Revisiting the Right Place - The Crosswalk Devotional - February 1
Revisiting the Right Place
By Alexis A. Goring
“From one man he made all the people of the world. Now they live all over the earth. He decided exactly when they should live. And he decided exactly where they should live. God did this so that people would seek him. And perhaps they would reach out for him and find him. They would find him even though he is not far from any of us.”- Acts 17:26-27 NIRV
Did you know that the Bible says God determines where we will live? It is a beautiful truth to know that God places us in the right place at the right time, not only because He knows what we need, but because He wants us to find our way to Him. He knows that the people and ministries where He places us are exactly what we need to thrive and to grow close to Him. I have found this to be true.
I grew up in what they call the DMV. It stands for Washington, D.C./Maryland/Virginia. It’s a beautiful place to live and the capital of the United States of America is nestled in the center. I know the convenience of taking the Metro Rail into D.C. or driving less than 30 minutes to spend time in Annapolis and shop in one of my favorite malls. I also appreciate the fact that the gorgeous City of Alexandria (Virginia) is only a short drive away on the beltway. I like being able to be in the country as quickly as I could be in the nearby city. The DMV, in all of its beauty, diversity, and wonderful places, is where I call home.
But around my early teen years, I started to feel like I needed to try something new. I wanted to expand my horizons. I felt like my life had been mapped out for me and I craved the adventure of seeing new places. I wanted to continue my education elsewhere. But around that time, God had birthed my devotional writing ministry and I realized that God had me exactly where He wanted me to be. He confirmed that I was already in the right place at the right time. As I attended the high school and then the college that my parents recommended, I began to see what God had in mind. Then I didn’t want to leave, even when there were opportunities to continue my education elsewhere.
Looking back on those years, I see clearly that the Christian private schools I attended gave me the Bible-based education for the work I do today. The classes helped solidify my faith in God and I gave my life to Jesus Christ at age 15. The following year, God brought me through a major health crisis and helped me heal. When I was well enough to return to school, I had a whole new appreciation for life and a fire for wanting everyone to know Jesus Christ. This is when my devotional writing ministry began. As I moved on to a Christian college, I learned from some of the best professors and connected with great classmates. Together, we experienced the goodness of God.
A few years later, God led me to join a congregation where I felt the Holy Spirit moving. The preacher was dynamic and did a great job leading us into a closer relationship with Christ. It was founded as a Bible study a few years before I joined and grew so much so that they had to stop meeting in a home and instead rent out a high school on the weekend. After they outgrew the high school, they realized they needed to call a pastor to better lead them. On the first Sabbath of our pastor preaching to us in the church we were renting, more than 700 people attended! Online broadcasts drew people from other states as they witnessed young adults on fire for the Lord and wanted to be a part of it. Later, when the doors to our own building opened, more than 1,100 people came to our first church service—leaving standing room only! The move of God was and still is real. I am grateful to be part of this ministry.
Through those years, even when I felt restless and ready for a change, God showed me that He placed me in the DMV area for a reason. I am grateful that He’s used the people, places and ministries here to support me and shape me into the person He’s called me to be. I am thankful that He’s helped me grow closer to Him through it all and for the encouragement I’ve received from His people. Most of all, I am grateful that God knows what He’s doing. He truly is our Father who knows best with our best interest at heart.
Will there be a time when God calls me to move out of the DMV? Only God knows. Will I go where God leads me? Definitely! But for now, I know I am in the right place at the right time, thankful for His leading and provision.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
Have you ever felt restless and ready for a new adventure? How does knowing that God determines where you will live, impact your life?
Further Reading:
Jeremiah 29:11
Proverbs 3:5-6
Proverbs 20:24
Psalm 37:23-24
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Zbynek Pospisil
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