Guidance (4)
Thursday 6th December 2018
'Along unfamiliar paths I will guide them.' Isaiah 42:16 NIV
When we feel we've been guided by God, whether through his Word, his Spirit or another person, we have a choice to make. Are we going to step out and follow his leading or stay where we are? Sometimes it seems like the better (or easier/safer) option is to stay where we are instead of stepping into something new or unknown. We may doubt whether we heard God correctly, but God promises us: 'I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them" (Isaiah 42:16 NIV).
When deciding to follow God's leading or not, there are two things we can ask ourselves. Firstly, what makes the risk so difficult for us? Risk and change can be uncomfortable, challenging and even threatening. But the Bible says: 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding' (Proverbs 3:5 NIV). God knows we'll be tempted to lean on what we understand, but remember that he knows things far beyond what we understand. Secondly, are we willing to make a change? If we're going to follow God's will, we need to be prepared for things to change. But he works everything for good, so if it's his will, it's worth the risk and the change.
So what now? Memorise Proverbs 3:5 and then repeat it to yourself whenever you feel afraid to follow God's leading.
Thursday 6th December 2018
'Along unfamiliar paths I will guide them.' Isaiah 42:16 NIV
When we feel we've been guided by God, whether through his Word, his Spirit or another person, we have a choice to make. Are we going to step out and follow his leading or stay where we are? Sometimes it seems like the better (or easier/safer) option is to stay where we are instead of stepping into something new or unknown. We may doubt whether we heard God correctly, but God promises us: 'I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them" (Isaiah 42:16 NIV).
When deciding to follow God's leading or not, there are two things we can ask ourselves. Firstly, what makes the risk so difficult for us? Risk and change can be uncomfortable, challenging and even threatening. But the Bible says: 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding' (Proverbs 3:5 NIV). God knows we'll be tempted to lean on what we understand, but remember that he knows things far beyond what we understand. Secondly, are we willing to make a change? If we're going to follow God's will, we need to be prepared for things to change. But he works everything for good, so if it's his will, it's worth the risk and the change.
So what now? Memorise Proverbs 3:5 and then repeat it to yourself whenever you feel afraid to follow God's leading.
