Author's Note: Every day on the YWAP Fast Jan. 6-26, 2020 we’ll write about our experience as we respond to what God plants on our hearts during our extended time with Him.. Eventually the story will be chronicled into a book. “But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.” Matthew 6:33 AMP
A GUIDE TO YOUR DESTINY
On these 21 Days of Fasting, the subjects we write about are the result of asking God what to write about. Usually a word, a subject or a phrase will settle into my mind the night before. The beauty of that is being able to sleep on it. It's a great habit to read, pray or mediate right before bedtime, on something planted in your mind by the Holy Spirit. Last night God impressed upon me to study the word “guide” so I could write about it today.
It was a little over a year ago that my good friend and Bible scholar Mike Lafferty told me about a great study resource called the Open Bible. I found one at the Goodwill for $1.99. The verse in the photo above reminded me to thank God for the way He guides me through great guys like Mike. Psalm 74:24 “Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” Thanks Mike. Jesus loves you and so do we.
God will guide us through His Word, prayer, fasting, dreams, visions and the Holy Spirit often works through situations, and people like my friend Mike. Each one of us will receive guidance from God in different ways. Sometimes it may be the same or similar, but we serve a God who loves personal relationships. An important point to note is: God gives individual guidance to individual people through personal relationships.
You might be wondering. "How can you know the guidance you're receiving is from God?" That's a great question! My personal habit which gives me a great deal of assurance that I'm actually hearing from God is a threefold process. For me to receive confirmation that God is guiding me in a certain direction, I have to see something in the Bible. I don't mean that I go searching for something in the Bible to agree with what I think. It's easy to find Bible verses to support your opinion. That only works if you're trying to teach something the Bible or you have a question that needs God's clarity. Being guided by the Word is being alert to what some folks call "coincidences" or random "chance-happenings." You may see a Bible verse on social media or a billboard. Perhaps you hear it on the radio or maybe the preacher speaks about it at church. It seemingly comes out of nowhere. I call this, "A coincidence brought about by Divine providence that calls for obedience."
So the most important part of my "Threefold Process of Being Guided By God" is I have to receive confirmation in the Word of God. After that it's simply a combination of at least two more confirmations from the ways listed in the third paragraph above. It's not rocket science, but more like being spiritually awake (part of yesterday's word!) Paying attention to the world around you from God's perspective will give you heavenly wisdom, insight and knowledge.
A few of us were talking in a meeting about danger in ministry last week. The two Pastors in the meeting agreed (myself included) that as long as we were in God's will (being guided by Him,) we'd be safe from any harm. We also agreed that if harm did come, we'd be happy in heaven. The point we were trying to make is that, if you're doing what God has called you to do, He won't let anything happen to you. (Dangerous misconception!) Yesterday I had a phone conversation with my friend Mike, the same guy who guided me to the Open Bible. He had some good wisdom to share with me about protecting myself in dangerous situations. Just because you're being guided by God, you still need to guard your personal safety. It makes sense that the devil would love to take you out because you've allowed your life to be guided by God.
There are folks who sacrifice their lives to save others. God gave His only Son to sacrifice His life. Jesus was being guided to the cross so that we would be guarded from hell. The Holy Spirit will guide us and it's our responsibility to guard what He's entrusted to us. Guard your heart as you let God guide your life.
DAY SIX WORD
Psalm 25:9 International Children’s Bible
“He shows those who are not proud how to do right.
He teaches them his ways.”
Psalm 32:8 Living Bible
“I will instruct you (says the Lord) and guide you along the best pathway for your life;
I will advise you and watch your progress.”
Psalm 48:14 Amplified Bible
“For this is God,
Our God forever and ever;
He will be our guide even until death.”
Isaiah 58:11 King James Version
“And the Lord shall guide thee continually,
and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones:
and thou shalt be like a watered garden,
and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”
Romans 12:2 International Children’s Bible
“Do not be shaped by this world. Instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you. And you will be able to know what is good and pleasing to God and what is perfect.”
Proverbs 4:10-15 The Message
“Dear friend, take my advice;
it will add years to your life.
I’m writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way,
I’m drawing a map to Righteous Road.
I don’t want you ending up in blind alleys,
or wasting time making wrong turns.
Hold tight to good advice; don’t relax your grip.
Guard it well—your life is at stake!
Don’t take Wicked Bypass;
don’t so much as set foot on that road.
Stay clear of it; give it a wide berth.
Make a detour and be on your way.”
DAY SIX PRAYER
Thank You God for knowing us before we were born. You had a plan, a purpose and a destiny before You placed us in our mothers wombs. You established the work of our hands for us. You lead us and guide us in the way we should go. Your Word is a lamp to our feet and guards our steps along our life's journey. Thank You God for being our Life-guide and our Life-guard. Amen
DAY SIX DEEP THOUGHTS
It was a little over a year ago that my good friend and Bible scholar Mike Lafferty told me about a great study resource called the Open Bible. I found one at the Goodwill for $1.99. The verse in the photo above reminded me to thank God for the way He guides me through great guys like Mike. Psalm 74:24 “Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” Thanks Mike. Jesus loves you and so do we.
God will guide us through His Word, prayer, fasting, dreams, visions and the Holy Spirit often works through situations, and people like my friend Mike. Each one of us will receive guidance from God in different ways. Sometimes it may be the same or similar, but we serve a God who loves personal relationships. An important point to note is: God gives individual guidance to individual people through personal relationships.
You might be wondering. "How can you know the guidance you're receiving is from God?" That's a great question! My personal habit which gives me a great deal of assurance that I'm actually hearing from God is a threefold process. For me to receive confirmation that God is guiding me in a certain direction, I have to see something in the Bible. I don't mean that I go searching for something in the Bible to agree with what I think. It's easy to find Bible verses to support your opinion. That only works if you're trying to teach something the Bible or you have a question that needs God's clarity. Being guided by the Word is being alert to what some folks call "coincidences" or random "chance-happenings." You may see a Bible verse on social media or a billboard. Perhaps you hear it on the radio or maybe the preacher speaks about it at church. It seemingly comes out of nowhere. I call this, "A coincidence brought about by Divine providence that calls for obedience."
So the most important part of my "Threefold Process of Being Guided By God" is I have to receive confirmation in the Word of God. After that it's simply a combination of at least two more confirmations from the ways listed in the third paragraph above. It's not rocket science, but more like being spiritually awake (part of yesterday's word!) Paying attention to the world around you from God's perspective will give you heavenly wisdom, insight and knowledge.
A few of us were talking in a meeting about danger in ministry last week. The two Pastors in the meeting agreed (myself included) that as long as we were in God's will (being guided by Him,) we'd be safe from any harm. We also agreed that if harm did come, we'd be happy in heaven. The point we were trying to make is that, if you're doing what God has called you to do, He won't let anything happen to you. (Dangerous misconception!) Yesterday I had a phone conversation with my friend Mike, the same guy who guided me to the Open Bible. He had some good wisdom to share with me about protecting myself in dangerous situations. Just because you're being guided by God, you still need to guard your personal safety. It makes sense that the devil would love to take you out because you've allowed your life to be guided by God.
There are folks who sacrifice their lives to save others. God gave His only Son to sacrifice His life. Jesus was being guided to the cross so that we would be guarded from hell. The Holy Spirit will guide us and it's our responsibility to guard what He's entrusted to us. Guard your heart as you let God guide your life.
DAY SIX WORD
Psalm 25:9 International Children’s Bible
“He shows those who are not proud how to do right.
He teaches them his ways.”
Psalm 32:8 Living Bible
“I will instruct you (says the Lord) and guide you along the best pathway for your life;
I will advise you and watch your progress.”
Psalm 48:14 Amplified Bible
“For this is God,
Our God forever and ever;
He will be our guide even until death.”
Isaiah 58:11 King James Version
“And the Lord shall guide thee continually,
and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones:
and thou shalt be like a watered garden,
and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”
Romans 12:2 International Children’s Bible
“Do not be shaped by this world. Instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you. And you will be able to know what is good and pleasing to God and what is perfect.”
Proverbs 4:10-15 The Message
“Dear friend, take my advice;
it will add years to your life.
I’m writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way,
I’m drawing a map to Righteous Road.
I don’t want you ending up in blind alleys,
or wasting time making wrong turns.
Hold tight to good advice; don’t relax your grip.
Guard it well—your life is at stake!
Don’t take Wicked Bypass;
don’t so much as set foot on that road.
Stay clear of it; give it a wide berth.
Make a detour and be on your way.”
DAY SIX PRAYER
Thank You God for knowing us before we were born. You had a plan, a purpose and a destiny before You placed us in our mothers wombs. You established the work of our hands for us. You lead us and guide us in the way we should go. Your Word is a lamp to our feet and guards our steps along our life's journey. Thank You God for being our Life-guide and our Life-guard. Amen
DAY SIX DEEP THOUGHTS
- God guides us one revelation at a time.
- The Word of God will guide you and guard you.
- “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)
- Pay no attention to the ways of the world. Speak the Truth in all situations.
- “and as Christ’s soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in worldly affairs, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army.” 2 Timothy 2:4 Living Bible
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