- The Guidance Of God Our Way To Paradise Pdf Download
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'The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights inhis way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For theLORD upholds him with His hand.' (Psalms 37:23-24)
Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.” (Psalm 25:4-5) 9.)Praise God for being your rock and your fortress. Then profess His promise to lead you and guide you for His name’s sake. (Psalm 31:3) 10.)Ask God to teach you His way, and commit to walking in His truth. Along with this exile came God's promise to send us guidance so that we may again find our way back to Paradise. God then sent a succession of prophets and messengers, reminding people of their covenant before creation and their duty to God. Each was serit to a particular people, sometimes with a message particular to them.
As the Sunday evening service concluded, it was obvious that mostpeople in attendance were not anxious to head out into the dark, mistynight. The autumn weather in Northern Indiana had been cold and dampwith a drizzling light rain all day, and now had evolved into aincreasingly thick fog.
As folks departed, I greeted each at the door reminding all to becareful on their drive home. Taking time for casual pastoral chit-chatwas not uncommon, but aware of the eroding driving conditions, I felt aneed for brevity so to get the church doors locked and make my way hometoo.
The remaining parishioners approached the exit, including a dearelderly woman, a saintly woman of faith who had been a faithful prayerwarrior to the church over the years. Apparently oblivious to my hasteor the deteriorating weather, she lingered at door, asking her daughterto go ahead and wait in the car so she could speak with her pastorbriefly. There was no way I could refuse. It was growing late and I waseager to get started home... but she had an urgent spiritual matter, sowe chatted for another few minutes then concluded with a prayer.
Hastening toward home through the soupy fog, I recall thinking aboutthe delay that hindered my departure, yet feeling a satisfying peace inmy heart that I had taken the time to minister to the elderly woman.Then suddenly... just seconds later, I spotted some kind of obstacle inthe road ahead and slammed on my brakes! As heavy mist rolled by myheadlights, just a few yards beyond I could make out the barely visiblereflection of a broken tail light and scattered wreckage. I got out ofmy car to investigate... and found a demolished automobile in the middleof the road. And to my further shock, the vehicle had smashed into theside of a train stopped on the tracks of a railroad crossing! There wereno warning signal lights on this sparsely driven back-road... noreflectors on the side of the dark-rusty train car. It was virtuallyinvisible, obscured by the darkness and blinding fog.
Mine was the first vehicle on the scene after the accident. Togetherwith crew from the train who eventually emerged, we called for help andremained with the severely injured driver until emergency personnelarrived. The poor fellow was mangled and bloodied, but able to speak,thanking those of us who helped him. He remarked repeatedly how that hehad no warning, was unable to see the train stopped at the crossing. “Isat out there dazed and alone for just a few minutes,” he said. “It was agood thing that you came shortly behind me.”
Yes, it was a good that I came along promptly, to help him and call forhelp... but then I shuttered with an alarming thought! “Had it not beenfor the delay by the little elderly woman at the church, ‘I’ would havebeen the first one to arrive at the train!” Other than the reflectionof the first vehicle’s broken taillight, I was unable to see the traineither. It was likely that I could have been critically injured orpossibly killed. Unbeknown to me at the time, God was behind the scenes,quietly guiding my steps, working out a scenario to delay my departureto avoid possible disaster.
The incident that occurred that night, was a rare glimpse intosomething remarkable that God does virtually unnoticed on a daily basisfor His followers... and apparently few fully understand or appreciate.While there are instances that the Lord's guidance or involvement may bemore anticipated, such as when we consult His Word for wisdom (Psalms119:105), or when we pray and perhaps hear the 'still small voice' ofHis Holy Spirit speaking with our heart (John 14:26, Psalm 27:7-8)...yet obviously there are cases such as this that His intervention iscompletely a surprise. Even though we do not see or hear Him, perhapsoblivious to His presence... He is always there, just as Jesus said, 'Iwill be with you always' (Matthew 28:20), and 'I will never leave you norforsake you' (Hebrews 13:5). The Lord is present with us 24x7, always awareof what’s happening... intricately involved with the details of ourlives.
The Guidance Of God Our Way To Paradise Pdf Download
As I thought about these things, I recalled other similar instancesfrom my life that were, no doubt, quiet acts of God's unexpectedintervention. Close calls, near misses, airplane flights that gotcanceled, travel plans that were diverted... what seemed like luckycoincidences that resulted in sparing my life from danger or disaster.The Lord Jesus, along with perhaps a few of His Holy Angels, were myconstant invisible companions... leading, guiding, rerouting,protecting... literally directing the very steps I was taking. It's like the late Christian pastor/author, A.W. Tozer, once said,“I rarely know where I am going in my life's journey but... I look back andsee that God has been leading my every step and I did not even know it.” I cannotpossibly imagine how many times God has intervened silently in my lifethis way, or how often He has done the same for you or His otherfollowers, but I presume it must be each and every day.
This brings to mind the Psalm I first cited at the beginning. It's not referring to a “good” man in the sense of one who lacks flaws or imperfections... but as a person who believes in God and is trying to faithfully follow His paths. The New Living Translation puts it this way... “The Lord directs the steps ofthe godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though theystumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand”(Psalm 37:23-24 NLT). This is an amazing and comforting verse. As farback as ancient times, God has been in the business of watching over andbringing guidance to the lives of His faithful who believe in Him...who love and follow Him with their lives. His oversight is often subtle,unnoticed... like a loving parent who stands in the shadows watchingover his child, not interfering with our free will to make our owndecisions, yet there with us quietly directing the details of every stepwe make... and prepared to hear our cry or to extend His hand to helpif we should fall. “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines oursteps” (Proverbs 16:9 NLT).
This is a part of what the Apostle Paul meant when he said that we“walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corithians 5:7). Christ has promised in HisWord that He will “never leave us”... and that He will “be with usalways.” So even if it somehow “seems” or “feels” like He is far away,we instead lay aside such feelings and hold fast in faith to the promiseof His Word. He is always present with, or to be more accurate,“within” the heart of all those who believe and follow Him... everpresent to protect, assist, and to provide guidance... whether we arefully aware of it or not. By faith we know He is always there... so weneed not be fearful of anything, anyone or any situation that comes ourway... because our Almighty God, the all-powerful Lord of the universeis with us... already aware of every issue, working out the details ofHis plan in our behalf.
No, we don't suggest that in following the Lord, our path will alwaysbe trouble free or even without calamity... and even the things that Godpermits in our 'best interest' may not always be perceived to us asdesireable. But what we can be assured of is that regardless of whateverwe face, whether we encounter hardships or stumble into perils, theLord is our our constant companion, guiding and realigning our pathcontinuously, keeping us on track so that things will work together forwhat He determines to be for our good. “And we know that God causeseverything to work together for the good of those who love God and arecalled according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28 NLT).
Finally, let's take a moment to reflect on one of the most comfortingand often quoted verses from the Bible, the 23rd Psalm. This passageconveys this same sense of trust in the Lord’s unseen guidance andprotection. For centuries it’s reassuring words have been the frequentcompanion to combat troops at war... or a prayer of assurance to manywho have faced danger or the perils of the unknown. It describes theloving guidance and protection of our Great Shepherd, with theconfidence that wherever He leads us, whatever the destination may be,no matter what dangers or circumstances may lie in wait, He will be withus. As we continue to trust and follow our Lord Jesus, He indeedcontinues to guide our paths and steps, bringing us ultimately to aplace of blessing, goodness, mercy... and into His presence forever.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest ingreen meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews mystrength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, foryou are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor meby anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surelyyour goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalms 23:1-6 (NLT)