“⁹Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.” – Hosea 14:9 (ESV)

I find myself stumbling and not sure why. Well my reading this morning certainly helps with that. I am not always keen on what it is I am to be doing and where it is I am to be going as indicated by God. It is me. I am not staying in full open contact with the Lord at all times. I am simply looking to him when I stumble for help getting out of it.

I need to be diligent in shining the Lord on the path ahead fro myself. You see, I stumble on things I cannot see that I do not expect to be there. Have you ever stubbed your toe in the dark of the night on your way to the kitchen or bathroom? I know that I have. Although that would have been avoided had I just shined a light on the path and known what was in the way. I have the light of the Lord that I can shine at all times to avoid the toe stubbing and tripping.

I know that I have noticed that when I am spending my quality time with the Lord, the amount of stumbles I encounter are drastically reduced. I seem to trip up most often when I have taken my eyes off of my Lord thinking I am able to get along without His guidance. When I am focused on my Lord, my path is clearer and the obstacles are minimized, or at least I can see them to avoid them.

When you are walking along, is your path lighted or do you find yourself stubbing your toe on those items you cannot see? Are you focused on carrying the light of your path? Are you seeing the way forward?

I am a pretty smart person, but when it comes to doing things that are pleasing to and in glory of God, I may not be as smart as I think I am.

“⁴Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist.” – Proverbs 23:4 (ESV)

No matter how smart I might be, I will be tempted by the ways of the world. There are some really enticing things happening that capture out attention: financial wealth, elevated status, “friends”. But what about my true wealth?

I have all I need in my relationship with Christ. That relationship is one that keeps me in the right frame of mind. It keeps me seeking after more that are pleasing to and in glory of God. I only need but to listen to the voice He gives me.

Riches, “friends”, status, will all be there today, and could be gone tomorrow. Real wealth in my relationship with Christ is something that cannot and will not fade. As long as I am investing back in that relationship. The only thing I should be asking for from the relationship is wisdom and a discerning heart and mind to be sure that what I seek is true.

What are you looking for from God? What actions are you taking to gain it? Are you seeking for wisdom and a discerning heart and mind?

Have I been asking the Lord for the right things in my prayers. I have been asking for guidance and direction, and I believe them to be the right things. Solomon asked for wisdom to lead the people of God.

“⁹Give you servant therefore and understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” – 1 Kings 3:9 (ESV)

Even as a small child, Solomon was asking for the right things. When I look at my asking for guidance and direction, it appears as though I am looking for the map to get where I am supposed to go. But, I should be looking for simple understanding of where to end up instead of the instructions for each step.

I know I said just above that I should be looking for simple understanding, and the truth is that understanding is not simple at all. But, the concept of only looking for understanding is simple. I may be making it too complicated for myself in my prayers and should use the old adage of K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple Stupid.

“²⁴The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.” – Proverbs 17:24 (ESV)

Solomon was a great king and his wisdom was highest in the land. Shouldn’t I heed the words of him in my own pursuits as noted in the verse above?

When you are looking at your requests to God, what are they looking like? Are you making it too complicated for you to even understand? Are you asking for the right things?

I find myself daily struggling with where I belong and am I where God has me. You see, I am a man and as such, am very stubborn. My stubbornness requires some pretty overt conditions for me to be aware. God makes it easier on me as I know that He is directing me. But am I able to decide, not always. I have personality traits that drive me to ask more questions and analyze things so deeply that seeing an answer is sometimes delayed and to late because I could not make the decision.

I work hard to find answers, and that leads me into some area where I should probably not go. I find myself engaging with those that are looking for personal gain only and the answers they provide are there to make themselves look a certain way. God warns against that.

“⁷Therefore do not become partners with them; ⁸for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), ¹⁰and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” – Ephesians 5:7-10 (ESV)

I should be seeking that which is good and “pleasing to the Lord”. What that means here to me is that I should certainly look for answers with others, but when I do not find the good and pleasing to God, I should move on to elsewhere.

“¹⁴And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake of the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.” – Matthew 10:14 (ESV)

There is no reason for me to keep pouring into what I know to be less than pleasing to God, once it is clear there is no heart for pleasing the Lord. I should be working to please God and in my daily walk in this world I should be looking for good as a way of tackling the decisions that come my way.

Are you looking for the right way to attack certain decisions that come your way? What has been your approach so far? Is your approach one where you are trying to “discern what is pleasing to the Lord?

I may have been doing it wrong. I may have be waiting for God to reveal his will for me.

“¹I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ²Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)

I have been waiting on God to reveal his will for me when I should be testing and recognizing the will of God daily. I have been waiting to be sure that I am not making mistakes with what God has been entrusting to me when I should be out working with what He has given me and finding ways to multiply what He has entrusted to me.

In the parable of the talents, Jesus explains that even with a little we should be faithful to grow and not settle for safety. Our role in all of this is to be faithful with what we are given. We may not have all of the answers right now, however that is what the testing and distinguishing is all about. I am called to take what God have entrusted in me and work to multiply it for His glory.

The discerning of God’s Will is not an easy thing and I know that I will have to be diligent and stay the course. That will encompass some losses and lesson learning along the way, however the journey to the Will of God is part of it. I will not be able to discern His will without going through some of that testing to uncover God’s Will in my life.

What have you been entrusted with by God? Have you been testing and working to grow and multiply? Are you seeking to discern the Will of God in your life?

All too often I believe I can hide things. I believe that by pretending, no one will know what is really going on.

“¹O Lord, you have searched me and known me! ²You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar…⁴Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.” – Psalm 139:1-2 & 4 (ESV)

I can pretend all I want, but God knows. He knows when I am happy, sad, joyful, angry, loving, hateful, active, and sedentary. He knows my thoughts before they are thoughts, and words before they are words.

As God knows all, why do I still try to pretend or hide things? Because I am human and a sinner.

God always knows what is going on in my body, life, mind, and heart. Even when I don’t know, God knows. He gives direction for me to follow and my only appropriate response should be to go. There is no hiding from God. I can run from Him, but He knows where I am going even when I do not.

God knows everything about me and accepting that will give peace. He is there watching over me and celebrates the winnings and mourns the losings with me. Acceptance is my only option and a pretty good one at that.

Are you hiding or running from God? Your pretending is having what effect on your overall walk with Christ? Have you thought about the fact that God knows EVERYTHING about you?

I am a sinner and that I have embraced. Perfection is only something that I can strive for, although will never, and I mean never, attain here in this world.

“¹²Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. ¹³Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.” – Psalm 19:12-13 (ESV)

I am a sinner and that I have embraced. I will do all that I can to avoid sinning and living a righteous life here in this world. I am a sinner though and that will not change.

No matter how much I want to avoid sin, I will still, even when I am not aware. There will be mistakes I make where I did not know I was making.

I think of a time years ago when my family and I went on vacation to the Frio River and we parked the vehicle in an area where there were many other vehicles. It was on the side of a very tight stretch of road and there was a spot open that I was able to get into between two other vehicles and did not think anything of it. When I came back to the car, there was a parking ticket on the vehicle. I had seen no signs, and I simply parked with everyone else.

The story above is an example of doing wrong, even when you did not know you were doing wrong. That does not remove the accountability for the actions. Sometimes we are really not aware of the sins we commit, but God forgives us anyway. There are times when we sin and did not intend to, or even realize we did, God forgives us anyway.

I am responsible for my sin, even when I know I am forgiven. My role is to repent daily for those sins that I commit, all of them. I will make mistakes and God knows that. He forgives me anyway. I have to remember not to take that for granted as I go through this world. I will repent daily for my actions, known and unknown.

Are you a sinner, and do you embrace it? Are you aware that you commit sins that you don’t even know or remember? Will you repent and seek forgiveness even when you don’t see the sins?

This world is not our final destination and this I have to remember.

“⁵¹Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵²in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” – 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (ESV)

I am having some monumental challenges with understanding my place. In this world I do not feel as though I am appreciated for the work that I do or have done. I have a position of cog in a wheel and as long as that cog is doing its job, all is good.

I know that most of us have heard the phrase “no news is good news”, well that does not work for me. No news is no news, and when we do not receive any, that means that we do not exist. I currently am feeling as though I do not exist.

The good news is that there will be a “last trumpet”. I “will be changed”. I will be rescued and give a seat where I am appreciated and where I will receive news and feedback from my God as He smiles and takes joy in my voice and presence with Him.

Are you in a similar situation here in the world? Where are you looking for guidance? Do you know and recognize that you will be changed?

As I continue to study the word “change” in God’s Word, I was led to James, chapter 1 verse 17.

“¹⁷Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” – James 1:17 (ESV)

This verse is in theme with my other days of study and further reinforces God’s unchanging countenance and actions (which is no surprise). Where I have learned this morning, is in verses that precede this one and really dictate the actions we should be taking and further reveals some of the reason for the adversity God allows in our lives.

“¹²Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. ¹³Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. ¹⁴But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings for death. ¹⁶Do no be deceived, my beloved brothers.” – James 1:12-16 (ESV)

James reveals God’s intentions with us to be true and it is our own thoughts, desires, and actions that lead to the adversity and hardships that we may be facing at any time. God does not tempt or drive us to actions that do not glorify Him, although He allows us to be human and make our own choices in the matters.

James is simply giving us instruction of how to live “authentically and wisely for Christ” (Introduction to the Book of James in my ESV Bible). As stated in verse 12 above, “blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial”. God gives to us and we can rely on He “with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change”.

Where are you placing your belief, in God or yourself? Are you looking for God to change to fit with you? Are you remaining steadfast in your faith in God?

“²⁰And is was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, ²¹but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: ‘The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever.”’” – Hebrews 7:20-21 (ESV)

“This one, him, You”, All of these are referring to Jesus. Forever is quite a long time and frankly longer than I or anyone else will be around. And these two things are of significance here.

Jesus forever is an amazing statement and one that no one else can claim. You see, Jesus, whereas He may not be here in the flesh as man today, He is always with us, forever. And since He was made a priest, He is far more than any here today.

The Lord has spoken it so therefore it is done, as it was for creation. God has made up His mind and that will not change. We are free to try and change the mind of God and offer up others for priesthood and try to prove some other as priest, but God’s mind is made and nothing, I mean nothing with change His mind.

I am only man and will follow the will of God and bow to Him. Jesus is my only priest, forever and that will not change.

Who do you think of as your priest? Will they be around forever? Are you in a place where you are trying to change the mind of God and bend Him to your will?