Learning to think it through

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “You made it! Now what?”

Our Bible verse for today: ““But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit – the Father will send Him in My name – will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you. “John 14:26 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Learning to think it through”

A common complaint I hear from Christians, especially Christians who have yet to grow deeply in spiritual maturity, is that they are unable to hear God or to get clear direction from Him regarding important decisions. It’s almost as if they’re expecting to be able to sit down with a paper and pencil to take dictation as God verbally recites for them, item-by-item, step-by-step, what He wants them to do. But that rarely happens.

Instead, what does happen is that over time God develops us in spiritual maturity so that we’re able to think things through and make good decisions of our own, decisions that honor and please Him. An example would be how, as a parent, we don’t want to be constantly giving our children detailed instructions about every decision that needs to be made in their lives. Instead, we want to train them to be able to think things through, evaluate the situation for what it is, and then make a good decision of their own (one that we as the parent would be proud of and pleased with).

That’s exactly what God does with us. He doesn’t want to have to dictate every step we take. Instead, He wants us to use our spiritually mature brains to think it through and to then make a decision that pleases Him.

Welcome to the world of spiritual maturity! I know, this is hard. In one respect, life in the Old Testament world was easier because you simply had a long list of rules and regulations to obey. You could just go down the list checking them off one-by-one and you were good to go. But in New Testament times we’re required to think. It almost makes my brain hurt.

But God has not left us to figure this stuff out for ourselves. It’s the job of the Holy Spirit to teach us, guide us, and to help us make those good decisions. That’s what Jesus was explaining in John 14:26.

Would you like to feel better about your ability to make good decisions in life that truly do please and honor God? If that’s your attitude God will honor it, and He will bless you with greater understanding and increased ability to make good decisions. But you must do your part too. You must do the things that will bring about that spiritual growth.

This requires committed discipleship. It is through the disciplines of prayer, Bible study, faithful attendance at worship services, involvement in ministry activities, sitting under the teaching of good preachers and teachers, and by practicing the other fundamental disciplines of the Christian faith that we become increasingly spiritually mature.

God wants you to be able to think Biblically so you can then act Biblically. Therefore, a great goal for 2026 would be to dial up the intensity and commitment level regarding being a true disciple of Jesus. Place yourself in a position before God every day whereby the Holy Spirit can mold you and shape, transform you and develop you, as you grow in spiritual maturity.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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