Posts Tagged: God's guidance through what people say

“Unsubtle Guidance”

On November 15, 2021 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

“8         I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

                        I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

9           Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,

                        which must be curbed with bit and bridle,

                        or it will not stay near you.” (Psalm 32:8-9, English Standard Version)

In a phone conversation with my friend Bob, I mentioned a book that I had just finished. I found the book very helpful.

“Hey! I just finished a really good book, Atomic Habits,” I said. I heard laughter on the other end of the phone connection. I didn’t realize that finishing a book was so funny, but I soon found out why he was laughing. His wife had just said to my friend that they needed to listen to that book on audio and discuss it. His son had also mentioned the book to Bob.

“I think God may be trying to tell me something,” Bob said. “I’m not that big on those kinds of books, but I think I do need to read it.”

This led to a discussion about God’s guidance through people’s not-so-random comments. “Sometimes, God speaks to me very subtly,” Bob said, “and sometimes I miss it.”

And I chipped in with the following comment and pledge: “I think I’ll start my day tomorrow with the prayer, ‘Speak to me and guide me today, LORD. And don’t be too subtle about it!’”

I know that God, like any good parent, wants his children to be guided by his quietist whisper or even his look, as the psalm verse that leads off this meditation suggests. However, I want to do what God wants today. And if God needs to be unsubtle, so be it!

I did indeed begin this morning, before I even got out of bed, with this prayer. I am planning on incorporating it into my usual routine. I’ll let you know if it helps. I suspect it will.

Meanwhile, you can marinate in the following two statements. I’ve forgotten the source, but the saying wears well.

“The question is not whether God still speaks. The question is, is anybody listening?”

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