October 20, 2006
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A friend’s recent thought about the book we’re studying in
our cellgroup.We just hit the chapter on spiritual guidance and I remember
the first time I read this book about how I felt like Jacob before God gave him
his vision. So unaware of how God is a
living God; that He’s all around us, there and available to lead us if we so
desire to listen to Him. Our desire for
guidance should be based upon how our actions can further His kingdom and bring
glory to the Almighty father. It only
makes sense to ask God for guidance in the context of a life committed to
“seeking first the kingdom.” Not to
determine whether we should take path A or path B because we want to feel less
pain or feel less uncertainty. For
God’s purpose in guidance is not to get us to perform the right actions. His purpose is to help us become the right
kind of person.That I think is the hardest part: to become the right kind
of person in the eyes of God. Society
has filled us up with so much crap that my mind begins to push God out, to lose
focus on His kingdom. This mindlessness
and passivity towards “listening” for God begins to numb my desire to glorify
Him by hesitating and questioning if my actions really mean much. It is in these things that Satan begins to
work. My ears numb to Gods voice but
only aware to my own selfish desires.Therefore, I must seek His guidance. Seek, listen and discern. Passivity must turn to actions. Mindlessness must turn to focus. The willingness to desire the things of His
kingdom comes first. That is the Godly guidance
I seek.To glorify God.
Comments (4)
mmm, insightful, convicting post.
this is quite an interesting way of having a book club, no? i really like this book, thanks for thinking of me.
Hey Shyeah, I agree in general with what you say since seeking God’s glory should be our highest priority, but what if you are faced with two or more equal in God Glorifying opportunites, then how do you choose? (E.g., should I teach children, middle schoolers, or adults? Should I marry this girl? Which school should I pick? Career? Etc.) Some very helpful books to consider: The easy-to-read, very straight forward, God-centered book by John MacArthur (Found, God’s Will: Find the Direction & Purpose God Wants for Your Life), the incredibly & wonderfully meaty updated classic text by Gary Friesan (Decision Making & the Will of God), and the other update classic Elisabeth Elliot of Slow & Certain Light (the updated version I can’t remember the title.)
The bottom line, is that God at times allows personal choices to play a factor.
Bro, I dont discount what you pose. God wants us to build that relationship with him and ask for guidance on all aspects of our life. Does teaching His word glorify Him? Yes. Where would the greater need be at? True one can still ask God the granular aspects of where to teach and I’m sure He’ll answer (else dont we just put God in a box then?) I think the overall point is that we tend to mostly ask God about those “Should I choose Door #1 or Door #2?” questions while losing focus on if those guestions fully glorify God. I believe when we seek to glorify God in asking for guidance than alot of those little things we may worry about tend to solve themselves. (solve in the sense we tend not to worry about if we made the “right” decission) That doesnt mean we shouldnt ask for guidance but we need to keep focus on the grander scheme of bringing glory to Him.
soooo which girl you thinking about asking to marry?