| II Samuel 17:1-29; John 19:23-42; Psalm 119:129-152; Proverbs 16:12-13
“My eyes pour out streams of tears because people do not follow Your instructions.” (Psalm 119:136)
I would never presume to know everything, and I certainly would never assert that I am by any means perfect. One thing I do know is this, through the years the Word of God has enlightened me so much and while I am not where I would like to be, I am definitely not where I was. When I try to give advice or when I try to help someone, I always go back to the instruction found in the Word of God because it is what has changed me.
Not too long ago, I tried to counsel a young lady who has been to prison and is out on parole. She came seeking money for her parole fees (which she was six months behind on). She admitted that she had recently done cocaine and marijuana but I suspected that she was much deeper into the drugs than a one-time slip. I offered her advice from the Word of God concerning getting help, surrendering to God, becoming accountable to others and surrounding herself with Godly people who can help her to win her battle in a safe environment.
It quickly became obvious that she wasn’t interested in long term help, only a short-term solution of a few dollars (most likely to buy one more hit). From her own mouth, she essentially was just waiting to go back to jail. She had already given up on herself instead of giving God a real shot. To be honest, most folks don’t want to put forth the effort it takes to serve God wholly. The reality is, it’s harder to live outside of His will than it is to just be compliant to His instructions.
It absolutely breaks my heart to see folks who will not surrender to God and follow His direction. I mean, I am on the outside looking in. This person is failing in their life, and I share solutions that all stem from the wisdom of God’s Word and it is rejected. It rips me up because there is no doubt they will continue to spiral down and will probably blame God for it. Why are we human beings so hardheaded?
If you are reading this today, please consider what has been said when facing your own challenges. Instead of doing your own thing, seek God and get His will and direction for your circumstance. I promise you that God will never steer you wrong. It may not always be the easiest path to take but it will be the most successful. And for those who are broken for those who struggle, keep your eyes on Jesus, keep pointing them to Him and keep it in prayer.
PRAYER:
Lord, I ask You to forgive me for being so hard-headed sometimes. Help me to seek Your heart on all things in life so I can make good decisions. I pray for those who are so lost and will absolutely not listen to You. I pray You will have great mercy on them. Please break through their stubbornness and help them to learn obedience so they can experience a better life. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. |
