Let the Lord be your guide in all that you do!

God is looking for us to put our hope and trust in Him today, ALL day long, not just tomorrow or when we are in need of Him. He’s challenging us to see all the moments of our lives as being filled with meaning. Each moment is filled with the presence of God, but sometimes we are so stuck on vision and dreams that we skim right by them. I encourage you to start your days differently. Start each day by praying, asking God to give you a clear understanding of each moment. It’s okay to still plan and dream about the future, of course, but concentrate more on each moment, as well! 

 “Show me the right path O Lord, point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me. for you are the God who saves me, All day long I put my hope in you.” Psalm 25:4-5

God is the only one who can guide us. We must seek His guidance and direction in all things. Another words when we need guidance in our lives we should say God show me Your way in how I should approach this. Too often we we want to take our approach to how we should handle a situation and then want God to fix our mess. Doesn’t that just seem a little backwards? Now granted we may get in situations and need His help, but first and foremost we need to be seeking His guidance, His directions.

It is not enough that we know His ways,but that He instructs us.How does He do that? He instructs us by His Word. Friends God is our schoolmaster. He teaches me daily and I’m glad to learn daily. I realize that I don’t ever get to a point where I have it figured out and can say I can walk on my own. Instead I know that everyday I depend on God to help me get through by leading me. We must totally rely on God to guide us. For this guidance we need to be lead by His Word which is the truth and to seek His guidance in our lives and seeking His will for our lives.

Let me encourage you to let the Lord be your guide in all that you do. He will never lead you astray and will always be with you every step of the way. Be encouraged to know even when the journey gets rough that He will provide comfort even in those times. In fact I love how the Apostle Paul put it the joy we can even find in our suffering( Colossians 1:24 ). Not that we look forward to getting hurt, but that we endure for Christ’s sake. This pain is for God’s glory despite how difficult it may seem, it works for our good. Once again my brothers and sisters be encouraged and seek God for His guidance.

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Difficult Times!

When we hit situations and circumstances which we find somewhat difficult and at times almost impossible to handle, it can be hard to embrace the truth and significance of the below verse. Often only with hindsight are we able to see that the experience, which if given the choice we would not have gone anywhere near, was indeed part of God’s plan and purpose for us. 

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. ~ Romans 8:28 (my fav)

Perhaps, nowhere in Scripture is this better illustrated than in the experiences of Joseph. Despised, rejected and abandoned by his family, falsely accused and imprisoned by his employer, forgotten by others and yet throughout all this we read ‘and the Lord was with Joseph’. Finally at the end of the story when Joseph, as ruler in Egypt under Pharaoh, reveals himself to his brothers and forgives them for how they had treated him declares ‘But don`t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives’ (Genesis 45:5).

There are many other notable examples of those whose faith was severely tested, in some cases almost to the point of death. Paul, for instance, gives a whole catalogue of his experiences which must have tested his faith (2 Corinthians 11:16-33) and yet he is able to say elsewhere ‘We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken’ (2 Corinthians 4:8).

Jesus didn’t promise us an easy road- just the opposite in fact (Matthew 24:9 -12) but He did promise never to leave us. In these days He is looking for those whose faith is strong enough to enable them to face the `lions` as Daniel did and to walk through the `fiery furnace` like Shadrach and his friends. How`s your faith today?

Let`s take heart from the words we read in 1 Peter 1:6-7. `So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

No need to Doubt

I pray that everyone reading this has made the step of faith in trusting in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and have surrendered your hearts and minds to His will. And that you pray to God and read His word on a daily basis, and trust in Him even in times of difficulty. Yet at time we are tempted to doubt Him. If that is where you are today I hope this message will speak to your heart. 

 

“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:6

But as followers of Christ we are past doubting His existence because we know we’ve been changed from darkness to light. We are past doubting that His word is true because we’ve experienced His refreshing grace. We are past doubting that the Holy Spirit is real and He gives us power to overcome. 

Yet, the temptation to doubt God’s goodness is always front and center. This is because we know we can’t control God and that He has plans that are beyond our human understanding. We can try to figure things out, but the uncertainty of this world and our future always lies before us.

However, we still don’t have to doubt. What we can do is remember what God has done for us in the past. We can remember how He delivered people from the Bible because He’s the same God now as He was back in the Bible times. He never changes. He’s not man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19). And He gives us power through the Holy Spirit to believe in the impossible.

God is worthy of our trust even when everything seems to go south. He is a good God. He does what is best for us. He can make the impossible happen.

God’s ways and thoughts are higher than our own!

I think we all will admit that we often don’t understand why bad things happen. Even so, God has a purpose for everything He does or permits. My faith is rooted in the biblical principle that says the Lord is sovereign (Psalm. 22:28). He is in absolute control of this universe, the natural and political climate of this earth, and my life and yours. When we are in the midst of a trial, it is hard to resist crying out, “God, Why is this happening?” Sometimes we get the answer and sometimes we don’t. What we can be sure of is that nothing happens by accident or coincidence. He has a purpose for even our most painful experiences. 

 “And we know in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans. 8:28).

 

Seeing in advance how the Lord will work evil or hurt for our benefit is very difficult, if not impossible. Our limited human perspective doesn’t allow us to grasp His greater plan. However, we can confirm the truth of this biblical promise because the Father’s good handiwork appears all through our pain, hardship, and loss. I know personally I have experienced Him turn mourning into gladness and have seen Him reap bountiful blessings and benefits from my difficult times.

As believers, we must accept that God won’t always make sense to us. Isaiah teaches that His ways and thoughts are higher than our own (Isaiah. 55:9). He sees the beautifully completed big picture. We can rely on the fact that God is in control, no matter how wildly off-kilter our world seems to spin.

No matter how carefully we orchestrate the details, life will always hold the unexpected. Our confidence doesn’t come in being able to plan for such times, but in trusting the One who commands the stars and who superintends good times and bad. Those who do, find the same peace Job discovered in the midst of his trials when he declared, “Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” Job 2:10

Listen to God’s Voice!

This should be our heart’s plea and desire. That God will be ever-present in our heart and lives so that we will hear His voice when He speaks to us and tells us which path to walk on. And if we don’t? If we should get on the wrong path? Then with everything in us, our prayer would be that God would direct us back to the right path. Are you feeling overwhelmed and in need of some sense of direction standing at a crossroads unsure of where to turn? If only you could see what lies ahead on either path, the choice would be much easier to make. If this is where you are today I hope and pray this passage and message will ministry to you in your time of need. 

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21

Some of you are standing at a crossroads. Where you are overwhelmed by the challenges you face and wonder where in the world God is taking you as you journey through this life. As you face the uncertainty of what lies ahead, you may struggle to gain a sense of direction from many sources – the encouragement and experiences of friends, your own failures and successes, and whatever might feel good at the moment. But are you truly seeking God’s direction for your lives?

 

So do you contend yourself with devoting your energies to what you’re currently doing and serving others in a part-time job, or do you press forward into doing what God’s plan for you is with the hope that you will make a difference for God using the gifts He has given you?(and yes He has given us all special gifts to use for His glory) The upward path is difficult and uncomfortable for you. It would be much easier to let go of a dream and settle for what is familiar and comfortable, but is that truly God’s plan for you life?

God has given us His Word as a roadmap and is willing to navigate us through every treacherous turn if we are inclined to hear His voice. As long as we keep our eyes fixed on the Morning Star, we can travel with certainty that we will reach the destination He has mapped out for us. The journey won’t be easy. We will encounter many obstacles along the way. But God has promised that He will be with us always, “even to the end of the age” Matthew 28:20.

To Everything there is a Season!

In our lives, there are seasons. Nothing here is forever; Heaven is eternal. Solomon stated this principle very simply,”To everything there is a season; a time for every purpose under Heaven . . and He has made everything beautiful in its time.” See Ecclesiastes 3:11. When God directs your life it has a rhythm, and you are at your best when you understand and live according to that rhythm. Your efforts are most effective and you are happiest when you walk in step with God, not lagging behind nor rushing ahead. The best preventive for either of those is simply walking hand in hand. 

There are times that things will happen that you never wanted or planned; don’t panic! Sometimes, things don’t happen that you thought would; adjust. Sometimes they don’t happen the way you intended; adapt. Occasionally, things don’t happen as soon as you expected; trust God’s timing. When things aren’t working the way you were sure they would, there are two options to consider. It could be the wrong thing at the right time; that never works out well. Or possibly the right thing but at the wrong time; that results in something less than God’s highest and best. Here’s the issue: can you trust God’s wisdom and providence to give you what you need exactly when best for you, even if not what and when you wanted? God’s best will only come in God’s time.

Don’t double your efforts to force your agenda at the risk of pressing against God’s will. If God were to allow you to succeed, you will wish you hadn’t. Stop; seek God; listen to your heart, and use your head! You should always want God’s best and trust His timing. 

At all times in all situations, be confident of the “good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2. You and I tend to live by the clock and calendar. God is timeless and His purposes are eternal. “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:9. His wisdom is infinite and His loving care unquestionable.

Jesus learned Obedience through Suffering!

We celebrate Jesus suffering for us as He went to the cross for our sins. As we read in these passages Jesus continued to move forward into even greater suffering (the tangible experience on the cross).  He continued to move forward as God led Him. In Hebrews it goes on to tell us that though he was a son, he learned obedience through that suffering. The outcome was eternal salvation being made available to the world. I hope and pray this ministers to your heart when you are going through some type of suffering. 

Jesus did cry out to God.  He asked God to remove the cup he would soon drink from (Matthew 26:38-42; Mark 14:36).  Jesus was troubled and hurt, knowing what was coming (John 12:27-28).  

I don’t think we get it…and we don’t really want to accept the reality of it, but I will. Suffering is inevitable, no matter how trivial or serious it may be. The crazy thing is that even through Christ’s example we can see that while our tears and prayers are heard by God, He doesn’t always take the suffering away. Maybe He does, BUT maybe we cry out and pray and cry out and we are lead into greater depths of suffering, it can happen…it happened to Christ. The part that we don’t always see (especially when our focus in these moments is almost always on ourselves and the greatness of our hurt/suffering) is that there is purpose in that suffering. Again we don’t get it, but often times we can’t see the reason for anything until time has passed (hindsight is 20/20) and we are able to look back on a bigger picture of our lives.

Sometimes we just don’t understand it.  But I know that regardless of what I or you or anyone around us is going through…God is a few words away…Sometimes He’s even closer than that (Romans 8:26).  We will all walk through life experiencing a suffering of some kind. The question to ask is not when or why, but rather ask yourself how will you respond?  Hopefully we will all continue to move forward, knowing and trusting that God is with us, no matter how hard it gets.  Hopefully our response is not anger and bitterness because of what we face.  Rather that our response would be to look upon the example of Christ, continuing to move obediently and prayerfully through the hard times…praising God the day/moment/year we realize just how incredible and purposeful He was in allowing us to hurt and suffer in the way we are today.    

Maybe one thing to remember is trusting that God is who He says He is and that while it may hurt…God will only work to bring us closer to Him and closer to being the people He created us to be…a people bearing and reflecting His image.

We each have our own idea of how we think God should help us in the problems of this life. Most of us have a pre-conceived notion of what is good for God to do for us. Unfortunately, when God does not work things out as expected, many believers let seeds of doubt  fill their mind. Fear is given reign in their lives instead of the risen Christ. Weary from the battle, many give up hope reacting as though Christ were still in the tomb instead of being alive with full authority over everything. They search for the living in the dead areas of their lives. The enemy’s lies become real for them. I hope this messages will minster to your heart today. Love you all.

 A Living Hope!

  “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” Luke 24:5     

Our trust  in the trials we face is not based on that which can be seen. The bible tells us in Hebrews 11:1 that , “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  If you were able to see and understand everything that God is permitting in your life, you would have no need for faith. Without faith, it is not only impossible to please God, it is impossible to know the God you serve! 

We have to remember in every storm of life that Christ is at the center and He permits only that which fulfills His will for you. You may not like the attacks that come against you, but they are powerful tools used to equip you for eternal victory. You will never be able to stand in the struggles of life if you do not have the knowledge of God’s power and a belief that He will not fail you. In the time of testing, the enemy is going to pull out all the stops to tempt you to think that you are beyond help. He is going to fill your mind with thoughts of failure and defeat. Unless you are firmly grounded in the truth of God’s love and His power in your battles, you will not have the strength to fight.

In all situations and in all ways, Christ is working out a divine, eternal plan that cannot be stopped. Your past has no hold on you. Your weakness and failures are powerless to hinder God’s purpose for you. Because of the sacrifice Christ made for you on the cross, your future is forever secure. God has promised to transform you into the image of His Son, Jesus. As a believer, you need to understand that one day you will be a co-heir with Christ in heaven and rule over angels. All of your momentary troubles on this earth is just getting you ready for a kingdom so magnificent that there is no way for our earthly minds to comprehend its beauty.

“Trust in the LORD forever.”

We cannot know the thoughts and intents of God, but we can trust that He loves us and that His way is perfect to accomplish His will. We are mere sinful humans without the foresight to know what His will accomplishes or to know the whys of our sufferings.  We must endure, because we have placed ourselves in the palm of His hand so that He might exercise His will over us. Have a wonderful day as you continue to put your complete trust in the Lord. 

 “Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.” Isaiah 26:4

Trusting in God is one of the hardest things to do as a Christian. Trusting in God is vital to our spiritual lives. When we open up to our Lord in belief we will experience the amazing ways that He opens up to us. The more we trust Him the more He rewards us and reveals Himself to us. When we trust in God to come and make our life new, we need to be ready for Him to come and do just that. If we want to see miracles, we need to believe in miracles.

If we want to see God move in our life, we have to trust Him to move in our life. When we truly trust the Lord with all our hearts, we finally give Him the freedom to minister to us without getting in His way. We are retaining control over our situations by not trusting Him.

God asks the hardest thing from us; to abandon our common sense, close our eyes to everything around us, put aside our knowledge of earthly reality and logic, and trust Him. He is trying to help us grow in our faith, and in order to do that He continues to raise the bar a little bit at a time. As we grow spiritually, He asks us to believe more. God wants us to trust Him and continue trusting Him. We need to continue trusting regardless of what is going on around us, even if things seem hopeless. 

God’s desire is that we take that one leap of faith to trust Him with our life. When we take that leap, He is finally able to wrap His arms around us. We need to go back to that place where we have unquestioning faith and believe as a child. God wants to give us a full and abundant life, but He only asks for us to believe 100% in Him!

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