Thursday, April 05, 2018

April 5, 2018 … God’s Perfect Counsel

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 95 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Kristyn and Keith Getty singing their song … Speak, O Lord … poignantly singing of how God’s word is His perfect “GPS” for our lives.


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Highlight Verse[s]: Philippians 4:12, … 19 [NLT] … 6 But Jehoshaphat asked [of Ahab], “Is there not also a prophet of the Lord here? We should ask him the same question.” … 7 The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, “There is one more man who could consult the Lord for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.” 
… Ahab is an example of any of us who don’t want to seek or hear God’s counsel for our lives. 
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Highlight Passage [context]:2 Chronicles 18:1-27 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK
… The story of Jehoshaphat and Ahab and the prophecies Ahab didn’t want to heart 
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 119: 9-11, 105 [NLT] …USE THIS LINK
… God, in song, shows us that His word is really the only way to guide us along the paths of life, avoiding the pitfalls of sin.

Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6, 11:14 [NLT] …USE THIS LINK
… God’s wisdom in seeking wise, GODLY counsel and getting that wisdom ultimately from God’s word.

Reference Passage : … Isaiah 55:11 [NLT] …USE THIS LINK
… God’s word is ALWAYS fruitful, counseling us to fulfill His purposes.

Reference Passage : … 2 Timothy 3:16-17 [NLT] …USE THIS LINK
… God’s word is the ultimate “GPS” for life and any counsel which is compatible with His truth will keep us on His path and in His will.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Kirsten Holmberg, writes of our human tendency to see out opinions which agree with our own selfish desires; and uses an OT biblical example to illustrate this very human character trait. … The ODB author wrote: As human beings, we are prone to seek out information that supports the opinions we hold. Research shows that we’re actually twice as likely to look for information that supports our position. When we’re deeply committed to our own way of thinking, we avoid having that thinking challenged by opposing positions. 

We’ve all needed advice, direction, or counsel when things were confusing, haven’t we? And often we either try to go it on our own or we try to seek opinions/help from those who agree with our preconceived ideas. Today, the ODB author shows this tendency in the story of two kings trying to seek prophetic guidance concerning warfare; and one of the King’s, Ahab, exhibiting our human selfishness to hear advice from prophets who only agreed with him [see highlight passage].

But God’s word, which is ALWAYS perfect counsel, will ALWAYS steer us in the right direction, and should be our primary “GPS” when it comes to seeking our paths in life or clearing up confusion [Ps. 119:9-11, 105 and Is. 55:11]. And when we go to others for help/counsel, which we should [Prov. 11:14], we should have confidence that our counselors know and follow God’s truth (2Tim. 3:16-17].

Personally, you find me here - EVERYDAY - getting into God’s word and getting God’s word into me … because I desperately need the clarity and direction which only God’s truth can provide. And I share as much of that counsel as I can with anyone reading here with me to help shine a light on our mutual paths in life.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for always leading me in the right way, … YOUR WAY … from Your word.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Shine Your light of truth on my path today so brightly that I cannot help but stay on track. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

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