I was visiting with a dear friend yesterday and we were talking about how important it is that we hear clearly. If we don’t have good, concise communication we can be misled and taken off course.
The words “but I thought you said” can be disastrous. Years ago I had two friends who were visiting a large city for the first time. This is in the days before GPS. They were looking for a sports arena where a hockey game was going to be played. After stopping at a store and getting directions from the clerk, they got back in their car and headed out the way they had been told, or at least that’s what they thought. “I thought he said turn right” and so they did.
Very shortly they were in the wrong part of town and they were frightened by their surroundings. It was not good! They were able to get out of that situation with a few more turns that took them back to the main road and they arrived late, but unharmed, at their destination.
When we decide to follow the Lord he will give us the direction we need.
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice saying, “This is the road! Now follow it.” Isaiah 30:21 CEV
King David wrote in Psalms 23, that even if our path takes us through the valley of the shadow of death, we can live free from fear because we know that the Lord is with us. The important word here is “through”. God does not take us down a road and abandon us. He leads us through, which means we come out on the other side.
“Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.” Proverbs 16:3 AMP
The verse above is one of my “go to” verses. It is like true North on a compass. I know that when I follow the instructions in this verse I will receive clear direction. Remember yesterday’s devotional on trust? We can trust the Lord with every area of our life; He only wants what’s best for us. He isn’t out to harm us or to punish us, He is a loving Father who wants to add what’s beneficial and remove what’s harmful.
“We praise you, Lord God! You treat us with kindness day after day, and you rescue us.
20 You always protect us and save us from death.” Psalm 68:19-20 CEV
“Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.” Psalm 103:1-3 NLT
Listen for the Father’s voice; follow His leading and He will cause us to succeed.