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Tuesday, August 31, 2021

God Will Make a Way

In Proverbs 3:5-6 I read, Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." (NIV)


I may be facing difficulties or direction. But if I trust God and keep on moving forward in faith, even when I don’t see a way, he will provide the path.


God’s plan will become more understandable as I head down the path he sets before me, but understanding is not a requirement for me to start down the path.


Proverbs 4:18 says, “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day” (NIV).


One day I will stand in the full light of eternity and view the big picture. I’ll see God’s purpose behind the path he specifically chose for me.


In the meantime, do what Proverbs 3:5-6 says: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (NIV).


Be patient. God knows what he’s doing. He knows what is best for me. And I can trust him because he’s good.


I may not be able to see the end result, but God can. All those problems, heartaches, difficulties, and delays, all the things that make you ask “why”, will one day be clear in the light of God’s love.


But for now, I should be learning to trust God. So go ahead and keep heading down that path he’s laid out for me.


In summary, trust in the LORD with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding; in all my ways submit to him, and he will make my paths straight. I may be facing difficulties or direction. But if I trust God and keep on moving forward in faith, even when I don’t see a way, he will provide the path. As I head down the path he sets before me, I begin to understand. However understanding is not a requirement for me to start down the path. One day I will stand in the full light of eternity and view the big picture. I’ll see God’s purpose behind the path he specifically chose for me. In the meantime, trust in the LORD and lean not on my own understanding; submit to him, and he will make my paths straight. Be patient. God knows what he’s doing. He knows what is best for me. And I can trust him because he’s good. I may not be able to see the end result, but God can. All those problems will one day be clear in the light of God’s love. For now, I should be learning to trust God. So go ahead and keep heading down that path he’s laid out for me.


So I should trust in the Lord with all my heart. Never rely on what I think I know. Remember the Lord in everything I do, and he will show me the right way. I need to simply obey the Lord and refuse to do wrong.


Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 


Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Monday, August 30, 2021

God Speaks in Different Ways

In Job 33:14 I read, God does speak, sometimes one way and sometimes another, even though people may not understand it." (NCV)


God designed me to hear his voice. In a sense, there is a “receiver” in me that allows me to get guidance from God.


What channels does God use? The primary way that God speaks is through the Bible. This is why it’s important to read the Bible every day. God’s will is found in his Word. That’s how I will know if an impression I get is a message from God.


God also speaks through godly teachers. Situations where it felt like the teacher was speaking directly to me? At that moment, God was speaking directly to me.


God also speaks through other Christians. He even speaks through me. When I stay tuned in to him and learn his Word, sometimes God will use me to say things to people that he wants them to hear. It’s not something reserved only for pastors; God speaks through every believer at different times.


God also speaks through my circumstances and pain.


Job 33:14 says, “God does speak, sometimes one way and sometimes another, even though people may not understand it” (NCV).


God is speaking all the time. But I have to listen. Tune in to God, and he will lead me on the right path.


In summary God speaks in different ways, I just don’t always understand it. God designed me to hear his voice. There is a “receiver” in me that allows me to get guidance from God. God uses different channels to communicate. The primary way that God speaks is through his Word, the Bible. God’s will is found in his Word. That’s how I will know if an impression I get is a message from God. God also speaks through godly teachers. God also speaks through other Christians including myself. When I stay tuned in to him and learn his Word, sometimes God will use me to say things to people that he wants them to hear. And God also speaks through my circumstances and pain. God is speaking all the time. But I have to learn to listen and tune in to Him. When I do, he will lead me on the right path.


God speaks again and again. He spoke to Job in dreams and visions, through suffering, and by mediating angels. God will do the same for me. I just need to listen to Him. God speaks, sometimes one way and sometimes another, even though I may not understand it. The four channels that God uses: First he speaks to me through his Word, the guidebook for life. It shows me the right step to take. If I'm not getting into his Word, it's as if God is getting a busy signal when he wants to speak. Secondly he speaks to me through teachers and other Christians. Somehow, in a way only he can, He uses teaching to meet the needs of the people who are listening. Thirdly he will speak through impressions, but not all. Only the ones that will match His word. Lastly he speaks through circumstances. In all of those he will make course corrections. Realizing and taking advantage of these ways will help me reap blessings and prepare me for how he wants to use me.


Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 


Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Friday, August 27, 2021

Expect God to Answer My Prayers

In James 1:5-8 I read, If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him . . . but . . . if you don’t ask with faith, don’t expect the Lord to give you any solid answer." (TLB)


God wants to direct me in life, but two things need to line up: I need to ask the right person, God, and I need to ask with and right attitude in faith, trusting him to provide the answer.


The Bible says, “If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him . . . but . . . if you don’t ask with faith, don’t expect the Lord to give you any solid answer” (James 1:5-8 TLB).


In my life, I have asked God for something but did not expect to get it. And that’s why I didn’t. God works in my life according to faith.


So often I say, “God, please guide me!” and then walk away without waiting for guidance. I just immediately get to work on the problem. I may say that I want God to give me wisdom and to help me make the right decision, but I don’t really expect him to. I think it all depends on me.


But God has promised to give me wisdom, if I ask for it. Wisdom is seeing life from God’s point of view. Wisdom is the ability to make decisions the way God makes decisions.


Think about this: God never makes a bad decision. He never makes a mistake. He says if I trust and listen to him, he will guide me. But I must first ask in faith.


In summary, If I want to know what God wants me to do, ask him, but if I don’t ask with faith, don’t expect the Lord to give me any solid answer. God wants to direct me, but two things need to line up: I need to ask the right person, God, and I need to ask with the right attitude in faith, trusting him to provide the answer. Asking God for something but not expecting to get it won’t work. God works in my life according to faith. Often I’ve said, “God, please guide me!” and then walk away without waiting for guidance. I just immediately got to work on the problem. I may say that I want God to give me wisdom and to help me make the right decision, but I don’t really expect him to. I think it all depends on me. But God has promised to give me wisdom, if I ask for it. Wisdom is seeing life from God’s point of view. Wisdom is the ability to make decisions the way God makes decisions. God never makes a bad decision. He never makes a mistake. He says if I trust and listen to him, he will guide me. But I must first ask in faith.


James talks about not only knowledge but the ability to make wise decisions in difficult circumstances. When I ask, God will supply generously to help guide my choices. The wisdom from God is practical and helps choose the action to take. It is divine, it goes beyond common sense. It starts with respect for God, leads to living by God's direction, and results in the ability to tell right from wrong. It is also Christlike. So, I must not only believe in the existence of God but also in his loving care. Relying on and expecting that he will hear and answer. I must put away my critical attitude when I come to him. God will not grant every thoughtless or selfish request. I must have confidence that God will align my desires with his purposes. I need to rely on God to show me what is best for me. Ask him for wisdom, and trust that he will give it to me. If I do, then my decisions will be sure and solid.


Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 


Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Thursday, August 26, 2021

When I Can’t See the Future, Rely on God

In Psalm 25:9 I read, He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way." (NIV)


The Bible says I need to do several things to receive guidance from God, but the very first thing is this: I need to admit that I need a guide!


Like most people, I naturally don’t want to follow God or anybody else. I want to go my own way. Sometimes I even “play God” and make my own choices. Instead of doing what God wants me to do, I take matters into my own hands. And I struggle to admit that I need direction or that I need a guide.


Sheep, by nature, tend to wander off the path. The prophet Isaiah says, “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own” (Isaiah 53:6 NLT).


Another thing about sheep is that they have poor vision. They can’t see very far ahead. That’s why they need a shepherd.


God made me so that I would not be able to see into the future, no matter how much I try. Why did God do this? He did it so I would depend on him.


Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death” (NIV). I’ve made decisions that at the time seemed right but later turned out to be wrong. Some paths lead to dead ends and I end up off track. That’s why I need to admit, “God, I need help.”


God wants to lead me on the right path, and that’s exactly what he’ll do when I surrender to him and let him be my guide.


In summary, God guides the humble in what is right and will teach them his way. I need to do several things to receive guidance from God, but the very first thing is to admit that I need a guide. I naturally don’t want to follow God or anybody else. I want to go my own way. I even make my own choices. Instead of doing what God wants me to do, I take matters into my own hands. I struggle to admit that I need direction or that I need a guide. Sheep tend to wander off the path. Like sheep, I have left God’s paths to follow my own. Sheep have poor vision. They can’t see very far ahead. They need a shepherd. God made me so that I would not be able to see into the future, no matter how much I try. He did it so I would depend on him. I’ve made decisions that at the time seemed right but later turned out to be wrong. “God, I need help.” God wants to lead me on the right path, and that’s exactly what he’ll do when I surrender to him and let him be my guide.


Psalm 25 is a prayer for defense, guidance, and pardon. As I trust in God, he provides. I should express my desire for guidance by wanting to be guided and realizing that God's primary guidance system is in his Word. By reading and constantly learning from it, I will gain the wisdom to perceive God's direction for my life. I may be tempted to demand answers from God, but instead I should seek direction. When I'm willing to seek God, learn from his Word, and obey his commands, then I will receive his specific guidance.


Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 


Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.