Every morning I do my Bible reading from the One Year Bible that my church is doing. They print up thousands of calendars with the daily Bible verses for each day so we can read through the entire Bible in one year. I really love it! One of the Bibles I have includes a little Life Lesson for certain chapters and verses; sort of like a little devotional. I happened to read the one for my Proverbs reading this morning and really loved what it said so I decided to share it here. I hope it will bless you today as it did me!
Life Lesson
Proverbs 3:1-35
Situation
God promises to guide those who obey and trust Him. Those who obey must actively explore God's Word.
Observation
Depend on God in every part of your life, and He will guide, protect, and comfort you.
Inspiration
This expression "God's guidance," or "God's will," is really quite confusing. It seems so far removed from selling insurance, cleaning house, or taking the dog to the vet for his shot. It seems to imply being constantly ecstatic over "finding Jesus," or living on Cloud Nine without interruption. I suppose this could be part of it. But so many Christians, new and old alike, drape so much glamorous ecclesiastical jargon around it, that it gives the impression of being for an elite few "spiritual" or "saintly" people. That would leave out most of us, wouldn't it, God?...Jesus told His disciples that He was going away and would send someone to carry on for Him. This one would be a Comforter, a Helper, to remind and to guide. If He wasn't supposed to guide us in all things, how would we know when He was guiding and when He wasn't?
It occurs to me that if I'm tuned in to You, Jesus, I'm guided in everything I do. It could include simple things at the office, housework, even answering the presumptuous ring of the telephone to give some lonely forgotten soul a bit of myself. After a lot of trial and error, God, I think I've learned something about Your will in my life. And the key is so simple. So often I have stubbornly knocked and banged my head against a door of decision or opportunity I wanted to push open. And so often nothing happened. The door just wouldn't budge. At other times when You and I were tuned in to the same channel, I barely touched the latch, and the door swung open. Everything poured out: happinesses, opportunities for creativity, spiritual presents, deeper relationships with friends, and, when the timing was right, a chance to share Your love with someone...Your guidance kind of snowballs, God, from relying on You for dozens of little actions and decisions, we learn to seek Your guidance in times of big events, even tragedies, in our lives. Gradually we begin to rely on You in everything we do, no matter how insignificant.
(From Struggles of a Sinner-Saint by Lucille Lavender)
Application
Is your life like a hotel, with certain rooms marked "Do Not Disturb"? Open one of those rooms to God. If you are a pianist, give your practice or performance to God. If you are a basketball referee, give your game to God. No matter what your role in life or your occupation, live every aspect of your life to honor God.
Exploration
Guidance-Joshua 1:9; Psalm 48:14; 118:8; Proverbs 2:1-5; Matthew 2:13; Luke 9:24-25; John 4:13-14; Acts 8:26
I pray God blesses you today and that you would discover His perfect will for your life!
~christy~
