Do You Know Which Way to Go?

“You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with your and that you may live long in the land which you shall possess.” Deut. 5:33

Have you ever been lost and didn’t know which way to go?  Recently I was lost in a big city and did not know which way to go.  After completing my business at the court house, I asked the clerk how to get to the interstate. She seemed quiet annoyed at the question but hurriedly gave me directions.  After circling around the city I realized I was very lost.   So I asked a business man at the red light; he too was in a hurry, so his directions were equally as confusing.  After circling around the city for the third time, I stopped and asked a little old man at the gas station.  He wasn’t in a hurry; he had all the time in the world.  He paid attention to my question and carefully gave me directions which were very easy to follow. Within just a few minutes I was on my way.

In our world everyone seems to be in a hurry; we encounter people every day, the lady at the check -out counter or the man at the bank, who are busy doing their jobs and don’t have time for more questions.  So if you need directions, you simply need to find someone who has plenty of time.  You will know you have found the right person because they will pay close attention and listen to your questions and take time to give you the answer.

When you need directions in life, don’t give up after the first person does not have time.  Keep asking until you find someone who does.  God has all the time in the world.  He will listen to your questions, and He will give you clear directions.  Don’t keep circling around and around like the children of Israel; listen to the directions of the Lord and obey His voice.

God Has Adopted Us As His Own

For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]—Ephesians 1:5

The comfort you receive from the Holy Spirit confirms that you have been adopted by God as His own child. When you receive comfort from the Lord, it is like the warmth of a favorite blanket that creates outward warmth and an inward feeling. The feeling of comfort confirms to you that you are loved.

I recently heard the story of a mother who bought a special blanket to receive her adopted daughter in. The moment this mother saw her newborn daughter, she loved her, and the moment her daughter felt the soft blanket wrapped around her, she knew she was loved. The comfort of the blanket and the loving arms wrapped around her were soothing to this infant, and she knew that she belonged to her new adopted mother and father. Twenty-plus years later, this young lady still has this blanket and loves to feel the comfort of the soft texture.

In a world of turmoil we too need to feel the comfort that comes when we know we are loved and received by someone. Something happens on the inside when we cover up in a soft blanket; we feel comforted. The moment you feel comforted, let it remind you that God loves you, He adopted you, and wrapped you in a receiving blanket as His own child.

Breaking Free From Rejection

Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives…” Luke 4:18

“You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” John 8:32

If you have been hurt or wounded, you may still struggle with thoughts and feelings of rejection. If you are still feeling the pain even after forgiving the one who hurt you, you are not completely free yet.

The enemy uses rejection to plant lies in our mind. To be free, you must realize who your enemy is; it is not flesh and blood or the person who rejected you. You must recognize the lies and come completely out of agreement with them.

Jesus came to set us free from rejection. He set’s us free with the Truth. Scripture tells us not to give a place for the enemy.   “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”  (Ephesians 4:26, 27)

The Lies from Rejection

Childhood is the most vulnerable time in our life. During the formative years, we look to the adults that are closest to us for acceptance and validation. If our parents failed to recognize or validate us, then lies can be embraced.

Lies that remain in a child’s mind over the course of time grow and take over their thoughts, like weeds take over a garden.

Adulthood and childhood lies sound the same:

  • “There is something wrong with me”
  • “I’m not good enough”
  • “I will never be good enough”
  • “Nobody cares”
  • “I’m unwanted”
  • “I don’t belong”
  • “Nobody loves me”
  • “Why try?”

Has the enemy used rejection to plant lies in your mind?  You must replace the lies with the truth of God’s Word.

Dwell in the Presence of the Lord

Do You Desire to Dwell in the Presence of the Lord?

“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord, and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple” Psalms 27:4, Amplified.

David was not satisfied to simply have an occasional encounter with God. His desire was to dwell in the presence of the Lord always.  I have found that Psalms 27:4 holds a powerful key to dwelling in the presence of the Lord! The key is to meditate on His Word.

In Psalms 1:2, David said he meditates on the Word of God day and night. As you go through your day, choose a verse and meditate on it, quote it over and over, and then write out the impressions you have regarding that verse.

Ask God to speak to you through His Word, and as you do that you will find your spirit is lifted up above your circumstances and you are dwelling in His presence.  As this becomes a daily practice, you will soon find that you can dwell in the House of the Lord forever.