Following the Right Lead

We talk about doors opening or closing on opportunities. We become disappointed when the door to a promising opportunity closes and we celebrate when the doors open to a good opportunity. Maybe we should look at these opening and closing doors from a different perspective.

Acts 16:6, 9 says, “And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.'” God did not want Paul to go to Asia at this particular time. Instead, He called Paul to Macedonia (Europe). As a result these were the first people to hear the gospel in Europe, believe in Jesus and receive salvation. God is able to orchestrate events so that we will do the right thing and His kingdom work will spread. We just need to open our eyes to what He is doing and follow Him.

Strength Renewed

As I get older, I am finding that I can’t do many of the things that I used to be able to do. My mind, also being weak, thinks that I can, but my body reminds me that I don’t have the strength needed to do what my mind thinks I can do. When I still try to do it, I quickly become weak and cannot continue.

Isaiah 40:30-31 says, “Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young me shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” We may grow weary of doing good, doing the right things, from time to time. It is then that we can draw strength from God and our weaknesses become power. When we wait upon God, His might overrules our weakness and accomplishes even greater things that we could have imagined.

Will It Last

When we purchase something we don’t have the expectation that it will last forever. Appliances, though expensive, do not function as designed for long. It doesn’t seem like a long time before our cars begin to deteriorate and even lose value. Even our houses are not designed to last forever. It doesn’t matter how much we spend, we cannot expect our purchases to last forever. Other things, like relationships and rulers, do not reign in our lives forever. We can only count on the sovereign rule and authority of God to endure from everlasting to everlasting.

Psalm 93:1-2 says, “The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.” The Lord has all power and authority over all things. He can be trusted as His rule is established forevermore. He reigns in majesty today and forevermore.

Morning Affects Our Days

Most everybody has some kind of morning routine to get us ready for the day ahead. It usually involved hygiene, food, reading, and getting everyone else ready. If our routine gets disrupted or if something goes wrong in the routine, we may be in a bad mood for the rest of the day.

Psalm 92:1-4 says, “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.” Scripture often declares how good it is to give God the praise and thanksgiving due to Him. Remembering His steadfast love in the morning prepares us to trust Him throughout the day. Focusing on God’s love early in our day, gives us assurance and helps set our attitudes in the right direction. When we speak of His faithfulness at night, we are declaring that God did many awesome works on our behalf during the day. As the psalmist wrote, thinking of God’s faitfulness displayed to us throughout the day makes our hearts glad.

New Self

I am not much of a clothes fashionista. At my age, I really don’t care as much about how the clothes look as much as whether they are comfortable. Some people spend their lives and careers concerned about clothing and styles. Unfortunately, they may look good on the inside but are not so attractive in their inner lives.

Ephesians 4:22-24 says, “to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” When we trust God, He makes us brand new creations. His Spirit in us renews our minds, away from former deceitful thoughts and desires, and toward righteousness and holiness. As His children we begin to become more like our Heavenly Father.