Listen Daily to God Who Has Planned Your Life - Zac Poonen
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Summary
The speaker advises that a preacher must regularly seek God's personal word, using the Bible as a tool for self-examination as well as ministry. Drawing from the story of Mary and Martha, he emphasizes that while serving the Lord sacrificially is commendable, the most important thing is to sit at the Lord's feet and listen. Furthermore, he cautions against complaining about others, urging believers to bring all grievances directly to the Lord for guidance.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
The habit of starting each day at the Lord's feetThe speaker shares how taking a month off to listen to God led him back to a foundational truth he learned 61 years ago: beginning every day kneeling before God and reading His word.Luke 10:39–42
Learning from Martha's good habit and her rebukeWhile Martha was busy serving sacrificially, she complained to the Lord about Mary instead of gossiping to others, which is a good habit, but Jesus gently rebuked her distraction over many things.
Choosing the best part and the danger of busynessServing the lord is good, but sitting at Jesus' feet is the best part, accomplishing far more in the long run than running around helter-skelter in activity.
Following God's job description instead of our own plansJust like reporting to a new office, every child of God must check in with the head to receive their specific job description rather than pursuing their own ambitious ministry plans.
Quitting personal ambition to seek God aloneReflecting on his own life, the speaker describes how the Lord told him to quit international preaching fame and focus on waiting quietly on God.
Christ as our foundation and righteousnessAttempts at self-examination and cleansing will crack if they are not built upon the solid foundation of being clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
God is silently planning in love for youBelievers are encouraged by the truth that God sings over them and silently plans every detail of their lives in love.
All the days of my life written in His bookGod has written our entire life path in His mind before we were ever born, carefully orchestrating our days.Psalm 139:16
Living by every word that proceeds from God's mouthJesus set the example in His ministry of living not just by past scripture, but by hearing God's fresh, present-tense word every single day.
God's careful planning seen in Christ's ancestral lineDemonstrating God's grace and planning, Jesus chose an earthly ancestral line that included unconventional and marginalized people, proving He identifies with the broken.
