Psalm 48:14 says, “For this God is your God forever and ever; He will be your guide to the end.” I love the thought of God as my guide. Don’t you?
In the first chapter of Friendship Sisters for a Journey, I encouraged the readers to focus on the word Guidance—As I would read this word, I kept seeing “dance” at the end of the word. A dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other. When I saw “G” I thought of God, followed by “u” and “i”, “God, “u” and “i” dance. “God, you, and I dance.”
How willing are you and I to put our lives in His hands and allow Him to lead? Won’t you dance together with God, trusting Him to lead and to guide you through each season of your life? What does God promise us if we allow Him to be our Guide?
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
Galatians 5:16-17
The promise of God’s guidance is always accessible. Today, you must choose how you are going to walk. Are you going to walk in the flesh or in the Spirit? The deeds of the flesh (sinful nature) are clearly laid out for us in Galatians 5:19-21, “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
The key word in this scripture is practice. Do you make a practice of repeatedly or habitually performing these actions?
Or do you desire to walk in the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law (see Galatians 5:22-23). It is a choice no one can make for you, but you? “So, diligently present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
In the Greek, “Spirit” (pneuma) means breath. So, with each breath, breathe out His love, His joy, His peace, His patience, His kindness, His goodness, His faithfulness, His gentleness, and His self-control. You can’t gain the victory by your own efforts, instead by a complete yielding and surrender of the Spirit of God. Being led by the Holy Spirit involves the desire to not only hear, but listen with the readiness to obey God’s Word, and the sensitivity to discern between your feelings and His commands.
Set out each day to live controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit. Then the words of Christ will be in your mind, the love of Christ will propel your actions, and the power of Christ will help you control your selfish desires. How will your actions affect the glory of God, your walk before men, and your personal cleansing?
And, ask yourself the important question that once launched a national movement, What would Jesus do?
Journeying with Him,