Morning Devotionals

by Don Emmitte

 

February 28th, 2008

 

“Nail-biting Moments”

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. (Proverbs 16:9 NIV).

There are those “nail-biting moments” that all of us face at one time or another in our lives.  You know them... the times when you must make a choice, but you're not really sure just what to do.

I am hearing more and more from readers who are asking those kinds of questions. They are sincerely trying to find God's will for their lives. Recently, as I have begun a new ministry of Family Ministry Life Coaching, this was especially true. A very sincere woman was feeling like she was a complete failure in life. She had a definite challenge to face at that moment, however, she felt like her greatest problem was that she had not yet heard from God. She felt abandoned and alone. Perhaps you are at that moment also. I would tell you what I told her:

“You are simply a normal Christian struggling to find God's will. I honestly think you are probably too hard on yourself about what you should do and not do. What you should do, in my opinion, is more of what you are doing: keeping your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of your faith. I like the man who said in Mark 9:24, "Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, 'I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!'”

If you are a believer, you are not perfect. You are not sinless. You are not without possibility of failure. You are a fragile creature who can do nothing apart from Jesus. My honest, sincere, loving advice is that you need to quit trying to be perfect, and allow God to work His perfection in you. I know that may not seem to make a whole lot of practical sense, especially when you don't seem to hear clear direction from God, but over time, as you trust Him, He will lead you step by step into the center of His will. It is my experience that He will not give you the end picture of how He is getting you there, but He will reveal to you as much as you need to know, while He is already at work, perfecting the outcome for your good, and for the glory of His name. There will be times when you are forced to make decisions. After you have spent time in prayer and have checked to make sure it doesn't conflict with Scripture, and then make the decision with the wisdom God has granted you. He will order your steps as you trust in Him.

If it helps any to know, I'm not completely there either, and I really don't know too many who are, but I am learning more each day, that I cannot do it alone, and I am not supposed to try. Take a step in that kind of faith. See if more steps aren't shown to you.