godly advice

If Only - Psalm 81

11:00 AM

 


Psalm 81, Hebrews 1:3

We all know the truth that hindsight is 20/20. Because there isn’t a single person who hasn’t looked back at past mistakes and uttered the words, “If only”. If only I had heeded another’s warning. If only I had trusted my gut instincts. If only I had made a different choice. Regret is a powerful emotion. One that keeps us in bondage and stuck in the past. That’s why our Heavenly Father cries out, “Oh that My people would listen to Me!” (vs. 13)

As Christian’s our greatest goal is to walk hand in hand with God. To have a close, personal, relationship with the One who knows us best. But to walk with God, we have to listen to God. For as Dr. Charles Stanley says, “Our God is not silent. He speaks to us in a way that we can hear Him, receive His message, and obey Him. He is infinite, fully capable of communicating with each of us right where we are.” All we need do is listen. But how do hear from God?


One of the greatest ways God speaks is through His Word. When we study the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit points us to truths that come directly from God. Other times God speaks to us through teachers or fellow believers. It may a pastor’s sermon, a Bible study, or a Christian friend’s advice. We even hear from God through worship. Because worship allows God to penetrate our minds and hearts. And He inhabits the praise of His people. (Ps. 22:3)


Many are the ways in which God speaks. Which is why it’s so important to listen for and obey His voice. Israel learned the hard way the pain of regret. And from her mistakes, can we save ourselves the pain of, “If only.” And in the process receive some amazing promises. For those who listen to God can expect an abundance of blessings, their foes subdued before them, and to be fed only the finest of wheat and honey!  (vs. 10, 14,16) 


Pause and Reflect -

Did you know the word listen contains the same letters as silent? After you finish talking to God do you give Him a chance to reply, or do you just go about your day? Israel didn’t hear from God because they were living in disobedience. Is there anything in your life standing before God? Are there areas in which you need to submit to His will?


Finally, let’s pray together,

Our dearest Father in heaven above, hallowed be Thy name. Father we sing aloud to You. For You alone are our strength, our joy, and our inheritance. May we have ears set to listen to your still, small, voice. And may Your Holy Spirit speak to us as we wait for wisdom, insight, and direction. Father whatever You show us, or direct us to do, may we obey quickly, trusting in Your perfect will. For Father we long to draw near to You, so help us sense your loving presence and to listen as you speak. In Jesus's precious name, we pray, Amen.


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I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, and I pray your day overflows with love and blessings.


💕 Lisa

2 Chronicles

Who Do You Listen To? (2 Chronicles 21 - 24)

2:20 AM



We all make decisions and fashion our behaviors based on the influences we pay attention to. 
Jehoram was influenced by his wife who was the daughter of Ahab. 
“And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” (21:6)
Ahaziah, his son, was also influenced by his mother. 
“He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in doing wickedly.” (22:3)

Joash, the son of Ahaziah, was hidden away to keep Ahaziah’s mother from killing him.   When he was 7 years old, he was made king and he was primarily influenced by Jehoiada the priest. “And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.”(24:2). For awhile, Joash accomplished much that honored God but then his influences changed. “Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them.” (24:17)  Joash then forgot all that the priest had done for him and abandoned the counsel of the Lord. He turned to idol worship and the people did also. 

I think these chapters are summed up nicely by 1 Corinthians 15:33 :
“Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals.”

We have to be careful to choose wisely what influences we allow to guide us in life.  The Bible, God’s Word to us, should be our ultimate resource and it has much to say about seeking counsel and advice.
I’ve listed some of those verses here:

Proverbs 19:20-21
Listen to advice and accept instruction,
    that you may gain wisdom in the future.
Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
    but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Proverbs 1:7 
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Psalm 119:105 
Your word is a lamp to my feet
    and a light to my path.

Proverbs 4:13
Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.

1 John 4:1 
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

James 1:5
 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Psalm 1:1-2 
Blessed is the man
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.

It’s ok to seek out counsel but we have to be careful and make sure that counsel lines up with God’s Word and His will for our lives.   Likewise, we need to be careful when offering advice that we honor God in what we say and how we represent Him to others.