Chasing Donkeys: What to Do When God Redirects Your StepsSample

The Chase is On

Have you ever been so convinced you needed something that any attempt by friends and family to change your mind was just wasted words? There was no degree of logic strong enough to change your mind, so you continued to press on. That happened with the Israelites. They were convinced that they needed a king just like all of the nations surrounding them. They kept asking for one, and despite any response from the prophets or from God Himself, they were relentless in their request. Eventually, God told the prophet Samuel to “give them a king.”

But where and how would Samuel begin his search? God told Samuel that He would lead him to the man He wanted to be the very first king of his chosen nation.

Enter Saul. Yes…King Saul. Most readers of the Bible tend to remember Saul as the King who tried to skewer David with a spear. But in reality, he was the man God had selected to be the very first king of his chosen nation. That’s quite an honor. And yet, Saul had no intention whatsoever of becoming a king. In fact, when all of this began to unfold, he was busy chasing donkeys. Through a simple task, God redirected Saul’s steps into something greater than he could ever expect or imagine for his life. He can do the same for you.

The focus of this plan is to remind those who feel like God may be in the process of redirecting their steps that there is a greater purpose just ahead. Maybe you have an inner nudge that there’s more to life than living and dying and you’re just trying to make it through the day (per Steven Curtis Chapman), yet, you aren’t sure about what you should do next. In this plan, we’ll look at four simple “starter” strategies to help you move toward what God has prepared in advance for you to do for His glory. (Ephesian 2:10)

As you read, keep this in mind: The goal is not getting clear on the “what” but rather the “Who.” God used donkeys to move Saul to a place where he would have a personal encounter with the prophet Samuel who would represent God and His leadership in Saul’s life. Regardless of the degree of uncertainty for what’s next for you, the one consistent component is that God wants to be a vital part of the journey, and He wants to walk with you one step at a time.

Reflect:

What “donkeys” are you chasing? What do you feel like God is leading you away from? What do you sense He might be leading you towards? What is your next logical step?

Prayer:

Lord, Jesus, thank you for creating me with a plan and a purpose. More than anything, please allow me to seek and see YOU before any purpose or plan. Please direct my steps as I move closer to what you have in store for my life as a vessel for magnifying your name.