8-30-18 The First 15

The Weekly Overview

As children of the Most High God, we have been granted access to unconditional, tangible, and perfect love. All we need we have in relationship with our Father in heaven. He longs to reveal himself to us as a loving, real Father. He longs for us to live in the fullness of restored relationship with him. He longs for us to experience his vast and limitless affections. May we grow in our understanding and experience of God as our good and loving Father this week as we look at what it is to be his child.

The Scripture

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

- Proverbs 3:5-6

The Worship Experience

Artist: KJ Scriven

Song: Lead Me

The Devotional

You were not created to carve out your path through this life alone. Your heavenly Father longs to be a guide throughout all the twists and turns of life. He longs to shepherd you to greener pastures and calmer waters. He longs to protect you and provide for you. He longs to lead you to a life with more fullness of joy, peace, and purpose than any life you could ever discover on your own.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Allowing the Lord to be established as your guide begins with a commitment to trust. God cannot lead where you will not follow. Unless you live life with your heart postured toward continual obedience, you will fail to follow your Father into all the wonders he has in store for you.

Psalm 32:8-9 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 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.” We must cultivate a continual hunger for the Lord’s instruction and counsel. God’s plan is not to guide you as a horse or mule where you live your life without purpose or understanding. He longs to teach you and reveal his will that you might live under his leadership and influence.

We are created to be children of the Spirit and the word. We are made to both hear the voice of our Father and live according to the perfect direction of Scripture. John 4:24 says, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” The Holy Spirit desires to speak to you directly about your life. He longs to guide you in and out of every circumstance by tugging on your spirit and speaking to your heart. And he longs to give you revelation you need from the words of Scripture he divinely inspired. God has given you ample opportunity to be perfectly led. He’s provided all you will ever need to go through life with him as your guide. All that’s left is for you to trust him, keep your heart open to him, and follow him obediently in response to his faithfulness and love.

Take time in guided prayer to ask for his guidance. Ask the Holy Spirit to transform you into a child who is quick to listen and follow his leadership. Ask him to give you revelation through his word that you would be a child filled with understanding. May you encounter the desire of your Father to lead you well today.

The Prayer

1. Meditate on God’s desire to guide you by his Spirit and word.

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” John 16:13

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

2. Ask the Lord to transform you into a child quick to obey and follow his leadership. Ask him to give you great understanding of his word that you might live in accordance with Scripture.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27

“For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:19-21

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 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

3. Ask the Lord about any situation in which you need guidance. Wait on him and listen intently for a response. Pay attention to what you feel peace about and what disturbs your spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to a passage of Scripture that will give you understanding about what you should do. Pay attention to any passages or verses that come to mind.

Listening to the Lord is all about receiving in faith what God already wants to give. Our hearing is by the grace of God and not any merit of our own. God speaks to each of us perfectly. One child of God is not given more opportunity for God’s guidance than another. God longs to shepherd each of us. He longs to speak to each of us. All that is required of you is to make space to listen and receive. Ask the Spirit to teach you how to listen and hold onto what he is speaking. Make space in your daily life to have dialogue with your Father. And follow his perfect leadership into the abundant life Jesus died to provide for you.

Extended Reading: Psalm 5


			CRAIG DENISON is the author and founder of First15, a daily devotional guiding tens of thousands of believers into a fresh experience with God's presence every day. He writes, speaks, and he and his wife, Rachel lead worship to help believers establish a more tangible, meaningful connection with God.