My Dear Friends in Christ,

I have this tendency to be a little whiny and recently in my walk with the LORD I started whining big time, however, God set me straight with Joshua 1:9 and other passages. He did this while I was traveling through a radio ministry, through my Pastor, through my wife, and through another Christian at my church. All this occurred within two days (seems like He was trying to make a point in my life doesn’t it?). You see I had lost my focus on God and was focused on my circumstances. OK I’ll admit it, I’m a control freak and I like a plan for everything so I can be in control. There must be a 1/5/10/20-year plan that I can focus on. With God He may give you one day at a time, like He is doing with me. So what does a control freak do? He remembers it is much better to have an infinite Being in control of his life. However, I still need assurance in order for me to be sure everything is in control, I get this assurance by being close to God. I do this through prayer, reading of His word, and following His guidance/prompting in my life.

I had not been listening well to His gentle prompting and I was doing what I thought best (in the military if given no plan you do what you feel is best for the given situation to reach the goal). Do you pray that God guides you in everything you do, you know you should. You see He can help you in everything you do. Ever felt a prompting to do something and didn’t and later regretted not following the prompting? God can help you in everything you do and all you need to do is listen and be aware as you ask Him to guide you, He will guide. Oh it will not be a loud voice saying, "John you left the cassette tape on your desk", but more of a gentle nonverbal prompting as you start down the road that you forgot your cassette tape. Of course I could have avoided even this if I had asked Him before I left and taken a quiet moment to reflect on His goodness and ask, "Lord do I have everything I need?"

I challenge you to follow God’s prompting in everything in your life, it will change you, and it is changing me. Yes, you will make mistakes, as I have and still do, but as you learn you will grow closer to the Lord and relish the times He does give those gentle promptings in your life.

Have a joyous day in our Lord!

john
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Encouragement From The Heart Website updated March 17, 2000 (note: web address changed).
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Scripture references (unless noted otherwise): The Open Bible, New American Standard
copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977
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