I have been listening to the Old Testament as I walk around the countryside around Garsington, which is supposed to have more public footpaths than any other village in Oxfordshire (or was it England?).
The advantage of listening to huge swathes of Scripture at a time is picking up the big themes.
A phrase which often comes up—when people do something rash, foolish, misguided, or which ends very badly is “they did not enquire of the Lord.”
They did what they felt like doing, what seemed eminently sensible to them. They acted out of fear, or pragmatism, or ambition. They just omitted to enquire of the Lord.
* * *
I think enquiring of the Lord is a habit slowly acquired–but it has to be learnt, if we want a life which has the hallmarks of God’s blessing.
I particularly need this, being both decisive and impulsive. You know how Peter had enough of sadness and jumps up saying, “I’m going fishing,” in the last chapter of John. I can easily jump up and do things: commit to a course of action without thinking it through and seeing if it is the wisest and best.
Through trial and costly error, I am training myself to enquire of the Lord in big things and small: where to go on holiday; major purchases; whom to invite for dinner; what to eat for dinner!, which opportunities to take up and which to turn down; which writing projects to commit to; which books to read in my limited time; how to grow my blog….
I think of God as a silver waterfall full of grace and wisdom, and I just need to step in it, be bathed in it, and ASK to receive his guidance.
Slow me down, Lord; slow me down.
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5
Oh, what grace we often forfeit
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer
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Kathy says
Very timely devotion for me as I am writing a novel,and need direction in how to proceed. “Inquiring of the Lord” is essential to our growth in Christ and how we experience the depth of His love in every area of life. Thank you for the verse from Jeremiah 10:29. I do desire to prosper in life and this is the key to open the door to God’s best The book of Jeremiah is precious to me as when I was expecting my first child, I was reading it and named my firstborn Jeremiah as a result. I need to go back and re-read as it has such wonderful promises, like Jeremiah 29:11 which I have claimed.
Anita Mathias says
Hi Kathy, I also love Jeremiah 17, which is about the very different fruits that trusting in oneself or trusting in the Lord produces!
Serena Kaylen Crompton says
I’m embarrassed at how often I fail to “enquire of the Lord,” although the outcome of impulsive words and actions can be disastrous. Just this week, I learned that even the impulsive thoughts we choose to “run with” can have terrible consequences: anger, bitterness, depression…. I feel way past the age of learning to walk step by step with my Lord, but here I am. Thanks for this, Anita. As usual, I needed it. 🙂
Anita Mathias says
“I’m embarrassed at how often I fail to “enquire of the Lord.” Me too, me too. It is a learned habit, I think, strengthened through practice.
” Just this week, I learned that even the impulsive thoughts we choose to “run with” can have terrible consequences: anger, bitterness, depression” Yes, when I am tempted to go the way of negative thoughts about someone or a situation, I have started to ask myself, “How much cancer do I want to have?” And then rapidly forgive and pray that God blesses them so that the anger does not metastasise into something even more destructive, for me and others.
Bev Murrill says
I love this Anita. I have been doing this too. Over the last few years I’ve been praying Proverbs 3:5,6 each day… God, help me trust in You with all my heart today, and please help me not lean on my own understanding, or what the papers say, or what my friends think or my history dictates, but help me remember to acknowledge You in everything I do so that You can direct my paths.
I have seen some amazing and astonishing things happen that would not have happened had I gone the way of my natural inclination… I love that scripture you quoted from Jeremiah… great post.
Anita Mathias says
Thank you, Bev. I should start praying that Proverb too. I have been saying that to myself when I am worried about the slow growth of my blog, or the lack of energy and focus and time I often find for writing. TRUST, don’t worry. ASK, don’t worry. I need to pray that Proverb.
Thank you for reading, and for your encouragement!