“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8, ESV)
I find it interesting that many devout Christians have said to me, “I don’t know what to do!” Why? Because God wants you to know which direction to take. That is why Jesus said, “I am THE WAY, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). For further proof you have today’s scripture. It explains that God will “teach you in the way you should go” as well as “counsel you” along the way (Psalm 32:8). With HIS ever-watchful “eye upon you”, God will guide you in the direction you should take. Because God is so good at “showing you which way to go” and “counseling you” along your journey in life, why do so many question their steps? Why do they pray to God day after day and night after night for years about the same questions? Often, the answer is that people don’t want to go in the same direction as God! They don’t want to obey God’s commandments or follow God’s will.
Let me explain.
A young boy didn’t want to leave his Christmas toys to go to a stuffy family gathering. He wanted to stay home and enjoy the wonderful presents he had just opened. He hated to leave his new toys to travel an hour by car to a meal with extended family who would “just sit around and talk and be boring”.
Though the rest of the family had gotten dressed for the occasion, filled the car with food, and got everything ready for the trip, the boy kept moping around the house. He complained, “I can’t find my shoes!”. His parents could clearly see his shoes under the couch. Then, a while later he shouted, “My mittens are still wet from yesterday, do we have to leave now?” Just the day before, the boy played all day in the snow with a friend who had a new sled. Wet mittens didn’t seem to bother him then! What the boy was doing was obvious to his parents. He didn’t want to leave his presents behind to go away for the day. Because of that, his first thought was to delay the inevitable. Then, he complained about the conditions. All he wanted was to get out of his family’s obligation and have fun with his new toys.
There are times that people, even Christians who should know better, do not want to follow God’s leading. They don’t want to obey God’s commandments because this will result in “less fun” or "fewer toys". They ignore the scriptures they don’t like because it would necessitate changes in their attitude or behavior. God has shown them the way they should go. They just don’t want to go that way!
How well do you follow God’s will? Are you one to heed God’s voice and obey God’s call? Do you fight with the Holy Spirit’s guidance in your heart and soul, because it doesn’t suit you?
It’s very important you realize that God wants you to do the right thing in life. God wants you to listen to the Holy Spirit. God desires greatly to protect you, guide your steps, and answer your prayers. Because God desires to do this, God has set up signposts along your way. God gives you scriptures in the Bible for instruction. God gives you the Holy Spirit for encouragement and guidance. God sent Jesus as an example. Your faithfulness involves learning, seeking, and following God’s direction. Psalm 32 promises that God’s guidance will be available when you need it. God will “teach you which way to go”. God promises to “counsel you” in prayer and Word, keeping His “eye upon you” as you go through life. God’s intent is to protect your way until you are called back home to Heaven. God is there for you when you need direction or assurance or answers.
If you find yourself not knowing which direction to take, call upon the Lord! Read His scriptures! Seek His voice. Listen for the Spirit’s guidance. Pray for advice. If you and God are in a relationship, the answers will be there. God will show you the way. It is what God does! It is who God is!
If you find your way clouded for very long, it may be you who is lacking direction, not God! Sinful temptations might be luring you from finding answers. A prideful attitude might make you unwilling to accept God’s command from scripture. Worry or fear generated within might be clouding your reception of God’s voice in prayer or the Holy Spirit’s guidance. One thing is for sure, God always gives direction and guidance. This scripture for today promises that! If you aren’t finding answers, look within. It may be that you are listening to the wrong voices, have been lied to by the world, or are being deluded by evil forces. God knows that Satan loves to deceive, delude, lie, and trick you.
When you need direction, God’s at the ready to guide you. God is only a prayer away. God’s Spirit is likely speaking to you even now, urging you toward something good or warning you of a temptation. Learn to trust in God. Learn to listen for God’s voice. Have faith in God’s word. Don’t be afraid to seek God’s wisdom and learn from past mistakes!
In the devotional, Trusting God with Today, there is a reflection on Psalm 32:8:
Today, here are three things you need to know as you wait on the Lord’s direction. First, God will show you His will. He desires that you walk according to His plan and assumes responsibility for teaching you how to do so. It is, however, your responsibility to obey what He leads you to do. Second, the Father is committed to your success. From the time you were born, God has been working through the circumstances of your life to train you for His purposes. So commit yourself to following wherever the Lord leads you with confidence that He will equip and empower you to accomplish whatever He’s planned for you to do. Third, God will redirect you when you make a wrong turn. So do not fear going forward when He calls. No matter how badly you mess up, the Father will take the broken pieces of your life and, with the glue of His unconditional love, put it back together. He will take you where you are and help you get back on the right track with His wisdom and strength.” (p. 216, Charles Stanley).
Be assured, God is ready at any moment to “teach you the way to go” (Psalm 32:8). God has His eye upon you, even now! God will be there along your way. Will you follow His voice? Will you heed His scriptures? Will you obey His commandments? If you do these things, you will never, ever be left without direction. God will see to it that you have a way to eternal life. You just must be willing to follow His advice and listen to His Spirit!
Let me explain.
A young boy didn’t want to leave his Christmas toys to go to a stuffy family gathering. He wanted to stay home and enjoy the wonderful presents he had just opened. He hated to leave his new toys to travel an hour by car to a meal with extended family who would “just sit around and talk and be boring”.
Though the rest of the family had gotten dressed for the occasion, filled the car with food, and got everything ready for the trip, the boy kept moping around the house. He complained, “I can’t find my shoes!”. His parents could clearly see his shoes under the couch. Then, a while later he shouted, “My mittens are still wet from yesterday, do we have to leave now?” Just the day before, the boy played all day in the snow with a friend who had a new sled. Wet mittens didn’t seem to bother him then! What the boy was doing was obvious to his parents. He didn’t want to leave his presents behind to go away for the day. Because of that, his first thought was to delay the inevitable. Then, he complained about the conditions. All he wanted was to get out of his family’s obligation and have fun with his new toys.
There are times that people, even Christians who should know better, do not want to follow God’s leading. They don’t want to obey God’s commandments because this will result in “less fun” or "fewer toys". They ignore the scriptures they don’t like because it would necessitate changes in their attitude or behavior. God has shown them the way they should go. They just don’t want to go that way!
How well do you follow God’s will? Are you one to heed God’s voice and obey God’s call? Do you fight with the Holy Spirit’s guidance in your heart and soul, because it doesn’t suit you?
It’s very important you realize that God wants you to do the right thing in life. God wants you to listen to the Holy Spirit. God desires greatly to protect you, guide your steps, and answer your prayers. Because God desires to do this, God has set up signposts along your way. God gives you scriptures in the Bible for instruction. God gives you the Holy Spirit for encouragement and guidance. God sent Jesus as an example. Your faithfulness involves learning, seeking, and following God’s direction. Psalm 32 promises that God’s guidance will be available when you need it. God will “teach you which way to go”. God promises to “counsel you” in prayer and Word, keeping His “eye upon you” as you go through life. God’s intent is to protect your way until you are called back home to Heaven. God is there for you when you need direction or assurance or answers.
If you find yourself not knowing which direction to take, call upon the Lord! Read His scriptures! Seek His voice. Listen for the Spirit’s guidance. Pray for advice. If you and God are in a relationship, the answers will be there. God will show you the way. It is what God does! It is who God is!
If you find your way clouded for very long, it may be you who is lacking direction, not God! Sinful temptations might be luring you from finding answers. A prideful attitude might make you unwilling to accept God’s command from scripture. Worry or fear generated within might be clouding your reception of God’s voice in prayer or the Holy Spirit’s guidance. One thing is for sure, God always gives direction and guidance. This scripture for today promises that! If you aren’t finding answers, look within. It may be that you are listening to the wrong voices, have been lied to by the world, or are being deluded by evil forces. God knows that Satan loves to deceive, delude, lie, and trick you.
When you need direction, God’s at the ready to guide you. God is only a prayer away. God’s Spirit is likely speaking to you even now, urging you toward something good or warning you of a temptation. Learn to trust in God. Learn to listen for God’s voice. Have faith in God’s word. Don’t be afraid to seek God’s wisdom and learn from past mistakes!
In the devotional, Trusting God with Today, there is a reflection on Psalm 32:8:
Today, here are three things you need to know as you wait on the Lord’s direction. First, God will show you His will. He desires that you walk according to His plan and assumes responsibility for teaching you how to do so. It is, however, your responsibility to obey what He leads you to do. Second, the Father is committed to your success. From the time you were born, God has been working through the circumstances of your life to train you for His purposes. So commit yourself to following wherever the Lord leads you with confidence that He will equip and empower you to accomplish whatever He’s planned for you to do. Third, God will redirect you when you make a wrong turn. So do not fear going forward when He calls. No matter how badly you mess up, the Father will take the broken pieces of your life and, with the glue of His unconditional love, put it back together. He will take you where you are and help you get back on the right track with His wisdom and strength.” (p. 216, Charles Stanley).
Be assured, God is ready at any moment to “teach you the way to go” (Psalm 32:8). God has His eye upon you, even now! God will be there along your way. Will you follow His voice? Will you heed His scriptures? Will you obey His commandments? If you do these things, you will never, ever be left without direction. God will see to it that you have a way to eternal life. You just must be willing to follow His advice and listen to His Spirit!