Connecting Point – June 14 , 2023

I recently meditated on two Scripture verses that reminded me of how much we need the Lord's direction and help in our lives on a daily basis. Those two verses are found in Psalm 127:1-2, where we read: "Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is useless.  Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will be no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to His loved ones."

Let me ask you, "Do you ever struggle with an attitude of 'self-sufficiency' or 'self-reliance'?" There are many people in our world who have received Jesus Christ into their lives and know their eternal destiny is Heaven, that live "self-sufficient" or "self-reliant" lives.  Although professing to have surrendered their lives (their ambitions, attitudes, and actions) to the Lord, they daily make decisions and live their lives without consulting with the Lord, trusting in their own intellect and abilities to get them through life.  Have you ever operated your life like that? I have, and I would presume that most of the people I know have as well.

The Psalmist points out in our text that nothing we build, construct, or develop in life is secure, successful, and satisfying unless it is initiated, directed, and empowered by the Lord.  That means our financial, educational, and vocational plans won't be completely successful unless they are initiated, directed, and empowered by the Lord.  Our relationship plans won't be completely successful unless they are initiated, directed, and empowered by the Lord.  And even our physical and spiritual plans won't be successful unless they are initiated, directed, and empowered by the Lord. The direction, provision, and protection of the Lord is necessary for us to experience strength, security, and success in every arena of life!

So, I also want to ask you, "In what areas of life do you at times fail to seek God's direction and empowerment?" Do you seek the Lord's direction and provision for your daily schedule of activities, and if so, when do you do that? Do you seek the Lord's direction and provision before entering into conversations with others, or before choosing programs or movies you are planning to view? Do you seek the Lord's direction and provision concerning decisions you need to make in regard to your family, your work, your ministry, or friendship relationships.  The Bible says, "There is wisdom in a multitude of counselors" (Proverbs 11:14).  There is even greater wisdom in not only conferring with godly and mature Christians when making decisions but conferring with the "Wonderful Counselor" when making important decisions (if not every decision) in life. I believe that if we would simply begin to develop the habit of asking the Lord, "Lord, what do you think about this?" before we make decisions on a daily basis, we would save ourselves grief over bad decisions and reap much joy from our God-directed decisions.