Encouragement for Today - Mar. 31, 2009

March 31, 2009

Lead Me Lord

“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

Devotion:

Do you pray for direction, and hear nothing?

Do you wonder if God even heard your prayers?

Friend, you are not alone. Often I come before God, pouring out my heart in prayer, seeking His will for different areas in my life. Then I hear nothing. He is silent. Not wanting to wait, I forge ahead on my own. In my busyness, I fail to sit and wait. No time, I say, because someone is waiting for an answer. No time, I say, because I need to act now.

Yet, when I examine Scripture, God consistently teaches: sit, pray, and wait. Jesus began His ministry by fasting forty days alone in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). He spent an entire night alone in prayer before choosing His twelve disciples (Luke 6:12).

Esther fasted and prayed for three days before she took the bold and courageous step of going before the king on behalf of her people, knowing it could mean her death (Esther 4:8-16).

Elijah went into the wilderness for forty days to hear the “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:11-18).

What do these great people of faith teach us? To know God’s leading, to hear His voice, we must listen and wait. Maybe we think God is silent because we never take the time to sit in God’s Word and wait. When we do, He promises it will penetrate us to the marrow of our bones, to the deepest places in our heart. Hebrews 4:12 says His Word is living and active and “sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow” (NIV).

When we choose to get alone with God, He promises to meet us there. Jeremiah 29:13-14a says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you” (NIV). Take the challenge to meet Him in His Word.

Do you want direction? Follow these steps.

1) Read God’s Word: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the [woman] of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (NIV) God was actively involved in the writing of Scripture. It is the infallible and authoritative Word of God written to speak Truth into your life today.

2) Study God’s Word: 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (NIV). When you study His Word, He plants it deep within your heart. His Spirit then takes the Word and bends your heart in His direction, enabling you to hear His Voice.

3) Pray God’s Word: Isaiah 55:11 says, “...so is My Word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purposes for which I sent it” (NIV). Prayer is God’s living Word spoken out of your mouth. When you pray in faith, you hold God’ Word up to Him in prayer. You put Him in remembrance of His Word, and His promise is that Word will not return void. Furthermore it shall accomplish that which He purposes and pleases.

Join me today in applying God’s Word to the circumstances in your life. Know that when you do, God promises to do abundantly more than you could ever ask or imagine!

Heavenly Father, I need direction in my life today. You seem distant and silent. Yet I know that You are not because You promise to never leave me or forsake me. Today, I commit to search Your Word. Open my eyes that I may see the wonderful things in Your Law. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear Your direction in my circumstances. Thank You, Lord, that in my seeking You will meet me. Thank You that as I trust in You completely, You will lead me down Your paths! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The Transforming Power of God’s Story by Wendy Blight

He Speaks to Me, Priscilla Shirer

Stop by Wendy’s blog.

Application Steps:

Commit one area of your life or one situation with which you struggle to hear the Lord. Search His Word for verses that speak to your situation. Write them down on a card, commit them to memory, and pray them back to God. Wait and watch for God to do a mighty work. Share your story with me on my blog. I would love to celebrate God’s faithfulness with you.

Reflections:

Sit and soak in Psalm 119 and marvel at the many blessings that flow from knowing and obeying God’s Word.

Power Verses:

Read, study, and pray the verses listed in the body of the devotional.