Guided Steps

Judges 6:11-27
Genesis 9:8-17
Proverbs 3:5-6

A common misconception about the Christian life centers around the ease with which life is lived after becoming a Christian. Some people believe becoming a Christian is a “crutch” used to avoid the hard things in life. For others, it is the mindset of Christianity equaling a perfectly mapped out life with zero challenges.

Neither assumption is accurate.
Becoming a Christian means entering a relationship with the Lord, not a business deal involving free-pass from suffering. I started my friendship with the Lord at an early age, and therefore, I have had the blessing of years spent learning how to interact with God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Over the years, I have grown in my communication with the Lord.
Communication is a key component of any relationship.
As many of my married friends have shared, communication is often one of the greatest challenges within a marriage. My relationship with the Lord is similar. I must continually be working to communicate well with Him. I would love to say this is an easy, overnight process, but it takes time and effort.

Time to develop history with the Lord in which I discover His character.
Effort to quiet myself before Him and invest the time to get to know Him through His Word and prayer.

The Lord is always present, but it is up to us to seek and recognize His presence.

This entire discussion thus far is a lead-up to addressing the question of whether the Lord gives us signs to tell us what to do. Does the Lord have a track record of providing signs to help us know what to do? Yes. However, those signs are not necessarily the flashing ones on the side of the highway telling us to take the next exit. More often than not, they are far more subtle and may even come as confirmation, rather than direction.

In my own walk with the Lord, “signs” are nestled deep within the context of relationship with Him. These signs are not words scrolled in the sky, rather they are direction and guidance found in the rich soil of deep, intimate relationship between the Lord and myself. The two Bible stories you read at the start of the journey study are perfect examples of this truth.

For Gideon, the sign from the Lord came after the angel gave him direction. Gideon was already mid-conversation with an angel of the Lord when Gideon’s request for a sign was granted. Gideon understood what the sign represented because it occurred as part of an on-going conversation.

For Noah and his family, the sign came as a confirmation of a promise the Lord spoke to Noah. In this scenario, the Lord shared His plans with Noah and revealed how Noah could live in peace every time it began to rain in the future. The Lord spoke far in advance of a future scenario, in order to help Noah know and trust the Lord’s heart for protecting His people . . . all before Noah ever needed an umbrella.

Isaiah 30:21 says,
“and whenever you turn to the right or to the left,
your ears will hear this command behind you:
“This is the way. Walk in it.’”

I have learned the Lord’s heart is for me to know what He has planned for me, and for me to walk out those plans, for His glory. He has consistently guided me, either through confirmation of decisions I have made, or by repeatedly catching my attention to remind me to talk with Him as new seasons are approaching. Couched in the confines of our relationship, I find the heartbeat of God and I hear His whispered voice of direction.

As with Gideon and Noah, these interactions are solidly based within a relationship with Him. For instance, I have found the Lord often speaks to me through songs. More than once, I have been praying while driving and a song plays on the radio, speaking directly to my prayers. Another way He speaks to me is through my time journaling with Him. Many of those pages are filled with Bible verses He brings to mind as I pray. His Word is always the richest source of counsel and direction for every believer!

As you consider your walk with the Lord, can you identify personalized ways in which He speaks to you?

“My ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
(Isaiah 55:9)

This verse has reminded me frequently while I may be seeing potential signs from the Lord, I must continually surrender them to His Lordship and leadership. Before I take action based on what I believe is a sign, I must make sure it coincides with His Word and is accompanied by His peace to proceed.

The Lord is faithful and actively speaking to those seeking Him. He has promised we will find Him when we search with all of our hearts. (Jeremiah 29:13)
May you discover His heart for you as you navigate this life!
Place your full weight into investing in relationship with Him by studying His word,
He will guide your steps!

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