Life often presents difficult situations but we can complicate matters further by over thinking remedies, producing anxiety and confusion. God is not the author of confusion. There is a simplicity in the gospel which we often forget. Our trials are our opportunities for growth and maturity in proving God as our loving heavenly Father. We grow in God as we learn to trust Him, instead of resisting. As we learn to respond to Him, instead of reacting to situations, we discover His grace and strength enables us to navigate through our difficulties as the Holy Spirit daily guides. We learn to abide in Him as He is the only One who can give peace in chaos. We prove God is who He says He is. The more we get to know Him, the more we love Him. Jesus eternally bids us to come to Him to find the “rest” we are seeking.
“The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant”, Psalm 25:14. This secret is God’s treasure placed in our earthen vessels. As we invite Him into our trials and weaknesses, we find a flow of the Life of Another, Jesus Christ, the mystery of the ages, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). I discover I can fellowship with Jesus in my trial and His presence sheds light upon my path. The secret is to learn to abide in Him, especially when the going gets tough. In His light, we see light, (1 John 1).
Keep it simple, stop fighting, start inviting! Invite Jesus into every situation. Let go and let God take over. Surrender control.
In the school of the Spirit we all have to develop sensitivity to the leading and direction of Him. It is necessary to learn to listen to the Spirit’s promptings and obey. Sensitivity is learnt over a process of time. Only through experience will we learn to recognise His promptings. In the learning experience we will realise, in retrospect, that sometimes we got it wrong. If we did, what we did, to the Lord, our Father will not be displeased with us. They are just learning curves. In the natural, a loving father recognises his children have to learn from their mistakes and teaches them to navigate the right path. Very often we can all have much to say, sharing our gathered knowledge and opinions. This does not impress God. He desires us to learn to listen to what He says. “Be still, and know that I am God”, Psalm 46:10 As we turn our eyes upon Jesus, life takes on His perspective of situations and enables us to listen to the still, small voice, (1 Kings 19:12)
When we meet together in Gatherings for fellowship together, it behoves us to develop sensitivity to the theme the Holy Spirit desires to bring through Body Ministry ( 1Corinthians 14:26). We can take part, but not take over. When we speak for too long, we defraud the other members who may have something to bring by the Spirit. Learn to be sensitive to others.
Many believe that in “doing” what they believe is God’s work, they are pleasing God, but are actually struggling to do it in their own strength, and for their own glory. Too busy doing, instead of being! If we take time to listen to Father’s direction and obey, we become the will of God and our doing comes out of our being, for Father’s glory, not mine!
Keep it simple, learn to be sensitive to God and others and take time to be still, and listen to our Master’s voice.
Photo by Mohammad Metri on Unsplash