Are you heading in the right direction?

Introduction (5m)

Do you know someone who thinks they know everything?

I didn’t know my future

Work / Home / Family life / Ministry

You don’t know yours either

Life full of uncertainties - both good and ill - illness / grief / unemployment

Psalm 139 Promise: God knows and loves you

Psalm 139:1 NLT

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.

Heart of biblical revelation: God searches, sees us, knows us, accepts us, loves us and his grace bridges gap between acceptance/judgement.

Explanation (5m)

Only God’s knowledge is full knowledge

Psalm 139:6 NLT

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!

Full range of activity

Predates us

More - unexpressed thoughts / motives

Searches us - examines us with pain and care - Jewish thought: digging deep into mine, exploring land, investigating a legal case.

This full knowledge means only God knows your future

Psalm 139:16 NLT

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Sees everything from beginning to the end

If he knows us before he brings us into existence then he must know our future too.

More than that - God is sovereign and he moulds our life’s journey

Free to make our own choices - but secondary to God’s reign (remarkable how he works around our mistakes!)

Even when we are blown off course by the devil - God still reigns. He is not caught by surprise. His will will be done.

Application (5m)

To ensure our future is the future God has planned for us, we must pray for discernment

Psalm 139:23–24 NLT

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Karen Barber, writer on prayer: praying for discernment different to praying for direction

Direction: What to do / choice to make. Where to go. How to be obedient.

Discernment: Why? Asking God to help clarify, getting to root of problem, gaining insight, seeing more clearly.

Why get so angry? Why has relationship broken? Why people find me difficult? Why am I willing to break soldier’s covenant? Why make bad choices? Why do I feel so alone? Why am I fearful? Why does God seem silent when I pray? Why am I refusing to take the step I know God has asked me to take?

Important to ask why? to ask for discernment

Helps us see difference between right/wrong / sacred/selfish / God-serving/self-serving / healthy/unhealthy / freeing/enslaving / true/false / helpful/hurtful / unifying/divisive.

Will you pray for a discerning heart today?

A brave and bold thing to do, especially if life is treating you well:

John 3:19–21 The Message

“This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.”

Let’s not run for the darkness, let’s not enslave ourselves by being addicted to denial and illusion. Let’s welcome the God-light. Let’s pray for discernment, because only God knows our future. Only he knows if we are heading in right direction.

Next Steps

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the people You have divinely placed in my life who speak holy truth, love and words of wisdom. Give me a heart of discernment to know when You are using someone to speak instruction into my heart and my circumstances, and give me the strength and courage to follow through with that advice, even when it's hard. Fill me with peace in knowing that even if I take a wrong turn, Your purpose will prevail. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Heavenly Father, you said in your word, in James 1:5 that if any man lacks wisdom that he should ask of you who gives liberally to all without reproaching. Lord, I therefore acknowledge that I need the wisdom that only you can give, pour upon me your Spirit of wisdom in its fullest measure in the name of Jesus.

Lord I ask according to the book of Ephesians 1 from verse 16, that you give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the Knowledge of you, the eyes of my heart being enlightened that I may know the hope of your calling and the riches of your glorious inheritance in the saints and the immeasurable greatness of your power towards me who believe according to the working of your great might in Jesus name.

Father, I need wisdom that only your Spirit can give me. Help me to not lean solely on my own opinions, thoughts, or dreams — or what my society, culture, and circle have to say. I need godly — not earthly — wisdom, Lord. Please supply me in knowledge and truth as I battle these tough decisions and uncertainty. Father, open my eyes to the barriers holding me back from spiritual progress and help me to walk confidently as I discern the next steps I need to take in my life.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your guidance. Forgive me for getting ahead of Your plans, and help me know when to stop and listen for Your direction. Your ways are perfect, Lord. Thank You for offering gentle grace. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

SB 715 - Knowing my failings, knowing my fears

Knowing my failings, knowing my fears, Seeing my sorrow, drying my tears. Jesus recall me, me re-ordain; You know I love you, use me again. You know I love you, use me again. 2 I have no secrets unknown to you, No special graces, talents are few; Yet your intention I would fulfil; You know I love you, ask what you will. You know I love you, ask what you will. 3 For the far future I cannot see, Promise your presence, travel with me; Sunshine or shadows? I cannot tell; You know I love you, all will be well. You know I love you, all will be well. John Gowans (1934-2012) © The General of The Salvation Army. Used By Permission. CCL Licence No. 30158 Copied from The Song Book of The Salvation Army Song Number 715