Wednesday, February 25, 2009

What Should You do?

Standing firm while waiting for direction is one of the most difficult challenges that we face. The desire for success coupled with the many voices that try to influence us, are pressures that few people ever learn to resist. But I like Apostle Paul's approach to dealing with the pressures of life and decision making. He spoke of standing firm after you have done everything that you know to do in order to stand in the first place. So there are two things that we must do to ensure success, first take all necessary steps to be able to stand firm. Then, began and continue to do the standing.
Guidance to do the will of God comes from God's word, and from the leading of His Spirit within our hearts. Jesus said "My sheep know my voice and stranger's they will not follow (John 10:27)." And when you are sure of the will God for your life, it comes with a solid, unshakeable confidence, that you are on the right track. But what often happens, is the voices of those around us, and unfilled desires or doubts from within, begin to challenge our faith...and God allows it to be challenged. He wants your faith to get stronger and stronger so that you cannot be defeated or thrown off track by the cares and fears of this life, or by attacks from the Devil.
1Peter 1:7 says "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:" Pure gold is highly valuable thing of beauty, but it doesn't get that way without intense heat and processing to purify it. And this scripture teaches us that the trials of faith are much more precious that gold! So if it precious to God, then you know He is wants to lead you to victory.
God leads us by the small still voice from within, or by prophetic words from those He divinely inspires to speak into our lives, and also by Divine Providence - where He orders the circumstances to present themselves in a way that causes us to be in His will, often without even trying very hard on our part. The key is learning to walk by faith, and recognize those things that are NOT God's will, nor His leading and get rid of those things which would cause us to ignore or disobey God.
If you find yourself in a place, not knowing what to do, which way to go, or what steps to take next, James 1:5 gives a direct instruction to deal with this. "If any man (or woman) lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives liberally and upbraids (reproachs) not.
God is not the author of confusion, but a God of peace. He never wants us to be confused about what to do with our lives, and He promised to lead us by His Spirit. As the scripture says in Romans 8:14, 'As many as are lead by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.' Jesus also said that "When the Spirit of truth is come, He will lead you and guide you into all truth." So God is definitely leading us, but sometimes we don't recognize or distinguish what God is leading us to do because there are too many distractions. I would recommend that you take some time to get quiet before the Lord and spend time in His presence, reading, praying and fasting (if you are able to so). Stay there, and be still (make no major moves or decisions) until you receive instructions and peace about those instructions. For with the leading of the Spirit of God, comes an inner fortitude, and calmness that you are doing the right thing. And you will be able to withstand those pressures that cause confusion.

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