It's a Trap!
Proverbs 20:25 (NASB)
It is a trap for a man to say rashly, “It is holy!”
And after the vows to make inquiry.
Have you ever said, “I felt led to...” or, “the Lord told me?” Sometimes we rashly state that something is from God and then feel disappointed when things don’t work out as we had hoped. We can feel disoriented or disillusioned. If you’re not careful, a circumstance you once were excited about can now become a source of contention in your life. How can we avoid this in the future?
- God is always at work around you.
- God pursues a love relationship with you.
- God invites you to become involved in His work.
- God speaks by the Holy Spirit through: the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal this.
- God’s invitation always involves a crisis of faith for you.
- You must make major adjustments to your life to join God’s work.
- You come to know God by your experience as you obey and God works through you.
I am frequently asked, "How do I know what God is saying?" My response is that God has no problem getting His point across. Sometimes we struggle with recognizing His ways of speaking and we wrestle against what we want versus what He is saying. If you come to God with self-seeking in your heart you may be resisted by Him. Sometimes we follow our own ways and it leads to many questions when things don't go our way. Proverbs 20:25 helps us see that maybe we shouldn't be presumptuous and assume that everything that seems pleasant is from God and that everything that isn't pleasant is not God.
Jesus said, "Follow me." Sometimes we make rash decisions out of fear. We make decisions from selfish ambition, impatience, anger, frustration, and presumption. A humble heart approaches God and seeks Him. Waiting on the Lord renews your strength. Don't run out ahead of Him rashly. Avoid making rush decisions just to appease your mind. Ask the right questions up front so that you don't make the same mistakes over and over. Wait, watch, and anticipate what God wants to say to you. Spend ample time in His Word in order to know Him, not about Him. Relax and let God develop life.
If you would like to know more about a deeper relationship with Jesus, feel free to contact us! We'd love to hear from you!
