Learning God’s direction for your life

Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

In my walk with God, I have learned countless life-changing truths. One of those times happened early in my Christian walk. My children were quite young at the time and I was desiring the wisdom to help them know the Lord in ways I never did.

I had grown up regularly participating in a local church but really only knew religious activities and prayers I’d learned to recite with no thought behind them. I had never read the Bible and when it came to God, although I tried to talk to him in my heart, it felt like He was a billion miles away and had no time for me. As young 24-year-old man, I one day heard the gospel and what Jesus did for me. I gave my life to Jesus immediately! It was like the eyes of my heart were opened to see life through God’s eyes and everything changed—instantly! I became so hungry to read the Bible and learn of Him that I was like a person at a buffet, wanting to heap my plate as high as I could, over and over again.

There were multiple things I really desired to know that only God could answer. As much as I was developing an intimate relationship with the Lord, I wanted to know Him even more. I also greatly hungered for my children to grow up knowing Him intimately—not religiously. I didn’t know how to make that happen. And then I wanted to know the direction God had for my life. I felt like I had a call of God on my life and yet I wasn’t sure what that was or how to know for sure.

I decided I was going to devote myself to getting up early each morning around 5:00 am and go out to our living room and read and pray and seek the Lord. I had the promise of help from the Holy Spirit from John 16:13 (NIV) which promised, “… He will guide you into all truth…”

Devotion to God is meaningful to God. Devotion means to be: ardent, often selfless affection and dedication, as to a person or principle. The state of being devoted; addiction; eager inclination; strong attachment love or affection; zeal; especially, feelings toward God appropriately expressed by acts of worship; devoutness.”

When we devote ourselves wholeheartedly to God, it sets us free from wrong motives. We draw back from doing things simply for appearance sake or to please others. Instead we do the things we do out of a pure love for God and trust in His guidance. And God blesses us greatly for devoting our heart and time to seeking Him!

Over time, everything I sought to know and understand regarding what God had for my life and how to train my children in the Lord, came. God always found ways to speak to my heart— in church through the preaching of the Word, through Bible study, through friends as we talked about God’s word, and so many other ways. It has blessed my life in more ways than I could say in a book. Being devoted in seeking God’s guidance for the direction of our lives is the smartest things we will ever do in this life! The result is supernatural and unfolds before you over time! It will fill your heart with eternal joy and thanksgiving! Seeking God takes devotion and dedication to learning His ways and wisdom. But the things He teaches you reward you all the rest of your life! And for that reason, it’s a pure pleasure to seek God through His Word and prayer!

1 Chronicles 28:9 (NIV) “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you…”

In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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