Issues and Questions

“(Your) steps . . are directed of the Lord..” Psalm 37:23 NLT

“No person knows enough nor is wise enough who lives apart from God.”

My thoughts today are about “issues and questions.”

Most of time, people are so used to charting their own path they rarely realize they are doing so, and never imagined that they shouldn’t. When all goes well, there are no problems. But when you face an impasse and don’t know what to do, where do you turn for help? I think, when you are honest with yourself, you find your situation the same as Solomon, except you either don’t realize this or refuse to admit it. “I am a little child and do not how to go out or come in . . therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart.” 1 Kings 3:7-9 NKJV.

To admit that is rather humbling to a person’s sense of pride and accomplishment. Solomon was not a child; David’s son was about to be crowned king of Israel at the height of its glory and power, yet he understood his future was greater than his natural abilities. Solomon understood his absolute need for God’s direction and wisdom. Do you? Read Jeremiah 10:23 NIV.

This was David’s confidence: “The steps of the Godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives.” Psalm 37:23 NLT. The real issue is your answer to this question, “Who’s in charge here?” Do you set the terms and direction for your life, or does God? You can trust God to direct every step because, “He delights in every detail of your life.” Of whom else can that be said?

There are several issues at play and several questions that are important to ask and answer. There is the issue of purpose, a purpose bigger than just “making a living.” However successful you are at that, you will not find that a settled sense of purpose. You need a clear purpose, Godly and God-given. If your purpose does not touch eternity, it is inadequate for your lifetime. Don’t settle for a small life. Ask yourself this, “When I am what I am becoming, who will I be?

Within the human spirit, there is yearning for meaning. It will be tragic to wake up late in life wondering if your life had meaning; did your time here make any difference really? Any life without an inner sense of purpose will lack meaning. Eventually, you have to answer this, “When I get what I want, what will I have?”

There is also the matter of direction. Life is not to be aimless; it is to have objective and direction. Life is too precious and valuable to be wasted wandering. Where is your true North? What determines where you are going? Do you live by random occurrence, pushed one way or another by circumstances; or by committee, carried along with the crowd; or by such an important matter reserved for your own prerogative? You should live by deliberate submission to God and His Word, ways, and will. See 1 Peter 2:21 NIV. You need to truthfully answer: “When I get where I’m going, where will I be?”

Finally, to navigate life successfully, there is a necessity for wisdom. No person knows enough nor is wise enough who lives apart from God. “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom . . but that he understands and knows Me.” Read Jeremiah 9:23-24 NIV.

My prayer for you today is: invest your life in God, rather than spend it wastefully.