Is it time to move on?

Has God ever prompted you to look for a new job? Has He ever directed you to move to a new home or go somewhere for a ministry?

The God of the universe is the same today as when He created the world. He is still creating, He is still providing for those He created and He is still at work in the world. He has a plan for each person and He needs our cooperation in order for His plans to come to fruition. 

My husband was recently called by God into full-time ministry - it's exciting to know that we are working with God toward ministering to the needs of others, but, in this case, His call also meant that we had to move. 

In June 2012 we moved into a parsonage two hours away from our home, our son and his family and all the friends we had made over the years. It wasn't an easy thing to do, but we have been obedient and are looking forward to working with God on this new venture.

It seems like maybe it was easier for the Israelites as they traveled through the desert. God's presence was literally with them in the tabernacle. When He was ready to move on, He gave them a signal, they pulled up stakes, packed everything and hit the road. He led them in the direction He wanted them to go - no questions asked. When His presence stopped, they set up their tents, unpacked and lived their lives in that place until He was ready to move them again. They were so focused on God and what He wanted that they didn't even question Him. They just obeyed and followed His lead.

There were so many folks in the Bible who were willing to move to keep in step with God and a few who serve as a reminder of what happens when we're not obedient.

Adam and Eve are the first examples of disobedience. They had it made. They were in a direct relationship with God and He provided all they needed in the Garden of Eden until they opted to disobey Him. Soon they were packing their fig leaves and moving out of that place of safety and provision. 

Jonah was asked by God to go to Nineveh and preach repentance to the people who lived there, but instead he chose to run the other direction and we know that God soon redirected him using a large fish. God had a plan and Jonah was chosen by God to help carry-out that plan. It would have been easier for him to just do what God asked him to do, but his disobedience serves as a reminder to us. God's plans will not be thwarted.

Abram willingly left his homeland when God asked him to move on. Through Abraham and Sarah, God's plans for the nation of Israel were fulfilled. 

Moses tried to force God's plans to free the Israelites from forced labor sooner than God wanted and he then fled to Midian until God called him back to Egypt to free the people of Israel. 

Daniel was forced into exile in Babylon, but God had a plan for His people even in the midst of their captivity. God used Daniel's move to His glory.

Naomi and her daughter-in-law, Ruth, moved from Moab back to the land of Judah and God's plans for the lineage of a savior for the world were put in place through that move, because Ruth married Boaz and became the grandmother of David.

After Jesus was born and King Herod was seeking to kill all the children born in Bethlehem, Joseph was instructed by God in a dream to move Mary and Jesus to Egypt for their safety. They later moved to Nazareth.

The disciples were told to move when the persecution of Christians began shortly after the birth of the church. Had they stayed in Jerusalem, the "good news" wouldn't have spread throughout the world.

God definitely moves people into areas where He has plans. He moves people for a variety of reasons - some because of their disobedience, others move because of a rescue operation. Some are called to move because God needs a leader in a specific area and still others move to spread the gospel message. 

We need wisdom and discernment when we sense God asking us to relocate, start a new job or start a new ministry. The wisdom we need comes from God and as we spend time in prayer and fellowship with Him, we are assured that we are moving according to His will. 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  (Jeremiah 29:11)

Sometimes the only way that we can really believe that God is leading us into a new pathway is by looking back. 

When a job loss prompted my husband and I to move 12 years ago, we asked for God's direction and He led us to the perfect location. Our time in that home was filled with blessings and we experienced God's provision in the midst of financial troubles. He did indeed prosper us and He gave us hope and a future. 

If God took care of us 12 years ago, we know that He will take care of us today. He hasn't changed and He knows what is best for us and all those folks we encounter. 

It is exciting to be part of God's plans and I pray that you have opportunities to "move-on" with Him.