God as our leader and guide, Part 2

admin – February 3, 2014 1 Comment

As I mentioned in the first post in this series, I am trying to take the promises that God wants to guide and direct us more seriously than I ever have. As I explore this in my daily living and in the experiences recorded in the scriptures, I find it important to disabuse myself of the idea that “success” would mean a much easier life. After all, the person who did this best was led to a cross. And, no, I am not asking for a cross—please be gentle with me Lord! But, I would like for my daily life to reflect more fully God’s answers to the prayer Jesus told us to pray: “Your will be done on earth as it is in the heavens.”

One step in this process which has been proving fruitful in my daily living is remembering to ask God to go with me as I make the transitions in my daily life. Some of us have more obvious transitions in our day than others of us, but we all have more than we think we do. We transition from sleep to our day. We transition from home to the workplace, or in some cases to the office at home or the coffee shop where we take our laptops to work. Some of us transition from one appointment to another, even with travel time in between, while others of us transition from work to break time and lunch time. We transition to “time off” as our workday ends. We transition to dinner time and maybe to an evening off or a small group or…. And then, we transition toward bed and sleep. That list doesn’t begin to touch the real count of transitions, once you start noticing.

So, what if I, what if you, use each transition as an opportunity to invite God both to “go with” and even to “direct my steps” throughout the day? Do I forget more than I remember? Probably, since transitions occur with each interruption and each big and small change of plans. But, as I attempt to remember, I find that I am more available to God. Even more amazing, God seems to be more able/willing to be available to me.

Would you join me in experimenting with asking God to make the life-wisdom of Proverbs 3:5-8 more a part of your life too?  Remember, in the Biblical imagery, “way” is  a word describing a “way of living” our daily life—what the Natives Americans so aptly call “the Jesus Road.”

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge the LORD, and the LORD will make straight (prepare ahead of you)  your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be a healing for your flesh and a refreshment for your body.

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As always, if you have any questions or thoughts about this post, or if there is another topic you’d like me to explore in a future post, please leave a comment. I always enjoy your questions and thoughts.