Numbers
22:26 - Then the angel of the Lord moved on
ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to
the right or to the left.
Numbers 22: 21-32 explains how Balaam
was headed in the wrong direction and how God went to the extremes to direct
Balaam’s path. As I read this scripture, I was encouraged. I was encouraged to
know that God will lead and guide me if I allow Him. Even if we choose the
wrong way, God is still God. If you look at Numbers 22:22, it says God was very
angry when Balaam went in the direction he went. Despite His anger, God still
opted to direct Balaam’s steps. Even when we head in the wrong direction
assuming that we know what is best for ourselves; God is still there to keep us
in line with His will.
As I grow in the Lord, I realize that
obedience is everything. I also realize that inquiring of the Lord is
essential. We say we trust God, but do we consult God? We have to learn to get
into the habit of praying about everything. The Bible says to pray about
everything (Philippians 4:6). We can’t assume that God isn’t concerned about
matters in our lives whether big or small. In 1Peter, 4:7 the Word tells me to
cast our cares on Him because He cares for us. It didn’t say what kind of cares,
it just say to cast them on Him. As I said, we must learn to inquire of the
Lord. If we fail to do so, we can be lead astray by our own flesh or the enemy’s
devices. Joshua 9 talks about how the men of Israel were deceived by the
Gibeonites. Joshua 9:14 says, “The Israelites sampled their provisions but did
not inquire of the Lord.”
Had
they inquired of the Lord they would have known that the Gibeonites were trying
to deceive them. How many times do we do what appears to be right or what feels
good without praying to God about it first?
In 1st and 2nd
Kings, it chronicles the lives of the kings of Israel. The emphasis in every king’s
life was his obedience and willingness to inquire of the Lord. Many times the
kings of Israel had success, but it was only when God led them. When some kings
turned away from God or stopped consulting with God, they were defeated because
God was displeased. I found this intriguing because I can apply the same principles
to my life. We have to learn to trust God’s counsel and not be lead astray by
our own fleshly desires. Psalm 121:6-7 says, “The Lord will keep you from all harm—He will watch over your
life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." So, why not ask Him for
His direction?
Our prayers need to sound like that of
Jeremiah in Jeremiah 10:23. Jeremiah prayed, “Lord, I know that people’s lives
are not their own;
it is not for them to direct their steps.” The Amplified
version says this, “O Lord [pleads Jeremiah in the name of the people], I know
that [the determination of] the way of a man is not in himself; it is not in
man [even in a strong man or in a man at his best] to direct his [own] steps. 24
O Lord, correct, instruct, and chastise me, but with judgment and
in just measure—not in Your anger, lest You diminish me and bring me to
nothing.”
We seem to forget that our lives are
not our own. Those of us in Christ need to remember that we were bought with a
price. We don’t belong to ourselves anymore. We are to seek, inquire, and
require the Lord in every aspect of our lives. This is called total surrender. If
you think of a slave and his master, once the master purchases the slave the
slave no longer has his own rights. He is subject to his master, in everything.
We need to be subject to Christ, in everything. God wants the best for us so
why not humble yourself and seek His face for guidance. Sometimes we don’t pray
about things because we don’t want to hear what the Spirit of the Lord might
say. Sometimes we know that the way we are going is wrong but we refuse to
humble ourselves to accept whatever God’s answer is. Let me just say, you’re
playing with fire if you do this. The answers God gives are always good because
His plans for us are good. So if God says left and you want so badly for it to
be right, just be obedient and go left. Trust God.
Proverbs 3:5-6 advises us to, “Lean
on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and
mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In
all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and
make straight and plain your paths.” If we would just acknowledge God in our decision-making, we would
be less likely to make foolish mistakes or head down a path that is detrimental to our lives or Christian walk.
Therefore, if you need guidance or
direction for anything, I encourage you to pray. Seek God about the matter, and
please wait for the answer! Remember: The steps of a [good]
man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way
[and He busies Himself with his every step] (Psalms 37:23, AMP).
God
Bless
No comments:
Post a Comment