Devotionals

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God Leads Every Step of the Way

And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. Exodus 13:21 (NKJV)

God led the Israelites out of Egypt (not by the most direct route), but He was not leaving them to make the journey by themselves. By day He led them and by night He also gave them light. Imagine the comfort of seeing the pillar of cloud and knowing that God was with you. By night, there was no need to fear the darkness, God had overcome it. Nothing was going to stop God's people from the journey that He was leading them on. I can't imagine that they would have seen much into the distance past the pillar of cloud. They stepped out with the knowledge that God was leading them, one step at a time.

God does not change. He still desires to lead His children, and sometimes that is one step at a time. Many times, He will make His direction clear. Other times, all we know is that God is in control and leading. Where? We do not know.

In 1997, a Chinese Christian leader escaped from Zhengzhou, a high security Chinese prison. Brother Yun's1 story is incredible. After fasting for 74 days while in prison, his inmates nicknamed him 'the Heavenly Man.' Before his escape, the guards crushed his legs so that He could not walk. They wanted to ensure that this man would not be physically able to plan an escape. But at a certain time, in 1997, Brother Yun heard the voice of the Holy Spirit telling him leave. Suddenly he was able to walk and he left, as though invisible to the prison guards and one-by-one, doors were left open for him to walk out of. He crossed the yard and left out of the main gates, into a car that was waiting for him. Brother Yun continued to listen to that voice of the Holy Spirit, which led him from captivity into freedom. The Holy Spirit continued to speak to him and he continued to listen and be obedient to that voice.

The situation for Brother Yun became very precarious in China, so he escaped to finally settle in Germany. However, at the Chinese airport, he became concerned as he did not know what to say, when questioned by the authorities. He could easily be caught and sent straight back to the prison that he had come from – where guards had lost their jobs because of the embarrassing 'mishap' of his escape. (He is the only person to have ever escaped from this prison). At the airport, Brother Yun prayed and asked God to give him the words to say, when questioned. However, the only thing that he heard was not say anything at all. So through all of the questioning from the authorities, Brother Yun – obedient to the Holy Spirit – did not open his mouth. He cleared the authorities and left China. It was some time in the future that the Heavenly man was to meet a man who, told him that he had carried out a job, in a Chinese airport – where he had installed voice recognition technology. That was the very same airport that Brother Yun had been silent at! Imagine how excited he must have been to hear how precisely God had led him. God does not change.

In 2005, my husband and I were blessed to spend a couple of days with the Heavenly Man. We spent a lot of time chatting (through an interpreter), having fellowship, recording radio programmes and we also held a big meeting for Brother Yun to share at. As we said 'goodbye', we had a photo taken with him. For a few years after, my husband had this photograph framed and placed in his office. Brother Yun just looks like an average middle-aged Chinese man. He does not look anything special. Many people asked us who that man was. He does not have a halo over his head! He looks like any other man who walks down the street, but God has led and guided him so incredibly. And Brother Yun was obedient.

Today, are you ready to be a Heavenly minded man or woman? Are you really willing to yield your will to the promptings of the Holy Spirit? He is ready to lead you, where necessary, one step at a time. Just like that pillar of cloud that led the Israelites, He wants to lead you today. What an exciting life we lead, when we give up our egos and ambitions, our stubbornness and pride and simply follow the quiet inner voice of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:

Thank you, Holy Spirit, that you lead us even today and that they miracles we read about in the Bible still take place in the lives of normal people. Father, I want to surrender my will to yours. I want you to take my life, mould me and make me how you want me to be. As you lead me, make me aware of the voice of the Holy Spirit. Draw me to you and lead me in the path that you have set aside for me. In Jesus name, Amen.

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