.

Needless to say they have been quite a success since they joined up together while in college in Arkansas. With success comes the temptation to fall in love with success and to forget what is really important. Success, fame, wealth, and position can be intoxicating and even addicting. Once you have experienced these things you are tempted to want more and certainly never want to give them up. This is why celebrities including musicians, athletes, and politicians are constantly coming out of retirement. Being away from the spotlight is just too hard for them.

Heather Payne of Point of Grace knows what it is like to win awards, having won many. She knows what it is like to have fans; they have thousands. She knows what it is like to travel the world and earn a good living while doing it; she has done it for 17 years. Evidently she knows something else as well; she knows that to be in the center of God’s will is more important than anything else.

Last month Heather Payne a founding member of the group chose to walk away. Not because she was mad at the other members, not to go solo, and not because the group was not flourishing but because she felt it was the will of God for her life.

Here is a statement she made concerning her retirement: "I have given it my all and in the process I have realized that I can't do it all," she wrote. "As much as I have tried to be super-wife, super-mommy and super-singer, my efforts came up empty. I now know that I haven't been excellent at any of it. The girls have sacrificed and I have sacrificed, but mostly my family has sacrificed, and to continue like this is not God's will."

I love that paragraph it is rich with lessons for all of us. There is much of spiritual significance for all of us to grab a hold of from her statement concerning how we determine what is God’s will and what is not:

1) You can be giving your all and be successful in the world’s eyes and still not be in the will of God.

2) For most of us we would do well to realize now that we can not do it all. That only leaves us in a dizzying world of overwork.

3) God never meant for us to be everything to all people and when we over commit our efforts come up empty and nothing is done with the excellence that gives God the glory he deserves in our lives.

4) When we attempt to do too much and get out of the center of God’s will others and most of the time innocent others suffer.

Many will never understand why someone would leave a group that they helped form, one that was still traveling and having success. A group that is very relevant in regards to ministry especially to young ladies. As I think of those last two sentences I find one more lesson to be learned from this person of faith. That lesson is that to be in the center of God’s will you can’t worry about what others think or what they will think of you. You need only concern yourself with your God who knows best for you and loves you more than anyone. We need only please God. We should live our lives out for an audience of one.

Perhaps you know it is time for a change, God has made that clear to you. If so I want to pray for you to have the courage to say this is it. I am moving in this direction because this is where God is leading me. Here are some thoughts on that process:

• Pray about it, take your time. Perhaps even get away from what you are doing for a while to rid yourself of distractions.
• Speak to a good Christian friend about what is on your heart. Only you know the will of God for your life, but others can see your blind spots.
• Once you are sure of God’s direction don’t hesitate. Waiting unnecessarily will lead to doubt which leads to indecision which will lead you to confusion.

Life is filled with different seasons, a time for everything. May we all follow His guidance and find His will. May we all have the courage to follow it. Thanks Heather for giving us good example to follow.

Scripture: Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, please and perfect will.”

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Help us to take the time to seek your purpose for our life. Help us to have the courage to take the steps that lead us toward you and that purpose. Help us to not be motivated by self but moved by a desire to serve you and know you more closely. We ask these things in the name of Christ, Amen.