The Lord's Direction

Recently I have been thinking a lot about how God leads His followers to do this or to do that. Often as Christians, we say that we "feel led" to do something, but we can't explain that feeling. I have that made that statement many times lately concerning what our family is preparing to do. We are packing our belongings in order to move from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to the middle of Tennessee, where I will pastor a different Church. My wife and I have not made that decision hastily or easily. It greatly saddens us to leave our current home and Church family, but we believe that God has led us to do so. You may ask, "How can you know for sure?" Well, God's Word is both the explanation and the source for knowing God's Will as a certainty.

The writer of Proverbs gave us a clue to understand the Lord's direction. He wrote, "A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps." (Proverbs 16:9, NKJV) The Hebrew word that is translated as "heart" (leb) portrays the seat of human emotion and thinking, or the mind. Our thoughts are often so intertwined with our emotions that they are indistinguishable, but our thoughts and our feelings play a big role in every decision we make for good or ill. That is why they must be properly understood before they can be used in following God's Will.

Emotion is said to be the most shallow part of our nature and God does not want to simply work in the shallows of our lives. But does that mean that feelings have no part to play in determining God's Will? Well, that depends on whether those feelings are under control or out of control. Our feelings can deceive us, if not brought under the control of the Holy Spirit. On our own we cannot have right feelings or right thoughts without God's help. That is why David prayed to God, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14, NKJV) As our Redeemer, Jesus provided all the strength that we need to have right feelings and right thoughts that will lead to right actions in following Him. Paul explained, "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NKJV) The sacrifice of our Redeemer paid the necessary price for our lives to be remodelled into temples, where the Holy Spirit can dwell and give us His guiding strength! We have the responsibility of living in that strength so that His Will is done.

It has been said that God gave us a brain so that we would use it, but our reasoning alone cannot find the logic in God's Will. Unless we see those things that God leads us to do from His perspective, they may not appear to be the logical choice. When we seek to see things from His perspective and plans, we will come to understand that no other choice is reasonable except the one He has led us to make. The Bible tells us to bring "every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5b, NKJV). When all is said and done, the decision must ultimately be made based on whether or not it is something that must be done to remain obedient to God, regardless of whether it seems logical or feels right.

We have made the rational and emotional decision to move to Tennessee and are planning our "way" accordingly, but there is another element to what was said in Proverbs 16:9 that brings comfort and assurance in this time. The Bible says that "the LORD directs" our "steps" (Proverbs 16:9, NKJV). That word that is translated as "directs" (kun) literally means "to fix, or prepare" in the form in which it is found in this verse. The idea is that God has determined the course we need to take in life and has prepared us to follow that course. To step out in the direction that God has determined for our lives, is to move out on the expedition that He has already made great provision for. What could be more logical or feel better than to follow God's direction and experience Him accomplishing what He intended to do with your life? So far in my own personal experience, I would say that nothing comes close to the amazing adventure of following God's Will, even though it is not always easy or comfortable to do so. The way is clear before us and the time has come to trust Him enough to embark once again.

To our Church family at Sladesville Missionary Baptist Church, we love you all and are thankful that God sent us to serve Him with you. It has a been a great pleasure and an honor to live among such fine, Christian people. The motto that is on the welcome sign to Hyde County, North Carolina, simply says, "Welcome to Hyde County, the road less traveled." We saw the truth in those words, but we can also say that those who do not ever travel that road have missed out on a wonderful experience. As that road leads us away from Hyde County, please remember that we pray that God will continue to bless you all and your efforts for Him there. With Paul we say, "Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Philippians 4:20, NKJV)

"Lord God, we truly want to glorify Your high and holy name in all that we do. Please help us to always follow Your direction, walking in the steps of Jesus our Redeemer. May Your plans be accomplished in our lives and in the lives of all Your children. Amen."