He Leads

God leads us. 

That may seem so simple, but the daily reality of it is hard to grasp.  Right now I have, what seems to me, a thousand decisions to make that affect other people.  I have money matters, physical matters, spiritual matters and emotional matters (desiring to buy a motorcycle).  I have issue of the present moment and issues that need to be given direction now but do not have impact for a year or two.  What I am saying is that my life, like yours, if full of stuff that needs answers, directions, clarity and purpose.

God is a part of my life and so I feel it is very important to know His will for my life.  For me I feel like I have made a grave mistake if I do not know and follow the will of the Lord.  But a lot of the time His voice is just one of many in my mind and soul.  Sometimes God speaks  to me by not speaking to me.  And the most difficult for me, at times, God speaks to me through others, even those whom I do not agree with.

What I think I am trying to say is that God leads, but not like the results we get when we google an address or set our GPS for a destination.  God does not offer turn by turn instructions.  He offers turn by turn presence.  I tend to keep falling into the trap of wanting information from God and enjoying His presence if I get it.  God is working in my life to have me love His presence and enjoy the directions. 

The truth I know but fail to live out, is that having the presence of God in my life is directive.  What I tend to seek is the information that will allow me to have control and leadership.  I want to know, not so much to know the direction, but to be in charge.  Pride working in me wants to look Godly but be selfish.  I want to know the will of the Lord so that I can do it, thus earning for myself the approval of God.  I said, “earning for myself” not “bringing glory to God”.

So, God leads me by being there.  Sure I get the direction, information and knowledge I need, but not with the exclusion of His presence.  God is friendly enough to me not to allow knowledge of Him replace the reality of Him.  In God’s leadership style with Rod, we get 99 parts contact for every one part purpose.  God humbles my offering to Him.  For I want to offer works and self-righteousness and God wants me to offer myself.  I want to succeed at life and get something done, and God wants me to succeed at living and be with Him. 

This is so basic and yet so hard for me.  I keep desiring to take care of myself.  God keeps leading me into places where He and others must care for me.  I want to be independent.  He desires me to be dependent.  I want to “get there” and God wants me to “go with Him”.  I want answers and solutions and God wants the essentials of our relationship together to flow out of my life and touch the world.  I want to live and He wants to give me life.

For me the key that opens the door and leads onto the path of following Jesus, is thankfulness.  When I am truly thankful to God for everything, it seems like I get all the answers I need.  When my soul is set on what I lack, all I get is a revelation of how much I don’t have. 

I’m going to take some time and thank the Master for all that He has given me.  Sure I want answers for todays questions.  Sure I want to know where and how.  But my biggest need is to have a loving relationship with the God who has already been faithful to me a million times.