Christian Living

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I have noticed that at times we can want a detailed road map on our journey as Christians. For example, we want to know exactly what to say to others in certain moments, exactly how to pray, and exactly how to search for God's will. Of course, there is nothing the matter with these desires, they are very good for us to have. But notice the word I kept repeating there..."exactly." While it is good to search for guidance, sometimes we can go to an extreme and look for a formula almost, for how to do everything so that it comes out the "right" way. Even if our intentions are noble and in line with pleasing God, as we grow as Christians we are asked to get to another place...one where we do not lean on specific instructions, nor on ourselves and our control, but on the Spirit Himself.

If we really look inward, we may not be leaning on Him as much as we thought. Taking our focus off of looking for detailed plan for what we should do, can be uncomfortable because it may not feel secure. But the truth is, we cannot have a day by day, authentic relationship with God if we are depending on a recipe. And that relationship is what really matters to God, as it is the source of all real wisdom we absorb. Real wisdom for how to act comes from the Word of God, and from the guidance within that results from interacting with the Teacher. It comes from a flow of the Spirit through us. We can get in tune with through: a quieting and willingness to listen, a self awareness and inner releasing, an honest and heart approach to God, and walking with Him as He really is (which comes first from learning/knowing Him). Each one of these is vital for having a real connecting with God's Spirit and His movement. And that is what enables us to follow God in a way that He intended, and in a way that leads to what is good. Our actions are meant to come first out of a developed experience of God, rather than being the sought after goal.

God wants followers that lean on Him day by day, who listen for His voice and learn to look for His ways because they know Him and what He is like. And thankfully, we need not get caught up in doing it all perfectly, because it never was about our perfection...only about His power and His faithfulness to provide. Let us take the focus off of ourselves, our control and doing things perfectly. Let's shift our gaze on to our relationship with God. Let's look to His heart and His ability to guide us, step by step. And let's see what He does from there.

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