September 26, 2018

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” – John 16:13

I don’t know how many times my kids have asked for my help or advice when they knew all along they were going to do it their own way. What they really wanted was not my advice, but for me to carry out their plan for them. Unfortunately, I have often been this kind of child with my Heavenly Father. As Christians, I think we would all say that we seek God’s guidance. However, what we mean by that is often unclear. I’m guessing that most of the time what we really mean is, “God, I have a plan for what I want to accomplish, and I really want your advice on the best way to carry out my plan.” This is what we often mean when we pray for His powerful intervention in our lives. So what’s wrong with that? I think Dallas Willard explains it beautifully when he says;

Are we ready to be in business with God? If you find yourself in a position where you can honestly say, “God has never spoken to me,” then you well might ask, “Why would God speak to me? What am I doing in life that would make speaking to me a reasonable thing for him to do? Are we in business together in life? Or am I in business just for myself, trying to ‘use a little God’ to advance my projects?”

Have you had trouble hearing God’s voice lately? Maybe it’s time to take a step back and ask yourself, “Am I truly passionate about doing God’s will, or am I still caught up in my own plans?”

Heavenly Father, we recognize today that only You know what is important, eternal, and best for us. We desire to lay our plans at the foot of the Cross and live for You and Your purposes.

In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Shane Cannon