Submitting to God’s Guidance and Control

Today we have two different writers looking at the same scripture passage!

This is our fourth time highlighting the writing of John Curtis at the Exchange Ministry Blog. There’s a link in the title which follows allowing you to read this where it appeared first.

The loving eye and the bridle

𝗣𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝟯𝟮:𝟴-𝟵 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗴𝗼; 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘆𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 𝗗𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗲, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂.

David came to his senses in Psalm 32 and opened his life to God, confessing sin and receiving forgiveness. When he had remained silent (vv 3-4) it had physical consequences – pain and exhaustion. But when he allowed God’s voice and conviction to come into his soul, he received pardon and regained God’s protection over his life. The famous “You are my hiding place” lyrics (v 7) are among the greatest statements in the Word of God about the shelter provided to the penitent.

The above verses are written as God’s words to David, and all readers. Whatever sin was confessed and forgiven is forgotten and God shows the way forward. It is his instruction that leads – and never into more iniquity. His advice and direction come from a motive of pure love and never manipulative self-advancement (God is quite secure as Lord over the universe).

Yet, obstinance is always a possible reaction from the human heart. Whether it stems from unbelief in God’s love and goodness or a desire to plot one’s own course, it reduces the person being directed to the mentality and willfulness of a brute animal. Even as humankind understands the need for means of controlling horses and mules, the rebellion of heart against God who grants the dignity of free will is held up as a right. And a right it is, but not without consequence.

Instruction is only good if it is imported as direction. Otherwise, it sits only as a varying opinion, and there is no shortage of those on the earth. Do I believe there is a God? Yes. Do I believe God’s instruction is a better teacher than my own wayward heart? Yes.

The walk is treacherous still, for the motives of people creep in, some even portending to speak for God – and others who really do speak for God in my life. The “loving eye” is key for me to see. God is for my good, not my control or frustration. May I see and walk with that knowledge. Amen.

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Our second devotional today is from a source that’s new to us, the blog Fighter Verses. They use a variety of writers; this one is from Jill Henry. Clicking the title which follows will take you to this interesting website.

Don’t Be Like a Mule

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.  Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. —Psalm 32:8-9

Before I sit down to write about a passage for Fighter Verses, I stop and ask God to help me with what direction I should go. I’ll have some ideas floating in my head, but I want to hear from the Lord; I want to be sure I’m heading in the right direction. How fitting, therefore, that the verses I was assigned this time are Psalm 32:8-9.

I am very aware that I cannot make it through life without the help of the Lord. Well, I’m aware of my need of Him most of the time. I am so grateful that as children of God, we have the Holy Spirit residing in us to help lead, guide, and protect us. The Holy Spirit works on our behalf when we don’t even ask. It’s humbling and wonderful—a gracious gift from our loving Father. God wants us to stop and seek Him. Verse 8 is a promise from God that He will instruct and counsel us, He will teach us and guide us, He is watching over us.

Immediately following this wonderful promise from the Lord, He gives us a necessary warning in verse 9, “Be not like a horse or mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.” Are you wondering what this warning and imagery mean? I believe this is a caution against self-sufficiency and things of this world that become idols in our lives, distracting us from being dependent on the Lord and seeking Him.

As much as I want to think that I stop, pray, and seek the Lord for His help and guidance in all things, the Holy Spirit recently opened my eyes to my self-sufficiency. In the midst of a difficult situation, I was distracted by the difficulty of the situation itself, and trusting in my own knowledge, even turning to the wisdom of man versus seeking the Lord for His wisdom, counsel, and direction. I took my eyes off Jesus and became like a mule without understanding, leaving me wide open for spiritual attack and temptation from the enemy. Kathy Keller warned in her message on Psalm 32:9 that, “…we can be busy in God’s work yet not be close to God—especially if you’re gifted! We must be fueled by grace, not our gifts, talents or education. Gifts and education will not help you in times of need and temptations—they will betray you!”

We must be fueled by grace. I love that! Where does that grace come from? Grace is a gift from the Lord. We receive that gift as we seek the Lord, running to Him with hearts of desperation, adoration, and worship, because He is our sovereign, all-knowing, and loving Heavenly Father. It doesn’t matter how big or small your problems, situations, or decisions may be, the Lord has given His promise that He “will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.” We need humble ourselves, seek the Lord, and ask Him to guide us in the way we should go.

For Reflection

① When you’re facing a decision or a difficult situation, do you find yourself running to God for His help and counsel or do you try to handle things in your own strength and understanding?

② What areas do your giftings, talents, or knowledge cause you to become self-sufficient?

③ Is there anything in your life that would benefit from humbling yourself and seeking the Lord for His grace and His guidance?