Following God’s Direction

It would be great if Jesus came to our house each morning and gave us a list of exactly what we need to do to please God.  If we had a list from Jesus there would be no reason for doubt.  We would know for certain that everything on the list was precisely what’s needed to be done to please God.  The truth is those who have trusted Jesus as their Lord and Savior actually have access to God’s perfect direction living inside them.  The Holy Spirit is with you all day, every day, pointing you in the right direction.  The reason we’re not provided with a list is because our mission in this life is to learn how to connect with the Spirit of God.

God’s Direction Brings Blessing

We don’t follow God’s direction to avoid punishment – we follow God’s direction because it is the path to a blessing.  Good things happen when we follow God’s direction.  Bad things happen when we go off in the wrong direction. The enemy uses deception and manipulation to move us off in the wrong direction.  We have this foundational event in Genesis 3:1, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” We all know the answer to the serpent’s question.  NO, God did not say they can’t eat from any tree, but YES God did say there was a certain tree that has to be avoided.  The serpent started with deception and finished with a lie. “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.”(Genesis 3:4)  How many times in our life have we known for certain God wants us to go one way, but for whatever reason we decided to go the other way?  And what was the result?

How to Avoid the Enemy’s Deception

When we turn our back on God and go off in the opposite direction, we’re telling God that we’re smarter than Him.  Of course, that’s not even remotely possible.  What’s really happening is the enemy has found a way to convince us of something that’s simply not true.  So how do we avoid the enemy’s deception and remain focused on God’s direction? – The Word of God.  When we fill our minds with the Word of God, there is no room for deception. In Psalm 119:105 we read, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Nothing takes the place of regular Bible study in order to easily identify God’s path in your life.

Regular Bible study along with sincere prayer for guidance is the formula for a greater connection to the Holy Spirit living inside all believers.  It is the Holy Spirit that will bring to mind all of the lessons we learn from our time spent in God’s Word.  In John 14:26 Jesus tells us, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” These three things: Bible study, prayer, and our connection to the Holy Spirit, are the tools we use to identify God’s direction in our life.

Following God’s Direction is Not Always Easy

Of course, even with careful study and regular prayer, our advice from the Holy Spirit isn’t always easy to understand.  Sometimes God’s direction is unclear.  Keep in mind there will be times when God’s direction is to wait.  In these periods of waiting you can be certain the enemy will attempt to take advantage of you and push you off course.  Don’t let that happen.  Remember the words of Jesus from Matthew 10:16, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”  As you patiently wait for the Holy Spirit to point the way, be ready at all times to identify and destroy all the evil schemes of the enemy.

Following God’s direction won’t always be easy; nevertheless, God’s path forward is without question the best road to travel.  God loves you completely and His direction is always a reflection of that never-ending love.  There will never be a more rewarding and fulfilling course of action than to carefully follow God’s direction precisely and completely.  You will be greatly blessed.

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