How Does God Guide Us?
Good Morning Friends,
Students will be out for summer vacation soon and it got me to thinking about my favorite summer activity of hiking in the wilderness with my family. In addition to using a map we always have an eye out for the brown signs on the road to alert us to opportunities at State Parks and then trail markers to direct us as we hike. While on our trips we have come across some interesting information/ instructional signs at trail heads that may have been designed by attorneys. One said that we were to expect natural surfaces on our walk in nature. Another one said not to swim with the alligators. Go figure. Along the way we develop our own rules to improve the quality of our life. Checking for tics and wiping down for chiggers becomes part of our way of life. We learn that if we follow the signs we get to where we wanted to go… if we follow the rules we enjoy ourselves the more. So too our experience of God through the Bible and others and in the circumstances of living can help to lead us to an abundant spiritual encounter. We need to know, follow and pay attention to all of God’s signs. In our contemplation of God today we ask for help in understanding. So, How Does God Guide Us?
Scripture: Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
Psalm 37:5 (NRSV)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to observe your righteous ordinances. I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word. Accept my offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me your ordinances. I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. Your decrees are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.
Psalm 119:105-112 (NRSV)
Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:16-26 (NRSV)
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12 (NRSV)
Message: Often scripture in the Bible can be a treasure map. But we have to choose to use it. We have to obey its guidance. We have to sometimes fill in the gaps with acts of faith and we have to have a heart for the walk with God if its full treasure is to be revealed. Applying it to our lives can be clear as mud or crystal clear depending on how accurately we apply the scripture. As we discover and rediscover the impact and power of God’s Word for daily living…for even a walk in nature… it is important to realize that God desires for all of us to understand the message. The key is illumination. We have to see with the help of the Holy Spirit and staring straight into the high beams sometimes only blinds us the more. Being creatures of the dark we have to let our eyes adjust to the light. We have to come to the reading of scripture as a prayer realizing that we can be blinded by the world to its message of hope, direction and safety. That is why we need to complement the word with circumstantial signs, a compelling spirit, common sense and the counsel of saints. When it comes to being equipped for a mission of service or a walk in nature we can benefit from the interaction with others who can help fit our gifts with those of others so the Body of Christ will be built up. Here the trust and love that develops can also empower our steps to new doors and opportunities.
Pray we see God’s lighted path. Pray the truth of the journey become ours through our relationship with God. Pray we believe in the authenticity and value of the map. Pray we take joy in a healthy walk with God. Pray we commit to follow the requirements of the trail we follow. Pray we help others to find the path and embark on the journey deepening our insight in the illuminated love of the Word made flesh shared one with another.
Pray that the Spirit lives within us and guides us and counsels and protects and empowers us in peace to share. Pray we are consecrated to God so we can be guided on the right path. Pray that God shape our lives so that they lead others toward Christ. Pray we see that God really does have a beautiful plan for our lives. Pray we are attentive to the creative ways God has revealed His plan to us. Pray we create ways for people who feel like they have “messed up” on the journey to see that God is the God of the second, third, and fourth chances. Pray we, when the time is right, are moved by circumstantial signs, commanding scripture, a compelling spirit and also common sense and the counsel of saints. Pray we are guided by the fullness of God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 