Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images from Gordon Mote singing his song … Don’t Let Me Miss the Glory … joyfully singing of our life’s search for God’s glory in all that He provides to show us His will and His way through life, … especially pertinent/powerful since Gordon Mote is blind.
Highlight Verse[s]: Matthew 16:3 [NKJV] …
3 … Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.
… Too often we look for signs from God to confirm our feelings.
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Highlight Context: Matthew 16:1-4 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day couldn’t see the clear signs that He was their Messiah.
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Reference Passage #1 … Psalm 119:105 [NKJV] …
105 Your word is lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
… God’s word gives us signposts to guide us thru life.
Reference Passage #2 … John 14:26 [NKJV] …
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
… Jesus gives us His Spirit to be our life coach … much better than a sign.
Reference Passage #3 … James 1:5-6 [NKJV] …
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
… God promises to give us His wisdom if we seek it, but only when we believe and completely trust Him.
My Journal for Today: … Our Daily Bread author, Tim Gustafson, in teaching about our faith in God’s guidance, used a typical example. He wrote: A young man I know has a habit of asking God for signs. That’s not necessarily bad, but his prayers tend to seek confirmation of his feelings. For instance, he’ll pray, “God, if You want me to do X, then You please do Y, and I’ll know it’s okay.” This has created a dilemma. Because of the way he prays and the way he thinks God is answering, he feels that he should get back with his ex-girlfriend. Perhaps unsurprisingly, she feels strongly that God doesn’t want that.
How often when we have a feeling - or a leaning in some direction - do we seek after a sign from God to confirm what we’re feeling or thinking? I expect TOO OFTEN? That’s what Jesus confronted when he was challenged by the religious leaders of His day (see Matt. 16 text above). And He rebuffed these Pharisees because they were blind to the clear signs they already had that He was the Messiah.
And many times we, too, have all we need to move ahead in life; but we get hung up on seeking for clear/absolute signs from God to guide us. After all God gave us His word to light out path, didn’t He? … He give true Christians His Spirit to be our life coach. … And … He promised us His wisdom if we had enough faith to seek it. [See the Reference Passages above.]
I like what the ODB author stated to conclude his teaching today: The best way to know God’s will is to say “I will” to God. … Enough said!!!
My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … Lord, again I pray, … shine Your light brightly on my path; and give me the grace to see it. … 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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