Hindsight or Foresight?
“Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter”
Acts 10:5
“Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”
Acts 10:19–20
I am enjoying studying the book of Acts and growing in my own understanding that God is a God of Providence and not coincidence, as nothing in life happens by chance. I had just left our Wednesday morning Bible study at the church where we had a great dialogue about God’s workings in our lives. Though much of what we understand about the Lord’s will in our lives seems to be understood by looking back, the real joy comes when we sense God’s will in advance of what we do and then watching how the Lord works in real time, in the very moment we are in. Thats what the Psalmist had in mind when he penned the words, “Your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path” (Psalm 119:105) which means that God is illuminating whats in front of us not whats going on behind us. In other words Gods Word is like headlights not taillights.
After the study I was driving to Los Angeles for a meeting and as I drove I was thinking about what we had leaned earlier in the morning and I began praying about who should I call. I don’t like talking on the phone but I knew there are people I want and need to talk with so I was just asking the Lord who. When the first person I called answered they immediately said, “I was just getting ready to call you” as there was something they wanted to ask me. I was able to encourage them by saying, “hey, guess what? I was just praying about who I should call while I was driving so God obviously knew” which was true. God knows and He cares. All through our conversation my friend kept saying, “I knew the Lord wanted me to talk with you today. I knew you would have something from Jesus for me. Thank you for calling.” Little did he know I was just as if not more encouraged and excited as my friend was as I felt in tune with God in that moment and that always feels good.
My second call went almost exactly the same way. The person on the other end of the phone said when I called, “I was just sending you a text message so let me erase it now. Talk about God’s timing.” At that moment you could say I was driving on air. All I could say was thank you Lord for leading me to make these two calls. It was as if God was just reminding me again just how much He does desire to direct our paths though out the day as we look to Him, trust His leading and guiding and walk by faith in what He impresses upon our hearts and minds to do.
Join me this morning in praying to the Lord, “Father I want to be about Your business today and I am believing in faith that the people I come in contact with are in my path by Your design. Help me to say things that bring You glory and things that they need to hear. Help me to point people to You by both what I say and what I do. Help me to listen for Your voice all throughout my day, in Jesus name, amen!”
“Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did”
1 John 2:6
I LOVE YOU!
Acts 10:5
“Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”
Acts 10:19–20
I am enjoying studying the book of Acts and growing in my own understanding that God is a God of Providence and not coincidence, as nothing in life happens by chance. I had just left our Wednesday morning Bible study at the church where we had a great dialogue about God’s workings in our lives. Though much of what we understand about the Lord’s will in our lives seems to be understood by looking back, the real joy comes when we sense God’s will in advance of what we do and then watching how the Lord works in real time, in the very moment we are in. Thats what the Psalmist had in mind when he penned the words, “Your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path” (Psalm 119:105) which means that God is illuminating whats in front of us not whats going on behind us. In other words Gods Word is like headlights not taillights.
After the study I was driving to Los Angeles for a meeting and as I drove I was thinking about what we had leaned earlier in the morning and I began praying about who should I call. I don’t like talking on the phone but I knew there are people I want and need to talk with so I was just asking the Lord who. When the first person I called answered they immediately said, “I was just getting ready to call you” as there was something they wanted to ask me. I was able to encourage them by saying, “hey, guess what? I was just praying about who I should call while I was driving so God obviously knew” which was true. God knows and He cares. All through our conversation my friend kept saying, “I knew the Lord wanted me to talk with you today. I knew you would have something from Jesus for me. Thank you for calling.” Little did he know I was just as if not more encouraged and excited as my friend was as I felt in tune with God in that moment and that always feels good.
My second call went almost exactly the same way. The person on the other end of the phone said when I called, “I was just sending you a text message so let me erase it now. Talk about God’s timing.” At that moment you could say I was driving on air. All I could say was thank you Lord for leading me to make these two calls. It was as if God was just reminding me again just how much He does desire to direct our paths though out the day as we look to Him, trust His leading and guiding and walk by faith in what He impresses upon our hearts and minds to do.
Join me this morning in praying to the Lord, “Father I want to be about Your business today and I am believing in faith that the people I come in contact with are in my path by Your design. Help me to say things that bring You glory and things that they need to hear. Help me to point people to You by both what I say and what I do. Help me to listen for Your voice all throughout my day, in Jesus name, amen!”
“Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did”
1 John 2:6
I LOVE YOU!
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