Muddled ∙∙

Muddled ∙∙

Your ears will hear him. Right behind you, a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. – Isaiah 30:21

Joshua 1:6-9

 6 Be strong and courageous . . ..

 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then, you will be successful in everything you do.

 8 Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

 9 This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

Alice came to a crossroads, a fork in the road, and asked, “Which road do I take?” she asked.

“Where do you want to go?” responded the Cheshire Cat.

“I don’t know,” Alice answered.

“Then, it doesn’t matter.” said the Cheshire Cat (Lewis Carroll, Thru the Looking Glass).

For the children of the King, forks in the road are all about our crucial life decisions. They begin with recognizing meaningful opportunities and not retreating in fear or doubt. Instead, we should seek wisdom from the Father.

Life revolves around choices. Gaining wisdom involves learning to make decisions for the right reasons. Wise choices stem from the heart and your developing relationship with the Father. They require a clear understanding of where you intend to go and, ultimately, where the Father wants you to be.

Motivation is key. Two people can pursue the same objective but for entirely different reasons. The film “Chariots of Fire” illustrates this well. It tells the story of Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell, both athletes preparing for the 1924 Olympics. Despite being on the same team, they differ significantly. Abrahams competes to prove something, driven by insecurity. For him, winning is all important. It’s all about him.

Liddell, however, competes to win as well, but he feels the Father’s pleasure when he runs. The Father’s strength and presence uplift him to victory. He is not in bondage to himself but is inspired to live for the Father’s honor and glory: two men, two different motives, two distinct inner lives. Eric Liddell competes energized and empowered by the Holy Spirit, while Harold Abrahams relies on personal ambition and sheer adrenaline. This contrast highlights the difference between the divine strength of mature spirituality and the earthly power of self-driven ambition.

The world is a dark place, but Jesus is the light of the world.

John 8:12 Jesus said, I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness but will have the Light of life.

John 12:35 So Jesus said to them, for a little while longer, the Light is among you. Walk in the light while you can . . .. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going.

REFLECT & PRAY

“When you come to a fork in the road, take it” (Yogi Berra). When it is time to make crucial decisions, make them!

Father, grant me the wisdom to understand the significance of my choices and the courage to rely on Your guidance for making the best ones.

INSIGHT

The Father doesn’t play “hide and seek” to obscure His presence or plans and make it difficult to find Him and His will. He promises us His guidance and clarity if we truly desire to follow His will. However, there is one gotcha. While the Father may be transmitting loud and clear, we may have our receiver turned off. And we are simply not listening.

Yet, one of the realities of the Christian walk is that there are moments when God seems hidden, as if a barrier stands between us. The Father in heaven appears to separate Himself from us and erect a thick, impenetrable barrier. But these times DO NOT LAST. Once the barrier is lifted, we experience the delightful joy of experiencing closeness and intimacy with Him.

The Father communicates with us in many ways. Ironically, when the King’s children cannot see, He opens their ears. What cannot be seen can be heard. His voice becomes perceptible, and He tells them which way to go.

A simple whisper, once heard, trusted, and followed, changes the trajectory of our lives.

The Father offers a profound and intimate relationship with Him, both now and in eternity. What could be more wonderful and fulfilling than experiencing His presence and closeness?

Spiritual maturity requires being adaptable and open to whatever guidance the Father provides. Our faith deepens when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable to hard truths that test us profoundly and challenge us to the core. The Father calls all His children to strive for greater growth, as mediocrity, remaining inactive, and stagnation are not part of His plan.

He envisioned our journey of faith as an exciting, thrilling adventure fueled by our love for Him. Obedience is about discovery rather than merely a means to avoid negative outcomes.

Unfortunately, the children of the King often view obedience as a way to sidestep the repercussions of disobedience, perceiving it as a burden rather than a broad and inviting path to maturity and fulfillment. Asking the right questions is vital.

Such questions are: Father, what would you have me do? Father, what would you have me learn from these circumstances? Father, which path is best for me now?

Proverbs 3:5-7

 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

 7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.

Trust often suggests a potential threat or evil ahead. To trust in the LORD with all your heart signifies a complete surrender of oneself. This admonition “is the theological foundation upon which all the proverbs rest” (Bland).

When the sage advises the reader to acknowledge Him (Proverbs 3:6), it refers to an attitude; the child of the King desires to fulfill the Father’s will. By fully trusting in Him, the assurance is that He will direct and make straight your paths. This doesn’t guarantee a life free from challenges but instead provides a life with clear direction and purpose (Bland).

Abraham embarked on his journey without knowing the destination, confident that God would guide him. In essence, God promised to straighten his paths.

Do not be wise in your own eyes (Proverbs 3:7). This phrase appears frequently in Proverbs and is used to depict the fool who is “wise in his own eyes” (see Proverbs 26:5, 12, 16).

Those who consider themselves wise are often led by arrogance, relying on their intellect to navigate life (see Jeremiah 9:23-24). This mindset contrasts with “fearing the LORD.” “ To be wise in one’s own eyes is a demonstration of pride. To fear the LORD demonstrates humility” (Bland).

¯\_(ツ)_/¯8-02-2

© Dr. H 2024