“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” (Psalm 32:8)
No question is more often asked than how to discern God’s guidance, and it’s clear in Scripture that God wants to give us that guidance. How do we hear it and receive it? How do we discern his voice from other voices? One of those ways is meditating on Scripture.
My first experience with God’s guidance through Scripture, over 30 years ago. It was shortly after I had first believed in salvation by grace through faith. I was struggling to believe and needed confirmation that God’s free gift of forgiveness in Jesus was real, because my view of God was very much wrapped up in my view of my father - who was often disappointed in one of us children and didn’t hide it well. His anger was a frequent occurrence in our household. That’s when I stumbled across Isaiah 54:9-11 during my devotions one morning. ‘So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, not my covenant of peace be removed, ‘ says the Lord who has compassion on you.” The impact this had on me is hard to express - it led to a seismic shift in my thinking, my peace, and my relationship with God.
As we grow in knowledge of Him and sit in His presence and quietly read and listen, God begins to draw near and heal wounds that can taint our thinking so that we can actually get healthier and more able to hear His guidance and grow in discernment.
Prayer Prompt: Dear Lord, when I fear to approach you or when I don’t value prayer, it is because I go into old traumas and old ways of thinking, and I forget that your very nature is love and that when you say you love us, they are no empty words. You really love us and you really act on our behalf. Oh Lord, when I am in need, let your word and my cry to you be the first place I go. Amen.
Song of the Day: God really loves us - Crowder, Dante Bowe - Maverick City Music
