Some time ago, God revealed to me that He is a big picture God and that He is equally detailed too. Why should this matter? Because for us to see the bigger story in our lives, we need understand the bigger picture and the bigger purposes of God in our lives.
Time frames our lives, and the images we paint on our life’s canvas will reflect one of two things when we come to the end of our lives here on earth; Christ’s image, or our own self-portrait.
God once showed me my life canvas. It was surrounded by a beautifully designed and detailed frame. Looking to the left, I saw I had created a massively offensive and indescribable mess. With my eyes, I followed the brush strokes on the canvas that led directly in front of me. As I attempted to continue looking right, my head and eyes could turn or look no further. But what I saw in my peripheral vision was astounding- a pencil sketched design with detailed patterns. I couldn’t interpret the designs, but I knew it was God’s future plans for me… all precisely hand-drawn.
God has plans sketched for each of us (Jeremiah 1:15), but it’s up to us to either follow God’s plans, plans that reflects his glory, or follow our own that reflect our random choices. We each have control of our paintbrush, but when we allow God to guide our hand so that His plans and purposes can be fulfilled, we truly reflect His glory and image.
Imagine this- when we are obedient to God’s directions, He guides our hand; our paintbrush. And when He chooses to incorporate various techniques, colors, and add fine-brushed details to accomplish His purpose on our canvas, we submit our hand to His will. When we maintain a flexible hand and heart throughout our life experiences, we avoid becoming hardened and stiff. Imagine how we will then see our big picture life reflect the very image of God and His story… and His glory.
Our bigger life story is only found in God’s story.
It is through faith and trust that we let God be God- the Master Creator. He is faithful to complete the work He’s begun in our big picture.
God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I cleaned up my act, he gave me a fresh start. Indeed, I’ve kept alert to God’s ways; I haven’t taken God for granted.
Every day I review the ways he works, I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I’m watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.
2 Samuel 22:21-25(MSG)
Are you ready to surrender control of your paintbrush and let God guide your hand in the big picture of your life? Imagine what it would look like if you did….
“…because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”Philippians 1:5-8
