Sunday, November 22, 2009

Tour Guide?

Angie & I recently started doing a devotional at the beginning of the month, focusing on an area we feel the need to grow in. For November, I chose guidance as the subject for mine.

When I embraced the role of spiritual leader for my family, one thing that came back to me from the leadership training I went through earlier in life is one simple point: You can't lead if you don't know where to go. I'm sure there's a joke in here somewhere about guys never asking for directions, but I've been asking and feel like I have yet to get a real answer.

I've spent a considerable amount of time over the last year trying to figure out where to go. Now, I don't mean just physically, but spiritually, and with every facet of my life. I've dug through the bible, spent hours reading articles and other devotionals on the subject and asked people close to me. While the answers I get all seem simple, the execution of those answers not so much.

"Pray for wisdom."

"Ask God to lead you."

"Do as Jesus asks."

I do all those things, yet still feel like I'm marching in the dark more often than not. Sure becoming a more Christ like person is key, but that seems like an oversimplification of a greatly diverse dilemma.

I'm sure a large part of it stems from never really feeling grounded my whole life. I've lived in over sixty places in the last forty-one years, which makes it hard to grow roots and feel connected to anything or anyone beyond my immediate family. And faced with the fact that we have to move again next summer, I turn to God for guidance, but I'm so unsure of the answers I think I'm getting I end up becoming unable to decide...

Are the answers to my queries just reflections of selfish desires? The voice of something much darker than a mere human? Or are they really the response from the Almighty?

I just don't know.

And a nearly a month in, I'm still no closer to grasping the divine guidance I sought earnestly in the aforementioned devotional.

So, my question for you on this fine Sunday morning: How do you know where God is leading you?

Any and all responses would be appreciated.

God bless,
Mike

2 comments:

  1. Mike, I completey undersatnd where you are coming from. I myself have been in this situation more times than I can count. I know everything is in God's hands and it's always perfect timing. I have been a Christian since 92, I have had my "falling out" with God on a number of occations. I am not perfect, nor try to preach in areas I know nothing about or don't understand myself. I do know that the power of God's words speaks the truth, and have known many people who follow his faith for years and still don't know their calling. Whether that means they are not listening or it's not time yet. Me being one of those people. Sometimes I try so hard to hear him I'm not listening. As a friend in Christ, I pray that when the time comes for you to know and understand what your supposed to do for him you will be blessed above and beyond your imagination. I cherish our friendship and am so thankful he has brought you into my life to grow in his word.

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  2. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, BQ.

    I was thinking about it yesterday after posting and the thought struck me that if you are searching for something down an unfamiliar road, when you realize you've lost the trail, the best thing to do is backtrack to the last place where you knew you were on course.

    Since backtracking isn't an option for us now, I have to go with the idea that we're right where He wants us, even if my map says otherwise...

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