Dearly beloved in Christ,
I greet you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Today, man seeks ways to have peace and blessings. He yearns for it and does not know where and how to have them. He is confused. He is not sure of himself in his activities as to whether they are right or would land them in trouble. To protect them from erring, they seek remedy from astrologers and sorcerers. There are also those who seek prophecy from servants of God.
But here in the verse quoted, you find a person who commits himself to the Lord, knowing full well that only He can guide a person to have peace and blessings and joy. Psalm 48:14 says, “For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death.” He will guide you forever.
I had gone with my father to the funeral of his father. At that time, my father was studying in a Bible College for taking up ministry. My grandfather had foretold him about the rain at the time of his death and what he should do. So he was startled by the events of his death. The Lord who guided Moses and Elijah would guide us till the end. His guidance would be perfect and would bring peace and blessing upon us.
BLESSINGS OF THE LORD’S GUIDANCE
1. No lack
“And they did not thirst when He led them through the deserts...” (Isaiah 48:21).
The Lord rescued the Israelites from the slavery of the Egyptians with His mighty outstretched hand, through miracles and by destroying the enemy who followed them, in a wonderful way. The Lord guided His people to take a circuitous route toward the Red Sea. It was a desert that they had to pass through. Why did He guide them through that route? It was for their benefit, O dear people of God. The Bible explains it: ‘Then it came to pass, when Phraoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt”’ (Ex. 13:17). In Luke 15:4, we read how the Lord leaves 99 sheep in the wilderness and seeks after the one lost sheep. Even though it was a desert life, because of the guidance of the Lord, nothing was lacking in their lives. In Psalm 34:10, assurance is given: “The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.” If we submit ourselves to be guided by the Lord, we would enjoy this blessing of His guidance.
Once, I was desperately in the midst of a need. I had to leave for a ministry. But I had no money, no innerwear. The day I had to start the journey, I was led by the Lord to go to a particular family and to start my journey from there. I went there. At the end of prayer, that family gave me an offering for the Lord’s blessings. That offering was enough for the journey and the ministry. Not only that, they also gave me the new innerwear, the banians I needed. The Lord who taught us to make the prayer for the bread of the day is alive even today. He supplies all our needs. In His guidance, there would be no shortcomings.
2. No troubles
“...He leads me beside the still waters.” (Psalm 23:2)
Today man is tantalized by the various problems he meets with. Some even want to end their lives. Dear Brother/ sister, do you engage any such thoughts in your life? Do not be dismayed. There is One who can solve your problems. He is the Lord Jesus Christ. He will lead you as your shepherd. If only you would accept Him in your life, He will guide you out of all your difficulties. You would see a life of peace, joy and health bloom.
Our Lord quells the storms. When His disciples were travelling in a boat, there was a storm in the sea and they were about to be destroyed. They called to Jesus Christ, who rebuked it and there was a calm. He is alive even today.
Once I had a difficult situation in life as my son charged me that I was leaving for ministry without making any arrangements for his admission to a college. At once, I looked to the Lord for guidance. He led me wonderfully. The Lord showed me an entrance of a college. But I could catch the flight at Chennai only if I left Trichy by 9 am. But I did not bother about it. I left for the college. At the entrance of the college, I saw my friend. He took me to the Principal. I knew him as he studied in the college where I studied and also played in hockey team. He promised me to give a seat there. The Lord helped my son to pursue his studies there. When the Lord guides us, all the storms of troubles would end.
3. No fear
“And He led them on safely, so that they did not fear...” (Psalm 78:53)
Our Lord leads safely. When we lack His guidance, there would be various troubles, accidents, problems, defeats and loss. If we submit ourselves to be led by the Lord, He would protect us as the apple of the eye and lead us.
Once the Lord asked a believer who was travelling by train to get down from the train. He submitted to the leading of the Lord. He cancelled his journey by train and took to road. When he reached his destination, a terrible news awaited him. That train was bombed and many lost their lives. The coach by which he travelled was totally destroyed. Yes, the Lord guides us and protects us as the apple of the eye.
4. Blessed by the Lord
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go...” (Psalm 32:8)
He will teach us how to do a thing in a perfect way. A sister was with her father-in-law who was sick. She was praying and reading the Bible to comfort him with the words from the Bible. But all of a sudden, the case of the sick person became worse. The nerves of his face began to twitch and twist. She was trying to contact the brother of her husband who was a doctor over phone. At that time, she cried, “O Lord!” Immediately the reply came from the Lord to mix sugar in water and give. She immediately obeyed. In a few minutes he became all right. At a crucial time when we need guidance, He would direct us and teach us.
5. Fruitful life
“The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” (Isaiah 58:11)
Dear child of God, as we are led by the Lord, we would be transformed in a way that our natural traits get changed and are filled with the divine qualities of the Lord. Our body, soul and spirit are filled with the goodness of the Lord. Our soul is satisfied. There are several people who are never satisfied. Before deciding to purchase a cloth, we think of so many things, and after choosing, if there is any defects, we are greatly upset. But when we are led by the Lord, our priceless soul is satisfied. Not only that, he strengthens the body as well. Our spiritual life also gets transformed as a watered garden. When there is plenty of water to trees and plants, they yield a lot of fruit. Our life gets transformed as a spring that never dries up.
Once, I was bitter towards a person. His words tormented me. I had an occasion to meet him again. The Lord told me not to speak a word bereft of love. So I also prepared my heart. That person realized his mistake and apologised for his words and got reconciled with me. He is very helpful in the ministry in that region even now. The Lord leads us to live a fruitful life. Saul was led by the Lord. His life changed. He had tormented the children of God. He was now ready to suffer for the Lord. The guidance of the Lord transformed his life totally.
6. No stumbling
“They shall come with weeping, And with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters...” (Jeremiah 31:9)
When He leads us, we will not stumble on the way. Most often we plan things ourselves and place them before the Lord with the request that He should lead us in that way. We try to direct the Lord. But actually, we should allow the Lord to teach us the way. If He guides us we will not stumble. The Lord God redeemed the Israelites with His mighty hand and led them. Today we follow the way of the people around and we stumble. Following the Lord Jesus Christ enables us to have the light of life and to progress without any stumbling.
John 11:9 Jesus said, “. . . If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.” The word of the Lord is a light unto our path. “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21). When He guides you, you will not go astray.
Once I had been to a foreign country to do ministry. I was led to go to another place in another country from there. I went there and ministered and after that I wanted to return. But the Lord prompted me to wait in that place for a few more days. So I returned after spending a few more days there. The place seemed to be very quiet and deserted. I went to a hotel to have some food. Usually, the place would be crowded and definitely they would take a lot of time to serve. But that day it came soon. I asked why there was no rush. Then I was told that the restaurant started functioning only that day after the flood there. Then only I came to know about the flood and the consequent power cut there. The people had suffered a lot. Yes, the Lord teaches us daily and causes us to walk without stumbling.
HOW TO HAVE THE GUIDANCE OF THE LORD
1. Come to the Lord
“They shall come with weeping, and with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they shall not stumble; For I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn” (Jeremiah 31:9)
To have the guidance of the Lord, we must come to Him. He said that He would not forsake anyone who came to Him. Whatever be the state of the person, be him a traitor or hard-hearted one, He will not forsake the person. He will lead in a wonderful safe way. He makes that person see miracles and makes him live with peace and joy.
2. Seek His Presence
“Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacle.” (Psalm. 43:3)
If we walk in darkness, we will only stray from the path. We will take the wrong course. To have His guidance we need His light. His light comes through His word. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 34:5 says, “They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed.” Yes, all those who look to Him would have radiance. That bright light would lead them.
3. Commit to the Lord
“So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do? Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:6)
To have the wonderful guidance of the Lord, we must commit ourselves to the Lord. Saul who tormented the disciples of Christ, surrendered himself completely and committed himself fully to serve the Lord. From that day, he had the guidance of the Lord.
Today when you commit to surrender yourself to the Lord fully, He Himself will lead you by the hand. You would have all the blessings of His guidance. We would inherit blessings pertaining to this world and to the world to come.
4. Accept Jesus Christ as Your Shepherd
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:1,3)
We should be prepared to accept Him as our Shepherd and follow Him. Jesus Christ called Himself the good Shepherd. He goes before His flock. When we follow Him, we would have His guidance fully. He will go before you and remove all the impediments in the way. You may be facing problems with the enemy or wicked people. But the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Redeemer will remove them and take us along a good path.
“The one who breaks open will come up before them; they will break out, pass through the gate, and go out by it; their king will pass before them, with the Lord at their head” (Micah 2:13). Perhaps there may be closed doors before you in the matter of getting married or employed, in journeys, in child-birth, in getting admission to institutions of higher learning, in completing the construction of a house or in setting up a business. Perhaps such things are found in the ministry. But I have experienced how the Lord removed them all in my ministry, I understand the greatness and omnipotence of the Lord.
Once my wife and I had been to New Zealand to do ministry in a region. We already had visa for Australia, but we could not obtain visa for New Zealand from India. We had bought tickets. But the agency which arranged things for travels were not able to do it as it was Easter time. They said it would take nearly 15 days. Then we had only 7 more days. So we did not take visa from India. We thought we could apply from Sydney in Australia and then undertook our travel. We went with a friend who was a beloved of the Lord to the Visa Office of New Zealand in Sydney. We explained our stand to them. Finally, they agreed to issue after 10 days. But I had a meeting in the Methodist Church at Aukland the next evening. Our friend explained everything to the officer. We also made a prayer there itself for the Lord to remove all the obstacles. The Lord enabled us to make the journey the next day in a wonderful way. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He will create a way for you in your life by doing away with the obstacles.
Today as you come to the Lord and commit yourself to Him, the presence of the Lord will go with you and make you have a good portion in good places. As you accept Him as the Shepherd, He will set right your way removing obstacles and blessing you.
May the Lord bless us!
In the service of Christ Jesus,
Bro. C. Ebenezer Paul.