I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.Psalms 32:8 (NKJV)
We are going through a devotional series titled, "The two types of Storms." These are storms - times of testing - that we will all face in our lives. Even though there is many ways that these storms can be manifested they will all fall into one of two categories, and they are:
In our last devotional we were continuing to look at, 12-Ways to deal with a "Storm." Let's continue with number five.
Q: How do can we be confident that if we ask for God's guidance, He will give it to us?
A: Because He has told us that He will guide us and lead us in all of our ways. Psalm 32:8 tells us this, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye."
I think that the one of the main reasons we might find it hard to believe or trust God to be faithful in His promises to us is that we have had people be unfaithful to us in our life and it has caused us great hurt. It might have been a parent, a spouse, a friend, or family member - it could be just about anyone actually. But what we have to remember is that God is faithful - even when we are not.
If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. 2Timothy 2:13 (NKJV)
In Psalm 107 we are told about the sailors out on the open sea. We are told how God commands and raises the "Stormy" wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea - how the waves mount up to the heavens, and how they go down again to the depths.
Q: Can you imagine being out on the sea in the enormous waves and being tossed about like a toy boat? Can you imagine how helpless you would feel?
That's the way it was for these sailors in Psalm 107. We are told that their souls melted because of trouble, and how they staggered about like drunken men as their ship was tossed like a play toy. These skilled men could do nothing against the "Storm," and they feared for their life. They cried out to the Lord in the midst of their trouble, and we are told that He brought them out of their distresses - He calmed the "Storm."
But God is not done once He quiets the "Storms" within our lives - He now guides us back to that safe place that we so earnestly desire.
Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven.Psalms 107:30-31 (NKJV)
Hey Christian, are you being tossed around right now in life's turbulent ocean? God can get you to your desired haven, but you have to let Him guide you - That means that there will be times when we are going to have to be taking different paths that we wouldn't have normally chosen for ourselves.
We will spend our entire lives learning to hear and listen to God's voice for His leading. But if you have a proper heart and want to make that right decision - then God is going to be faithful to show the right decisions in your life for every situation.
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7 (NKJV)
I want to encourage you today to spend some quiet time away from all the hustle and bustle of your busy schedule - take some time to spend with God alone, seeking Him and listening to whatever He has to say. Ask Him to speak to you and to show you clearly everything that He wants you to hear.
If you don't hear from Him right away, keep knocking (Praying). It may seem strange or even hard at first to just stop everything when so much is being required of you, and your time is so valuable - but remember who gives you all that time - now purpose in your heart to give Him back the first - fruits of everything you have been given, and that includes your time here on earth.
During some of my marriage counseling sessions with couples, I will listen to what is happening and the Holy Spirit gives me guidance for them. I then give this guidance through counsel based on God's Word. Sometimes, one or both of them will not be interested in listening to, or applying the guidance that has been given - and therefore it is useless. It does them absolutely no good. They go home frustrated and doomed to repeat their same mistakes - Remember what Einstein said about insanity - It's when we do the same things over and over expecting different results.
STUDY QUESTION: What can we learn about God from the Scriptures contained within this devotional?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you spending some time with God looking for His guidance each morning before you start you busy day?
APPLICATION: Make it a priority to seek the Lord each morning. Knock on the door of His heart through prayer, and ask Him to guide you in all that you do.
We are going through a devotional series titled, "The two types of Storms." These are storms - times of testing - that we will all face in our lives. Even though there is many ways that these storms can be manifested they will all fall into one of two categories, and they are:
- Storms of Correction These are the tough times where we go through trials and tests because we have unconfessed sin in our life - and we are going in a way that is not in the will of God.
- Storms of Perfection These are those times where we go through trials and tests because God loves us and He is transforming us to be more like Jesus.
In our last devotional we were continuing to look at, 12-Ways to deal with a "Storm." Let's continue with number five.
- We need to let God guide us.
Q: How do can we be confident that if we ask for God's guidance, He will give it to us?
A: Because He has told us that He will guide us and lead us in all of our ways. Psalm 32:8 tells us this, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye."
I think that the one of the main reasons we might find it hard to believe or trust God to be faithful in His promises to us is that we have had people be unfaithful to us in our life and it has caused us great hurt. It might have been a parent, a spouse, a friend, or family member - it could be just about anyone actually. But what we have to remember is that God is faithful - even when we are not.
If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. 2Timothy 2:13 (NKJV)
In Psalm 107 we are told about the sailors out on the open sea. We are told how God commands and raises the "Stormy" wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea - how the waves mount up to the heavens, and how they go down again to the depths.
Q: Can you imagine being out on the sea in the enormous waves and being tossed about like a toy boat? Can you imagine how helpless you would feel?
That's the way it was for these sailors in Psalm 107. We are told that their souls melted because of trouble, and how they staggered about like drunken men as their ship was tossed like a play toy. These skilled men could do nothing against the "Storm," and they feared for their life. They cried out to the Lord in the midst of their trouble, and we are told that He brought them out of their distresses - He calmed the "Storm."
But God is not done once He quiets the "Storms" within our lives - He now guides us back to that safe place that we so earnestly desire.
Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven.Psalms 107:30-31 (NKJV)
Hey Christian, are you being tossed around right now in life's turbulent ocean? God can get you to your desired haven, but you have to let Him guide you - That means that there will be times when we are going to have to be taking different paths that we wouldn't have normally chosen for ourselves.
We will spend our entire lives learning to hear and listen to God's voice for His leading. But if you have a proper heart and want to make that right decision - then God is going to be faithful to show the right decisions in your life for every situation.
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7 (NKJV)
I want to encourage you today to spend some quiet time away from all the hustle and bustle of your busy schedule - take some time to spend with God alone, seeking Him and listening to whatever He has to say. Ask Him to speak to you and to show you clearly everything that He wants you to hear.
If you don't hear from Him right away, keep knocking (Praying). It may seem strange or even hard at first to just stop everything when so much is being required of you, and your time is so valuable - but remember who gives you all that time - now purpose in your heart to give Him back the first - fruits of everything you have been given, and that includes your time here on earth.
During some of my marriage counseling sessions with couples, I will listen to what is happening and the Holy Spirit gives me guidance for them. I then give this guidance through counsel based on God's Word. Sometimes, one or both of them will not be interested in listening to, or applying the guidance that has been given - and therefore it is useless. It does them absolutely no good. They go home frustrated and doomed to repeat their same mistakes - Remember what Einstein said about insanity - It's when we do the same things over and over expecting different results.
STUDY QUESTION: What can we learn about God from the Scriptures contained within this devotional?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you spending some time with God looking for His guidance each morning before you start you busy day?
APPLICATION: Make it a priority to seek the Lord each morning. Knock on the door of His heart through prayer, and ask Him to guide you in all that you do.
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