If I Just Knew What To Do

If I Just Knew What To Do

Categories: WEEKLY DEVOTIONALS

Tim Clinton, Ed.D. and Max Davis

 

“If you leave God’s paths and go astray, you will hear a Voice behind you say, “No, this is the way; walk here.”
— Isaiah 30:21 TLB

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things …”
— John 14:26 NKJ

“If you were to do everything that Jesus tells you one day at a time, you always would be right in the center of where God wants you to be.”
— Henry T. Blackaby[1]

 

gaelle-marcel-161096So often we hear that we need to focus on “Doing whatever Jesus says,” but I know many of you may be saying to yourselves, “Yeah, I want to do whatever Jesus says, but how can I know what He wants me to do? If I just knew – I would do it!”

You can know. God has given us three wonderful gifts in this “following Christ” journey:

  1. His Word. The Psalmist declares that “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105 ESV) The Bible will clearly guide you as you “resolve” to do all that Jesus asks. Even Jesus, when faced with temptation, responded with “It is written…” Soak up the Word. The more you know the Word of God, the more you will know God. As God’s Word takes root in your heart and soul, resolve to follow it’s guidance and whatever He says to you, do it.
  2. Holy Spirit. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit – our Helper – and promised that “He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26 ESV) In chapter 16 Jesus added “He (Holy Spirit) will guide you into all the truth” (vs. 13) Listen and hear what Jesus says to do through the whispers of His Spirit.
  3. Other Believers. The great Apostle Paul reminded the Philippians “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things…” (Philippians 4:9 ESV) Again in 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul admonishes, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (ESV)

 

You are who you spend time with.

Each one of us needs spiritual leaders and “coaches” in our lives from whom we hear and see and learn and receive guidance in doing what Jesus says. Resolve to get more Godly people speaking into your life. Make a resolution to soak in His Word…meditate and listen to His Holy Spirit…commune and fellowship with other Christians. And whatever Jesus says to you – do it!!

“We fail to hear God’s voice (in Scripture and through others and through the direct impressions put upon us by His Holy Spirit) and see His hand of providence in dozens of things that come our way throughout the day, and thousands throughout our lives…So we need to become more alert to seeking and hearing God’s voice.” Randy Alcorn[2]

 

[1] Henry T. Blackaby & Claude B. King, Experiencing God (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 33.

[2] Randy Alcorn, “Is it possible to really hear God speak?” Eternal Perspective Ministries; www.epm.org/resources/2010/Mar/29/it-possible-really-hear-god-speak/ (accessed April 20, 2012).

This devotional is shared from Ignite Your Faith by Tim Clinton and Max Davis, available at https://www.aacc.net/product/ignite-your-faith/.

 

g-timTim Clinton, Ed.D., LPC, LMFT (The College of William and Mary) is President of the nearly 50,000-member American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), the largest and most diverse Christian counseling association in the world. He is Professor of Counseling and Pastoral Care, and Executive Director of the Center for Counseling and Family Studies at Liberty University. Licensed in Virginia as both a Professional Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist, Tim now spends a majority of his time working with Christian leaders and professional athletes. He is recognized as a world leader in faith and mental health issues and has authored over 20 books including Breakthrough: When to Give In, When to Push Back. Most importantly, Tim has been married 36 years to his wife Julie and together they have two children, Megan, who is married to Ben Allison and is practicing medicine in dermatology, and Zach, who plays baseball at Liberty University. In his free time, you’ll find him outdoors or at a game with family and friends.