Our relationship with the Lord is a matter of the heart, so what do we do when we know that, just as the Bible says in Jeremiah 17:9. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Not only who can know it, but how can you trust it? I know my heart, it’s a wicked brat. It wants what it wants and it wants it now. So how do you override that fleshly appeal and come to an understanding with what it is that God would have for your life?
John 16:13 discloses that truth when we read “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” ~ But even after the truth is disclosed what’s the next step to see it to fruition?
Is step one done?
If you’re saved, meaning that you’ve accepted Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself on the cross as payment for your sin; and you believe that He overcame that death, rose the third day and now makes intercession for you in Heaven, you’ve received the guide. It’s immediate upon salvation. So step one is done! Now on to step two.
What are you to do for step two?
Listen. Sounds simple enough, but in reality it’s hard to hear with so many noises and distractions in life of which Satan is the loudest. Even as I try to write this morning distractions are in my path continuously, but also permissibly. I left my phone on, I had Facebook up on the computer, and those are just a few. We often don’t hear what God has to say because God is not a shouter. He’s the still small voice. Why should the Creator of life have to vie for our attention? He who wants the best for us and has the power to make it happen shouldn’t have to, but more often than not God Himself is vying with nonsense. Or is He? I think He may just be waiting until you shut it off before He utters a word to the Holy Spirit.
Step three, get on your knees
Where’s your prayer closet? Jesus said in Matthew 6:6~ But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Getting on your knees is a heart matter as well. If you aren’t physically capable of getting on your knees, God knows and understands and in your mind’s eye you can picture yourself there. But if you can get on your knees, it’s a most humbling and needful position for prayer; It helps you to understand just how very much you need God to answer and how very much you desire His mercy. The closet location can be the corner of a couch, a literal closet like in the movie The War Room, or it can be the kitchen table. It’s wherever you and God can converse without interruption.
Are you in need of guidance today?
Shut off the noises before you find your closet. Get “in” your closet, whatever that looks like. Get humble in heart, on your knees, or on your face and let God know that you know Who He is and that you love Him and desire to hear from Him. Tell Him why… and then listen. Perhaps He’ll speak it to your heart, or He may call a scripture to mind, or tell you to get into His word and read. But I promise, He’ll answer. Although I love to pray for people, and I love more to hear the answers that God provides, you don’t need me or anyone else. God desires to hear from you.
