Partnership with God
by Tammy Iund Woodard
God often asks us for what is good in order to give us what is best. Read the Pearl Necklace Story. Hopefully you took the time to read it because spoiler alert: I’m going to share the ending.
“He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure.”
“So it is with our Heavenly Father. Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the other hand but do believe this one thing.................. God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place.”
There’s much to be said about the children of Israel partnering with God to build the tabernacle. But I love Exodus 25:2 - “Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them.”
That verse is the start of partnering with God for His best in our lives.
Psalms 37:23 states, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” I was chatting with a friend, the other day, about trying to hear from God and find His direction. She said, and I paraphrase, we pray and then we step as though we have God’s approval and He will shut the doors and change our course as necessary. I love that. I love that I have a responsibility in the partnership to know the word of God. I have a responsibility to be in relationship with God so I know His voice. Then as I move forward with my best understanding of how God is directing, God will course correct as necessary. That is partnering with God.
Another perspective on partnering with God is to understand that God will bring things into our lives for a season. Sometimes it’s hard to let go of things that God ordained in our life. God will ask us to let go of those things, or lay them down, because they were for a season and that season is over. I think of it like this. When I lived in Spokane, we had distinct seasons, especially for summer and winter. In the winter, it would often be well below zero. You don’t go outside in those temperatures without a hat, scarf, gloves and coat. You will have frostbite quickly without protective outerwear. Now move into summer when temperatures can reach over 100 degrees. If I wear that protective outerwear in the summer season, I’ll die. I’ll suffocate, dehydrate, etc from heat. The very thing that will save my life in one season, will kill me if I bring it into the next season. It was meant for a season. Now I’m not saying that it’s always that dramatic. But if we are trying to bring things from one season of our life, into the season of our life where they don’t belong, we will feel frustrated. It is an example of us taking something good, but not fully operating in the best that God has for us.
My final example of partnering with God is to understand what is our responsibility in the work of God. 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 states, “I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.” Some say it as, stay in your lane. Basically, I need to know if God is asking me to plant, water or harvest in any given situation. The best example I can give is when we share our God story with people. I have had situations where I felt compelled to share my God story with someone. I don’t know what became of that seed I planted. There wasn’t a conversion on the spot, but someone else will come along and water and someone else may harvest. I have had other times where I’ve had the honor of introducing someone to Jesus because clearly someone else had done the planting before me.
The bottom line is we co-labor with God in His work here on earth. The plan of God is for us to ask “What is God saying to me?” and then to respond with, “How can I partner with God to carry out the plan of God?”
Call to Action
Pray, read and reflect on the following scriptures this week:
Exodus - Pray and let God direct you where to read in Exodus this week.
Psalms 37:23
1 Corinthians 3:6-9
Reflection
Where have you recognized where God has gone with you?
What does partnering with God look like in your life? What does partnering with God look like for ministry?
Do you have anything good in your life, that God is asking you to lay down for what is best?
Do you have anything God gave you for 1 season, that you have brought into the next season? Are you experiencing frustration with that?
