pramsay posted on March 10, 2009 13:26
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Hard to get Direction?
Maybe you clicked on this email with great anticipation: 'Finally, something that is relevant. I need direction. I have been praying and praying but I feel like I am spinning my wheels. I don't think I am getting anywhere. Is there a secret formula for getting direction from the Lord in my life?"
Most every Christian has the following two verses underlined in their Bible, memorized and on the tip of their tongue:
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him and
he shall direct thy paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6
It seems to be straight forward but why do I struggle so often in getting direction from the Lord if it's that simple? By the way, you may even have these verses hanging on your wall! But does that make it any easier to get direction from the Lord?
I think the secret must have something to do with the all's in the verse.
"All thine heart."
and
"All thy ways..."
Do I acknowledge Him in ALL my ways? Or do I have pet areas of my life where I am taking my own way, doing my own thing, pleasing myself and justifying it as Christian liberty?
Is ALL my heart trusting the Lord? One rendering of the verse is: Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track.
Can I open up to the Lord every aspect of my life and acknowledge Him in every detail? We need to root out the little pockets of rebellion in our lives where we have agreed to please ourselves rather than please the Lord. We all have them! We try to convince ourselves that it is legitimate and perfectly okay - nothing that would hinder us and certainly not significant enough to offend the Lord.
The last thing we want to do is change. We justify, rationalize, legitimize, and spiritualize what we like doing and demonize anyone who would dare question us on whether it is Christ-honoring or self-pleasing. We need to be honest with ourselves and with the Lord. When I deal with 'that' in my life, then direction from the Lord may flow more easily.
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ
Peter Ramsay
peter@heaven4sure.com