Which way to turn?

Driving in the country for leisure far outweighs driving within the city. The Country side provides scenic views while city driving offers a more direct, easy to follow route but often times chaotic. In the country, one may find themselves with some interesting road companions as it is home to a lot of wildlife. You could be sharing the road with a herd of sheep, cows or a couple of gazelles or even giraffes. If you’re lucky, you might even be required to wait patiently as a huge male monkey guides his troop across the road. You may enjoy stopping a number of times to take photos of a few beautiful landscapes or terrains. The serenity that nature gives yet getting lost can upset the tranquility of it all.

For some, following a google map is not always as straight forward and we find ourselves taking wrong turns,perhaps as we reason out familiar road signs. We may at other times mistrust the map and pull over to call a friend or a sibling, just to confirm that we are on the right road as we describe our surroundings to them.

Have you ever been certain of God’s leading but doubt crept in and you wondered if you heard right and whether the path you are on was as He directed?

Do you check again with God or is your first response to check with others what you were certain was God’s voice then?

It is easy to be afraid or anxious when we are not able to see what is ahead of us or when we’re unsure of which turn or path to take at a particular season in our lives. Yet God is always with us and desiring that we involve Him in each season as our first point of reference. Following God’s lead often means tuning our ears to hear His voice. It could be also that we have been on the path God led us but we now need to get new instructions on what is next for us.

Isaiah 30:21-Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it, whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.

Imagine driving as directed by the google map lady, but we have loud music playing or on the phone with another person directing us, we will certainly miss a turn. Imagine also for a moment, what you would share with the Lord if He were to physically take the drive with you and it was just you alone with Him?

Internal compass as a guide?

When Jesus was preparing for his death, He promised His disciples that His Father would send them a helper. He knew He would no longer be physically present with them. For those that love God and keep His commandments, the promise holds true to this day. That the Holy spirit, the very presence of God comes to dwell in us and abides with us forever-John 14:15-17.

God would desire for us to know His mind about matters in our lives and by the help of His Holy spirit who lives in us. Only then are we able to know which turn to make at particular points in our lives or whether to turn at all.

1 Corinthians chapter 2: verses 9-11 says…But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.  For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. Verse 16 reads…For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

God is faithful to share with us the things that are to come through His Holy Spirit. He may reveal His mind and the direction you are to take by using ordinary people. He may do so also through a dream, He did so with Joseph when He wanted to leave Mary quietly on finding out that she was pregnant yet they were unmarried. He may show you a vision about what is to come. He may also speak through another person by word of knowledge. It could be an inner knowing or His still small voice. There are numerous ways that God speaks to us.

Have you been able to learn ways in which God has spoken to you in the past? Do you trust God’s voice or are you tempted to second guess and check with others what you think is God speaking to you?

The word of God is the greatest source of prophecy. As we study scriptures, the Holy spirit is able to guide us into all truth. Jesus promised that the Spirit of truth, would guide us into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell us things to come. That He will take of what is the Lord’s and declare it to us– John 16:12-14

Be encouraged to speak and involve God in all your affairs. No matter how insignificant a matter may seem, get to know His mind on the same.

Quiet yourself in God. We are admonished in Isaiah 30;15 that in returning [to God] and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and confident trust is your strength.”. Be still before the Lord and you will be able to hear His holy spirit remind you of a promise God gave you or bring clarity on issues that have become foggy on your mind.

Perhaps in those times when we think that we need to take a turn or the next step, all the Lord needs us to do is to be still before Him. That He is already at work on our behalf.