelson Bell was father in-law to Billy Graham.
Long before he ever met Billy Graham, Dr. Bell and his wife Virginia were among the earliest missionaries to China.
In 1916, they obeyed God’s call and left behind the familiarity of their home in the United States and sailed to China, which at the time was a land of mystery where only a handful of missionaries dared to go. However putting their hope and trust in God, they arrived China in December 1916. They were met with a frigid land fraught with political tension and chaos. Additionaly the superstitious Chinese people eyed the missionaries with distrust. This discouraging situation was enough to have made Dr. Bell and his wife turn back home, but rather they bravely stayed on and faithfully served God as medical missionaries. They established a hospital which existed primarily as an avenue for preaching the Gospel. Patients at the hospital who were able to, were encouraged to attend a daily chapel service.
Dr. Bell and his wife, through daily endeavoring to mirror the life of Christ, were able to eventually influence many Chinese people for Jesus. Their exemplary Christian lives also shaped the lives of their children, especially their second daughter, Ruth Bell, who would later become wife to evangelist Billy Graham.
Dr. Bell became a valued mentor to his son in-law Billy Graham. His life greatly influenced Billy Graham to become the great evangelist who positively affected millions of people around the world.

When we first step out in simple obedience to God”s call we may never know where the journey will eventually take us. But One thing we can be sure about is that everything will work together for our good.

God has our lives well planned out and it will take our obedience to connect the dots in His plan.

When God calls us to an assignment, though we may not initially see the whole picture, we need to trust Him and begin forward, taking steps of faith. We are not to lean on our understanding, but rather to trust in the Lord with all our heart.
When we follow God’s will, we are in the safest place in the world.
When we yield ourselves in complete and whole-hearted obedience to God, He will lead us inch by inch into the grand plan He has for us.

If God is going to use us, we must be willing to follow His leading.
He alone knows what He wants to accomplish in and through us. As we begin to obey Him in the simple things the bigger picture of what He has ordained for us will begin to unfold.

Following God’s plan demands time spent in prayer and study of the Word. We must take time each day to devote ourselves to seek the Lord and His will.
Indeed our willingness to follow God in complete faith and obedience will determine how well we will fulfil our destiny.

Walking by faith will sometimes take us through paths that are wrought with thickets and thorns. Storms will come, lions will roar, and fears will be confronted. But as long as we are doing what God has called us to do we will have peace and fear no evil, because we know that God is in perfect control.
Indeed as we persistently follow God’s guidance, eventually we will see the full manifestation of His plan and realize that indeed everything has been working together for our good.

PRAYER: Lord, I ask for the grace to always follow Your vision and not my own ambitions. As I do, I thank You for indeed causing everything to work together for my good in Jesus Name.

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God’s promises in Christ in your life may appear delayed, but never forget that delays are not denials. WORDBITE 222.