Often when we are young in our teens and early twenties, we have a confidence, a belief in ourselves that we can conquer the world, that we can change the world, that we can make a difference. That is good and it is healthy. It is also true. We can make a difference; we can change the world. However, there is only one condition attached to this, if we want to do what is right and good and change the world for the better, we can only do it with God.
Our greatest stress and trouble comes from trying to change the world on our terms. What do our terms look like? Well our terms usually are focused on ourselves. We are looking inward; we are changing the world for what is in it for me. We are desperately trying to suit ourselves. When we do this we are actually thinking that we can make ourselves happy.
However, if we stop and take time to look at what it looks like if we are trying to change the world on Gods terms we discover that often it is almost the complete opposite to what it looks like on our terms. In Gods terms we are trying to change the world, to conquer the world for the good of others, for our families, for our local communities, for our country, for all of humanity and for God.
If we remain focused on Gods plan, we are filled with a never-ending energy; our hearts have a fire that can never be put out. If we focus on our plan it is never sustainable. We run out of energy. We get caught up in the world. Then we try to deal with the problems that this creates by creating a fantasy world. We can do this in all sorts of ways, drinking, drugs, gambling, pornography, materialism, all these things take us away from reality. We want to avoid reality because deep within us we recognise that we are not working with Gods plan for our lives.
The brilliant thing about Gods plan for our lives is that it doesn’t matter what our attitude has been, we can start working the plan today. It doesn’t matter what our lives have been in the past. If we decide today that we are still going to change the World but on Gods terms, then everything is possible. Everything is possible with God. One of the other amazing things about Gods plans are that time doesn’t matter. God will give you whatever time you need when you are working on his plan. So, if you are past your teens and twenties don’t worry in the least, you can change the world, you can conquer the world, you can do this up until the very day that God calls you home.
God calls us home to him when we have worked on his plan and if you remember the parable that Jesus told of the men working for the vineyard owner, God decides what the reward is for the work done. He doesn’t measure time; he measures the fervour (fire) in your heart.
St Teresa of Avila told us “Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
When we work on God’s plan, we are his body. So after reading this, should you be eighteen or eighty, be brave, remember God wants you to conquer the world, to work on his plan, to be his body. Everything is possible with God. We pray come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the Earth.
John 16:29-33
His disciples said, 'Now you are speaking plainly and not using veiled language. Now we see that you know everything and need not wait for questions to be put into words; because of this we believe that you came from God.”
Jesus answered them: “Do you believe at last?”
Listen; the time will come -- indeed it has come already -- when you are going to be scattered, each going his own way and leaving me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
I have told you all this so that you may find peace in me. In the world you will have hardship, but be courageous: I have conquered the world.
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