Free to Change – but Hold God's Hand

We’re occasionally given the privilege of making a new beginning. My grandfather would periodically sell his possessions and move to another farm, hoping for better crops and a brighter future for his family. While we are at liberty to make needed changes, it takes a serious sacrifice to make needed change become a reality.

As commitment empowers change, hard work and consistency ensure its success. Listen to this challenge: "Always act as if the future depends on what you do now." You can move forward to overcome most obstacles when God is the source of insight and wisdom for your decisions, even when being successful appears problematic.

With God, all things are possible. God gave Joshua what seemed to be an impossible task of conquering the Promised Land for the Israelites. However, God promised, “I will be with you and you will prosper and be successful, so make sure you do not neglect to obey the commandments I gave to Moses.” Included here are God’s promise and your commitment.  

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But I’ll take the hand of those who don’t know the way, who can’t see where they’re going.

I’ll be a personal guide to them, directing them through unknown country.

I’ll be right there to show them what roads to take, make sure they don’t fall into the ditch.

These are the things I’ll be doing for them – sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute!

~Isaiah 42:16 The Message

If you do what the Lord wants, he will make certain each step you take is sure. 

The Lord will hold your hand, and if you stumble, you still won’t fall.

~Psalm 37:23-24 Contemporary English Version

Follow God's Searchlight: Your Conscience - Part 3

Personal freedom depends on having courage to follow the conscience, which isn’t easy to do. Threat of personal embarrassment, peer pressure, or the need for acceptance may result in failure to heed the voice of conscience. When the voice of conscience makes you aware of wrongdoing or sin and you obey, you feel stronger and more self-assured.

Failure to follow your conscience eventually culminates in the loss of personal freedom. A man confided that when he was an adolescent he became indebted to a store owner in his small community. Time elapsed and he failed to pay the debt. Shame stole away a chunk of his integrity. The store owner died and the debt remained unpaid.

Our conscience pushes for right to be done, for amends to be made, apologies to be spoken, and forgiveness to be sought after and given. Courage is the avenue to a clear conscience. Listen to 1 John 3:21. “If our conscience does not condemn us, we have courage before God and will receive from him whatever we ask.” What a wonderful promise! 

Saul: Losing Self-Respect and a Kingdom - Part 2

Saul, the first king of Israel was chosen for a significant role in history, but because of poor personal choices, he failed to fulfill the destiny God intended. He often acted impulsively, blatantly demonstrating disregard for following God’s plan. He became dangerously jealous. Jealousy led to loss of self-respect, impaired insight and good judgement.

Saul wanted to please his army and would yield to their demands, threats and values. In doing so, he set himself at odds with God, his highest authority, and with Samuel, God’s prophet for the nation. This conflict set him on a downward spiral toward failure and self-destruction.

On one occasion Saul was given specific orders to follow in battle. He obeyed partially but then tried to justify his failure to follow through completely. This behavior eventually led God to reject him and his descendants as leaders of the nation. Endurance is equated with patience and tolerance for what you know to be God’s plan.