Blessings On Purpose - Part 3
“And you will make a new start, listening obediently to God, keeping all His commandments that I’m commanding you today.”
Deuteronomy 30:8 (MSG)
Feelings are powerful. They can control our lives if we let them. They can negatively affect our decisions and even get us on the wrong path. Do you follow God or your feelings? Feelings are important but on what will you base the decisions of your life? When I base my decisions on what the world says or how I feel, it usually leads me the wrong way. There’s another option. I can base my decisions on what God says in His Word. Since my decisions shape my destiny, it’s critical to make wise decisions.
When Moses was challenging Israel with the choice between life and death, blessings, and curses, he gave them the basis for making wise decisions. In fact, the implication in his challenge was that even if their past choices were wrong, they could make a fresh start. That’s good news. Most of us have made some bad decisions and feel like we’ve blown it. Satan uses our failures to reinforce our inferiority complex and convince us that we can’t begin again. Don’t listen to his voice. Make the choice to follow God instead of your feelings. Moses encouraged his people with this promise: “And you will make a new start, listening obediently to God, keeping all His commandments that I’m commanding you today.” Deuteronomy 30:8 (MSG)
If I am to hear God’s voice over the voice of the devil or my own feelings, I must do two things:
Listen constantly. The problem is not that God is not speaking or that He has not spoken. The problem is that I am not listening. Keep your ear attentive to His voice and your heart open to God. In Isaiah 66:4b (NIV), the bible says, “… For when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened....”
If we are to hear from God, the bible says we must belong to Him. Jesus said, “He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." John 8:47 (NIV)
If you belong to God, listen for His voice. How? Tune in His Word and tune out the world.
Obey immediately. As you hear God speak through His Word, His Spirit, and others, don’t hesitate to obey what God says. Don’t wait until you feel like obeying to obey. Just obey. Delayed obedience is disobedience. As we obey the truth we know, God will reveal what we need to know.
If you want to experience life and blessing, make the choice to follow God instead of your feelings. Don’t wait for the sensational or spectacular. The Christian life is Christ living the life He lived then, lived now by Him in you! Major W. Ian Thomas said it well, “The Christian life is essentially miraculous even though it does not have to be sensational. It is always supernatural….” Isn’t it time to open the door to life, real life – His life and blessing? Make the choice to follow God instead of your feelings.
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.