PATHS TO WISE LIVING

What’s Next, Lord? 

Here’s a bold declaration: “God is my God, he will guide me to the end.” Who says? David, Israel’s king (Psalm 48:14). He also said, God shepherds (guides and helps) me, nothing lacks.

Here’s another bold promise: “Seek, ask, knock and it will be given to you.” (Matthew 6:33, 7:7) Says who? The Eternal King of the Universe.

But somehow we don’t get how available God’s help is.

In Psalm 121 God promises help. He is maker of heaven and earth. He watches over us. He’ll not let us stumble. He watches over nations! He keeps from all harm.

These are bold promises for uncertain times. Are there things I can do to live with assurance of guidance?

Definitely!

Make A God-Memory

Solomon says in Ecclesiastes, “Fill your memory with God things. When you’re old you’ll still have access to them. Keep God at the front of your mind!” (12:1, 6-7 my paraphrase). Basically: Make a memory with God, repeat, and weave your life with God with those memories. The word “remember” features prominently in the Bible.

I wondered out loud with my Jewish friend about the importance of remembering in his life. He told me “remembering is built into each week. By midweek we review our week and see where God has been with us since Sunday. From Wednesday to Sunday we look forward to God’s presence with us. In this way we give God access to us to guide all of our steps.

I like this rhythm of life that keeps God at the forefront of our minds. Is there a way to do this practically? There is!

I still remember at age 19, the instant, the street, the feeling of assurance, the soft Holy Spirit tap on my shoulder. Coming out of the Canadian embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, hearing the inner voice of God “all will be well.” It sustains me still.

God on Your Mind

Frank Laubach (a missionary to the Philippines and world recognized literacy champion) shows the way. In his Games with Minutes, after a dry season with God, he describes challenging himself to become God-aware once a minute for a month. His experiment worked and became habitual. No, he didn’t do it for life but he trained himself to be guided moment by moment, with God’s help.

God is always present and his kingdom is always near. We can learn to live with the assurance of his constant presence. An interactive relationship with God is possible.

Jesus taught us to abide in God; we could say, make God our home. Could you train yourself to always go home to God no matter what the present circumstance offer?

Talk to God about Everything

Everything? Everything! Moment by moment we’d say under our breath, “Lord, what’s next?” As you leave the grocery store? “Lord, what’s next?” Just got home? “Lord, what’s next?” After putting the kids to bed? … Just got to work? … At the dentist? … After class?... Lord, what’s next”

This will build the spiritual awareness we need and gets stored in our memory of life with God. God fills our memory with God-moments. This bank remains in us for life.

Remember, he who began a good work in you will guide you to the end (Phil 1:6). Though dust returns to dust and ashes to ashes, God memories will remain intact! They’ll remain hidden treasures in the spirit that returns to our Creator.