Have You Ever Asked God for Directions?
Good Morning Friends,
Have you ever asked someone for directions? The best directions come from someone that knows where you are and where you need to go. Isaiah predicted that God would show those who are lost a new way. Peter likens it to a shepherd and flock. Paul likens it to the gifts we have been given being deployed for a purpose. As Christians, and especially in times of prayer, we are to have faith that we have found the directions. We are to rejoice in reading the Bible with the Holy Spirit at our side, because here we might just see Jesus holding up a signpost. Have You Ever Asked God for Directions?
Scripture: I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God–what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.
Romans 12:1-8 (NRSV)
Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it—not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away.
I Peter 5:1-4 (NRSV)
He saw that there was no one, and was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm brought him victory, and his righteousness upheld him.
Isaiah 59:16 (NRSV)
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
Message: Leadership and gifts and knowing how to pray for others go together. Just as there is a challenge in being part of the body of Christ so too there is a challenge in praying the right prayer for others. On just about every Monday, as part of my work in Immokalee, we pray for the youth athletes, young Taste of Immokalee entrepreneurs and their future. The key is to pray for people and their gifts being united in a plan guided in the Spirit of prayer. Basketball great Ralph Sampson recently explained to multiple Immokalee High School assemblies that the way to success needs a MAP. With Motivation, Attitude and a Plan being part of the process. Amazingly the process works well for adults too. Some people we call leaders have the motivation and ability to correct problems, others to meet a specific need or to explain what is actually happening. Some have the motivation to relieve embarrassment or to press forward to achieve a goal for a group. Some give to meet a tangible need or to boost the confidents of others so that might do a good job. Whether a prophet, servant, teacher, encourager, and giver of mercy or in meeting a physical need, all have a purpose and place. Now since Christian leadership is all about serving… not controlling and the same is true in prayer it seems that our spiritual guidance would be born out of the desire to serve. So as people today around the world are praying for the mission work in which I am a leader I am rejoicing in the reality that I am uniquely blessed to serve with lots of wonderful people who are in their own way servants to a greater good. And I am rejoicing that each of us has an assigned role and if we are blessed it is also our calling. And so that is my prayer request today, that you and I might use the gifts we have been given and in the process be directed in a way to glorify God. For in some mysterious way we are connected and what honors God in your life adds to the light of the world to help us all see the next step.
Pray that we have the right attitude. Pray we look to Jesus for directions. Pray that we stay on the path with Him growing in a relationship of love and living a life of adventure, fulfillment, challenge and purpose. Pray that we fear going the wrong way and rejoice when we see a sign that the body of believers is working in unity. Pray that God is glorified in our lives. Pray that we realize that we are part of something greater. Pray that we use both our gifts and faith. Pray we offer our bodies, minds and will in the struggle for unity. Pray we celebrate the diversity but not the chaos. Pray we know what to do and where and when we are to do it. Pray we combine the talents we have been given and the experiences of our lives with our very personalities to discover how we can help create a culture of love. Pray we recognize our dependency on others is necessary. Pray we establish good relationships. Pray our prayers for leadership are also prayers for the servants of God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 