| Good Morning Everyone, Our theme for this month: “The power of hope” Our Bible verse for today: “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and wonderful things you did not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 (CSB) Our thought for today: “We have the hope of guidance from God.” In the Bible God has promised that if we seek Him, He will not leave us wandering aimlessly through life without direction. This is a theme woven all throughout both the Old and New Testaments. We find it promised in many passages. “Call to Me and I will answer you …” says the Lord in Jeremiah 33:3. James 1:5 tells us, “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously …” And in Proverbs 3:5-6 we read, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.” When you’re confused, when you need direction and guidance, the Lord will speak to you. It’s true. But it is incumbent on you to seek that guidance – and that’s where the problem usually lies. It’s been my experience as a Pastor that although many people do want direction and guidance from God, not many actually do the work necessary to put themselves in a position before God whereby He can speak to them. Often, in a brief and hurried prayer a person will say something to God about needing guidance or insight, but then they just leave it there and they don’t pursue it any further. Or, they think that in response to that brief prayer there will be a profound and unmistakable response from God – a clear and audible voice, or a miraculous and unmistakable intervention, or an angel who appears in a dream. But that’s not usually how it happens. How do we hear from God? In many different ways, but there are some things we can and should do to help us hear from Him. We do have to make the effort to do the things that place us in a position before God whereby He can and will speak to us. First, spend lots of time in focused prayer on the specific subject. Second, search the Bible regarding the specific subject you are dealing with and let Him speak to you through the written Word. Third, consider your current circumstances as they pertain to the specific subject, and look for a pattern of God’s activity in your life that may point to the present and the future. Fourth, get good counsel (preferably from your pastor or from a mature Christian friend or two). Fifth, understand that God’s answers are usually subtle and require us to pay attention and to be discerning. As Christians we do have the hope and the promise of being guided and directed by God. But we also have to put forth the effort to truly seek Him. We have to pray; we need to search the Bible; we need to look for patterns in God’s activity in our lives; and we have to get good counsel, because those are the ways in which He will probably speak to us. With God you can have the confident assurance that in His way and in His time, He will guide and direct you. God Bless, Pastor Jim |
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Oak Hill Baptist Church 
Thank you, Pastor Jim, as I struggle with the migrants and their desperate journey to find a better life…The children and their parents and the ones who come alone…I have briefly questioned God’s authority throughout this crises and so am waiting and listening and seeking His word. Today’s message, “We have the HOPE of guidance from God” is valuable advice from you that I will hold on to during this time of unrest. My niece, Sally, has been forwarding your posts for a long time, now…I have shared them with my weekly Bible study (Lectio Divina) which we attend at my Senior Care Community here at Longwood at Oakmont. I have grown up and forever been active in the Presbyterian Church, but embrace All Christian Churches…While living in Tampa, we visited Tampa Baptist quite often and loved their services. My husband passed 2 years ago but I am still able to live in Independent Living here at Longwood at Oakmont (a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.) One of my sons and his wife graduated from The University of Tennessee and I love your neck of the woods. God Bless and Keep You!
JoAnne Sauereisen
Thank you JoAnne. It is so good to hear from you. As a matter of fact, I have a very nice note sitting right here on my desk from Sally. In it she mentioned you and also included your address. My plan was to put a note in the mail to you today. I’m still going to. Thank you for the feedback regarding the devotional. It is encouraging and appreciated!
God Bless,
Pastor Jim