Category Archives: God’s guidance

Jan29

True Wisdom

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wis·dom (noun) [wizdem]

“the ability to see into the future the consequences of your choices in the present”

The Noticer; Andy Andrews

While we can’t “see into the future,” we do know the One who holds our future in His hands.  How many times have we made decisions on our own, without seeking God’s counsel, and suffered terrible consequences as a result?  His wisdom provides insight into all areas of our lives, including finances, relationships, marriage, health, time management, friendships, career, school, and child rearing.  He scripted your entire life’s story, from before your birth to your last breath. He knows the unique purpose for which He created you, and He definitely knows what is best for your life.

Seek God’s wisdom for your choices today, and the future consequences of your choices in the present will be divine and not disastrous.

For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 2:6 (NIV1984)

Jun11

Unsearchable Knowledge

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‘

‘Call to me and I will answer you

And tell you great and

Unsearchable

Things you do not know.’

Jeremiah 33:3(NIV1984)

 

With the internet at our fingertips, we can quickly and easily search for the answers to most any question that crosses our mind. Internet searches can be used in place of dictionaries, encyclopedias, phone books, recipe books, newspapers, maps, magazines, or most any type of reference material you can imagine.

A quick inquiry for a listing of “search engines” reveals that there are hundreds of options available to assist you in your quest for knowledge from the internet. There are search engines to help you with general information, medicine, law, accounting, books, movies, news, finance, business, school, jobs, real estate, and shopping to name a few. In fact, the Google search engine has become so popular that the term “Google” has found its place in our dictionaries as a verb: “to search the Internet for (information on a person, organization, etc.)” In our home, you will often hear us say, “Let’s Google that” to mean that we should look something up on the internet.

While the vast internet seems to have an endless supply of information available at the click of a mouse, there is a type of knowledge that can’t be “Googled.” This type of information is unsearchable
in human terms. This class of unsearchable knowledge is the divine wisdom from our Heavenly Father, which can only be revealed by God’s supernatural inspiration. Our questions about making the right decisions, doing the right thing, taking the right path in our life’s journey, choosing the right occupation, or finding our purpose in life, are all in the competent realm of God’s holy “search engine.”

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are my ways higher than your ways

And my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:9

Understanding how to tap into this heavenly help is important. By spending time reading God’s Word and talking with Him in prayer, you will begin to discern His holy guidance in your life. Sometimes He will reveal His answers to your questions through scripture, and other times He will use people around you to speak His answers into your life. The Bible instructs us about how to gain His knowledge:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,

Who gives generously to all without finding fault,

And it will be given to him.”

James 1:5

 

God’s wisdom is available for anyone…you simply have to ask for it. In the same way that you must type in your query to search the internet, you must tap into the Heavenly Father in order to search for His knowledge. His simple, “user-friendly” instructions are as follows: 1.) Ask, 2.) Seek, 3.) Knock

 

“Ask and it will be given to you;

Seek and you will find;

Knock and the door will be opened to you. “

Matthew 7:7

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: “Here am I…”
Isaiah 58:9

 

Jun7

Life’s Road Signs

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“Set up road signs;
   put up guideposts.
Take note of the highway,
   the road that you take…

Jeremiah 31:21
(NIV1984)

 

I was looking over my son’s shoulder as he diligently studied for his driver’s test. His thick DMV manual contains multiple pages of road signs, which he must understand before he begins learning how to navigate behind the wheel. I can tell from examining the well-worn pages of his book that he is taking this test seriously and wants to learn all that is required of him in order to pass this important test.

It’s too bad that we don’t have road signs which tell us how to accurately steer the course of or our lives. Sometimes we could use a bold “Do Not Enter” or “U Turn” sign to guide us in the right direction.

Even though we don’t have these physical signs lining our daily paths, we can receive guidance from our Heavenly Father through His Word. The Bible is our manual for living life. By reading it and constantly learning from it, we will gain the necessary wisdom to perceive God’s direction for our lives.

Psalm 119:105 tell us, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” His word illuminates the direction we should take in our lives. As you read His Word, ask Him to reveal His instructions to you. Many examples from the Bible show us how great men and women of faith asked God to lead and guide them. Here are just a few:

  • “Direct my footsteps according to your word…” (Psalm 119:133)
  • “I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.” (Psalm 119: 125)
  • “Make your face shine upon your servant and teach me your decrees.” (Psalm 119: 135)
  • “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” (Psalm 25:4,5)

On a road trip, one wrong turn can cause big problems in your goal of reaching your destination. Similarly, seemingly small decisions can have a major impact in the course of your life. Your Heavenly Father holds the road map for your life. He has equipped you for a special purpose, and He will lovingly reveal His plan to you. If you ask God for His guidance, He is faithful to answer your prayers. His promises are true, and you can trust Him to provide clear instructions to His children. “Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for Him.” (Psalm 25: 12)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

Lean not to your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3: 5 – 8

Jun5

Heavenly Help

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God is within her,

She will not fall;

God will help her

At the break of day.

Psalm 46:5

 

As the sun rises today, do you find yourself desperately in need of God’s help? Perhaps you are in turmoil over financial worries, or possibly you are navigating though a tumultuous period with a rebellious teen. Your struggle could be due to the heartache of marital distress, or you might be exhausted from battling a ravaging disease or illness. Maybe you are at a crossroad in your life, and you are struggling over a major decision. No matter what type of battle you are facing, if you are a child of God, He is ready and willing to help you. In Isaiah 41: 13 He reminds us, “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.'” Take hold of your Heavenly Father’s outstretched hand. Accept the help He wants to provide.

 

Let go of your cares and worries and relax in the arms of your Savior. Receive His peace. Stop trying to fight life’s battles on your own. Allow Him to take the lead. Rest in the assurance that He will help you, and His promises are true. “He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth.” (Psalm 46:9), and
He is BIG enough to handle your personal “war.”

 

In the midst of your turmoil He says to you, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) At this moment, be still before your Heavenly Father. Accept His peace…and His help. Feel His divine presence within you. Right now, take hold of His hand…He will not let you fall.

Mar4

Step into the Water

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“When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.

Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before…”

Joshua 3:3-4

The Ark of the Covenant was a symbol of God’s presence and power to the Israelites. It was their most sacred treasure. The ark was a golden rectangular box which was constructed to the exact specifications as God had commanded. The contents inside the ark included the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments (representing God’s authority), a jar of manna (representing God’s miraculous provision), and Aaron’s staff (representing God’s power). As the Israelites were heading to the Promised Land, they were commanded to follow the ark wherever it was carried by the priests. God instructed Joshua, the Israelite’s leader, concerning which direction the priests should head with the ark.

On the day that the Israelites entered the Promised Land of Canaan after forty years of wandering, God’s “roadmap” for the priests with the ark led to the banks of the Jordan River. The Jordan River at this time was at flood stage. Yet with the river overflowing its banks, God gave these specific instructions: in order to cross the river into the Promised Land, the priests had to step into the water with the ark.

As soon as the priests stepped their feet into the raging river, the water from upstream stopped flowing. The entire nation of Israel walked across a dry riverbed into the land which God had promised them forty years before. This was the second time in which God had miraculously parted the waters for the nation of Israel. This testimony of God’s supernatural power served to strengthen the Israelites faith in God and remind them that He keeps His promises. His presence was with them through their entire journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. He was with them at the end of their wanderings just like He was with them from the very beginning.

Today we do not have a golden “Ark of the Covenant” to follow in our wanderings. But we do have God’s word, His presence, and His power. Sometimes in our journey through life, we come upon a “raging river” or some form of roadblock. When we approach this type of obstacle, we must trust God in His guidance to us. He will faithfully bring us through to the other side if we simply “take a step into the water.” Often God provides no solution to our problems until we trust Him and move ahead with what we know in our hearts we should do. By taking a step of obedience, we display our faith in God, and then He clears the path ahead.

What are the “raging rivers” you are facing in your life? Follow God’s direction so you will know which way to go, “since you have never been this way before.” Step into the water, and allow God to show his powerful and miraculous ways to you.

Your Word is a lamp to my feet
       and a light for my path.

Psalm 119:105


Feb24

Measureless Wisdom

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God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight,

And a breadth of understanding

As measureless as the sand on the seashore.

1 Kings 4: 29

 

Imagine the Creator of the Universe offering you this proposition:

“Ask for whatever you want me to give you…”

What do you think your request would be? Abundant Wealth? Fame? Happiness? Health? A passing grade on your next test? A luxurious new home? A winning lottery ticket? A fancy sports car? A wide screen TV?

When given the chance to have anything in the world, Solomon asked for “a discerning heart” in order to govern God’s chosen people and to distinguish between right and wrong. His request for wisdom pleased God so much that not only did He grant Solomon’s desire, but He also gave him what he did not ask for – wealth and honor. Furthermore, God promised to give him a long life if he obeyed His statues and commands like his father, David.

Notice that Solomon’s request was based upon his desire to carry out his job as king. He realized that if he had discernment he could lead well and make wise decisions. He knew that God had chosen him for that lofty position, but he thought of himself as a “little child” who didn’t know how to fulfill his royal duties. Imagine that! The one man on earth, whose renown for knowledge has been passed down through the ages, felt inadequate and ill-equipped when he was tapped as the king of Israel. The responsibility of ruling a great nation whose numbers were too numerous to count was overwhelming to Solomon, but he wasn’t asking God to do the job for him; he merely asked for the personal resources which would allow God to do the job through him.

Another interesting thing about Solomon’s request is that he asked for “heart knowledge” not “head knowledge.” He wanted a discerning heart, which implies “God-centered” wisdom, as opposed to “self-centered” wisdom. Intelligence without compassion can be a dangerous thing, but wisdom applied through the filter of a heart filled with God’s love is divinely inspired and can impact the world for eternity.

Throughout most of Solomon’s reign, he applied his wisdom well because He continually sought God’s guidance. For the nation of Israel, the fruits of this wisdom were peace, prosperity and security. During the time of his rule, we see a great example of what can happen when a nation is obedient to God’s commands and trusting Him for direction.

Another example we see from Solomon’s life is what can happen when God’s wisdom is not applied to all areas of our lives. God granted Solomon a wise and discerning heart, but it is clear that this gift of wisdom did not guarantee that he would not make mistakes. Solomon married hundreds of pagan women in order to seal many foreign agreements. This went against not only his father’s last instructions to him, but also God’s direct commands. He allowed his wives to affect his loyalty to God, and his actions remind us how easy it is to know what is right and yet not do it.

Knowing what actions are required of us means little if we do not have the will to follow through on that knowledge. Solomon was wise at ruling the nation of Israel, but he was foolish in his personal life. Although he was the wisest man ever to walk the earth, he allowed the influence of unbelievers to ultimately bring tragedy to the entire nation of Israel. One of the greatest kings of Israel fell because he did not turn from his sins. From Solomon’s example we can learn this important principle: your gifts, talents, abilities and strengths won’t be of much benefit if you fail to deal with your weaknesses.

God promises to supply all our needs if we put His kingdom, His principles and His interests first. While He does not promise us great riches, He does promise to satisfy our deepest needs if we place His will as our top priority.

Is God is asking you to take on a role in your life that seems too big for you to handle? Do you feel overwhelmed with the mountain of responsibilities facing you? Before you begin your ascent, spend time in God’s Word and on your knees before your Heavenly Father. Ask him for a “discerning heart” so that you may be well equipped to take on this role and achieve His goals in the process.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God…” James 1:5a

 

 


Feb17

God’s Guidance

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

Lean not to your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3: 5 – 6 (NIV)

 

Leaning implies placing your whole weight onto something or someone. You must totally trust in whatever or whomever you lean into. By leaning into the Lord for guidance and not into your own ideas, you are placing all your faith in Him. You are resting on Him and trusting in Him.

We sometimes feel like we are the only ones who know what is BEST for us. We feel like we can’t trust anyone – even God – to make important decisions. But God knows what is best for us and is a better judge of our needs than we are! He knows every intimate detail of our lives, and He knows our entire life story. He knows the perfect answer for our situation.

If you have an important decision to make, you should lean into the Lord for His guidance, wisdom and direction. Instead of asking everyone else BUT HIM, He should be the first one you turn to for help. Sometimes His answer will come through the wise counsel of others or through His Word.

Turn to your Heavenly Father for wisdom. Bring your decisions to Him in prayer, and use the Bible as your guide. Then follow God’s lead as He makes your path straight ahead of you. He will guide and protect you along the way. His way is always best! Lean into Him!

 

    

Feb16

Wonderful Works

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As you do not know the path of the wind

Or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,

So you cannot understand the work of God,

The Maker of all things.

Ecclesiastes 11:5

 

Dear Lord,

“I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.” (Ps 139: 14 – 16) Amen.

Trust your Creator with all the intricate details of your life.
He knows each chapter in the book of your life, and He knows the purpose for which he made you. You are never hidden from Him…He’s with you every step of the way.

Feb15

How to Be Profitable and Productive in Life

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I, Wisdom, will make

the hours of your day more profitable

and the years of your life more fruitful.

Proverbs 9:11

 

When I was growing up, I had a pet hamster named “Charlie Brown.” I loved to watch him run on his treadmill. The big circular wheel would spin round and round as he ran, allowing him to “exercise,” but he remained in the exact same place.

Lately I feel like I’m on a giant hamster wheel in life. I run and run throughout my days, but I never seem to get anywhere or accomplish what is important. These are the “sights” I see as I’m running along on my treadmill: Wake up, Do laundry, Cook, Clean, Work, Chauffer, Appointments, Practices, Cook, Go to Bed…Repeat. At the end of the day, I sometimes wonder if I ever came up for air.

I want my days to have purpose, and I want my activities to be aligned with what God wants me to achieve in life. Perhaps these are the very activities He wants me to be doing at this time, but I desire to make the minutes of each day count for eternity. It is easy to slip into auto-pilot and thoughtlessly speed through the days.

I have found that if I take time each morning to meet with my Heavenly Father, I am better able to align my agenda with His plan for my day. He promises that His wisdom will make the hours of my day more productive and the years of my life more fruitful. I know that when I begin the day like this, I feel a greater sense of accomplishment when I finally lay my head upon my pillow for the night. If I know the hours of my days have an eternal impact, I feel fulfilled in my soul. When my heart is in tune with God’s will, He makes those hours profitable and fruitful. To me there’s no greater sense of worth than this!

Take time today to step off your treadmill, and ask the Lord to direct your steps. The impact will be eternal!

A person’s steps are directed by the LORD.
   How then can anyone understand

their own way?

                                                                                Proverbs 20:24 NIV 2010

 

(clip art credits:   free google download)


Feb13

Our Awesome God

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By the word of the LORD were the heavens made,

Their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

He gathers the waters of the sea into jars;

He puts the deep into storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the LORD,

For He spoke and it came to be…

Psalm 33:6 – 9

The same God, who spoke and created the heavens, handcrafted each one of us. We are all “one-of-a-kind” and special to Him. He watches over us and knows every single detail of our lives. He’s grand enough to hold the world in His hands, but he’s caring enough to count each hair on our heads and keep a record of each teardrop that falls. He never sleeps, and He’s always on call. He knows the special purpose for which He created you. Trust your Creator to lead each step you take and be with you through any situation – loving, guiding and protecting.

No matter what we do or where we go, we can never be far from our loving Heavenly Father’s comforting presence.

Our God is awesome!