"A man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps " (Prov 16:9; KJV). We read similar words in Proverbs 20:24 and Psalm 37:23-24, where we are told that our steps are directed by the Lord.

The most well-known scripture on guidance is Proverbs 3:5-6, which tells us to trust in the Lord and not depend on our own ability and to "acknowledge" him; if we do that, God will direct our way. The meaning of the word "direct" is to make straight and the meaning of "acknowledge" is to have close fellowship with God.

So, according to these verses, we have a part to play. We have to make sure we trust God and not just depend on ourselves and also have a close relationship with God. Jesus confirmed this in John 10:27 where he told us that the sheep (that's you) follow him (Jesus) because they know his voice. We won't be able to know his voice unless we spend time with him every day. We also understand that God does not often speak to us in a loud audible voice but in a: "still small voice" (1 Kings 19:12); a gentle prompting on the inside of us with a real sense of peace and assurance. If we step out and respond to those: "promptings", they will become easier to recognize.

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We hear much about the importance of the word, faith, prayer, praise, the fear of God, obedience, humility, repentance and the need for change in our Christian walk, and so we should. But Gods cardinal commands are to Love him with all our heart, soul and mind and our neighbor as ourselves (Matt 22:37-39).

Jesus gave us a new command that we love each other as he loves us, by this he said the world would know we are Christians (John 13:34).  In the great love chapter of the Bible (1 Cor 13:1-13) Paul tells us that without love we are nothing. Of faith hope and love the greatest is love Paul says (1Cor 13:13).

The Greek word for love that is used dominantly in the New Testament is agape (noun); God’s unconditional love and the love that we are called to love with. First Corinthians chapter 13 defines this love for us, take time to meditate on it. 

The bible says God’s love is in us, poured in by the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5) God demonstrated the extent of this love by allowing Christ to die for us (Rom 5:8). We are called to love with our words (Eph 4:15); words that come from our hearts and are spoken in love. But love has to go beyond our words to actions, our deeds (1 John 3:18); love must be demonstrated, just as faith is not faith without corresponding actions (James 2:17). Think how you can share Gods love today; a gentle encouraging word, a kind spontaneous action.

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 Where are you with God? Is God shining through you? Are you all God wants you to be? Are you experiencing all he has for you? What limits God in our lives? We have salvation, (John 3:3-7) we are his children and his Spirit lives in us (John 14:16-17). We are spirit beings and we live in a body and have soul; our soul is our mind will and emotions (1Thess 5:23).

For so many Christians their flesh (body and soul) dictates the type of life they lead and their spirit, directed by the Holy Spirit, is a secondary influence. Paul talked of this wrestling match (Rom 7:15-25), his spirit wanting to do the right thing but his flesh doing the wrong thing.

The only way to live the God kind of life (John 10:10), in his peace and abundance, is to let God be God in our lives. We must let God have control, let the Holy Spirit have the ascendancy and let our spirit direct our soul and body. To do this we must strengthen our spirit (Rom 10:17), renew our minds (Rom 12:2) and discipline our bodies (1 Cor 9:27).  We need to spend time in his word, prayer and fellowship with him; there are no short cuts. Get alone with God, pray in the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 14:15), still your mind and allow God to speak to you. His love, wisdom and guidance are to found in such times of fellowship. Then you can start to grow and step up into all God has for you.

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Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.

"If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed" (John 8:31; KJV). The word: “continue”, is often translated: “abide” and also means to cleave to, dwell and remain. There is the sense of sticking with it and being affected and obedient.   According to this verse, in order to be good followers of Jesus we must not only spend time reading the word but obey what we learn. There are advantages of doing this. In 1 John 2:5, the Apostle tells us that if we obey the word God's love is matured in us, and in his gospel the apostle John says that we will be loved by God and Jesus will reveal himself to us (John 14:21).

The parable of the sower in Luke 8:5-8 teaches us that the word in us bears fruit and in Colossians 3:16 we read that the word in us will give us wisdom. There is so much to be gained by being a student of the word (2 Tim 2:15) but the main thing is that the more time we spend fellowshipping with God in this way the more we get to know him and the more sensitive we are to his voice; after all the word is God speaking to us.

So, read the word slowly and listen as you do so; pray and ask God to open your spiritual ears to understand his word. Remember that no time doing this is ever wasted because God's word does not return void, it will always achieve its purpose (Isa 55:11). It will always bring wisdom (Col 3:16), guide and direct us (Ps 119:105), open our spirituals eyes to God’s promises (2 Tim 3:16) and build up our faith (Rom 10:17).

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Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book:     “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.

 Joseph, in the Old Testament (Gen 37-45), had dreams that his brothers and father would bow down to him. This did not go down well with his brothers. Joseph new God had a call to greatness on his life but many challenges faced him before he achieved his call. His brothers were about to kill him but God intervened and he was sold into slavery in Egypt.

In Egypt he served Potiphar and God blessed him and his master’s house. Potiphar’s wife wrongly accused Joseph of molesting her and Joseph wound up in prison. While in prison Joseph found favor with God and became the right-hand man of the prison keeper. God gave Joseph the interpretation of dreams for two of the Pharaohs servants who were imprisoned. Pharaoh had two dreams and one of the servants who had been in prison with Joseph new Joseph could interpret the dreams.

Joseph came before Pharaoh and because of his great wisdom was made Pharaoh’s deputy. In this role Joseph got to see his brothers again as they came to Egypt for grain in a time of famine; the brothers bowed down to Joseph. It is interesting how God was with Joseph throughout all his trails and no doubt used some of them to form character in Joseph for the task he had for him.

God has a plan for all of our lives (Jer 29 :11) but his timing is not the same as ours (2 Peter 3:8). His ways are above ours and we don’t always understand how God works (Isa 55:8-9). We need to be patient and keep our eyes on him; keep focused, trust him. Don’t try to second guess God or work out the plan for God; we need to allow God to change and mold us for the task he has for us. It will be good: “for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance”, in other words they don’t change (Rom 11:29; KJV).

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