“Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.”—Colossians 3:2 (MSG)

When I have a problem do I look down at my phone to call, text ,or google how to handle it or do I go to God with it? 

I know I need to go to God first, but many times, I pick up the phone to call a friend instead. You know what usually happens when I do that? The person I am calling/texting isn’t available. You would think I would get that God is closing that door and trying to get my attention to go to Him, but NO, I take that as a “sign” that I must be contacting the wrong person, so I reach out to person number two….not available.

After my second failed attempt, I finally get it. Okay, Lord. I am sorry. Please forgive me for not going to You first with this matter. God should be my first stop, not my friends. I am not saying for you to not seek wise counsel from others, because you should. Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.—Proverbs 19:20 (NLT) However, go to God with it first and let Him lead you.

I should be seeking God more than anyone or anything. My initial reaction is to vent my feelings to someone else, but when I approach God first, I find that by the time I talk to a friend, I have already processed the negativity and I don’t get so emotional when I share what happened. 

I do think it is important to have godly friends you can go to for counsel, but I should go to God in prayer before I reach out to them. God can use someone to speak His truth to me but that isn’t going to happen if I don’t pray about it first. God may or may not give me the words and wisdom through a friend, but He will through His Word. I just have to stay still enough to listen.

The good news is that God still loves me despite my fears and failures. He doesn’t want me to handle anything alone. He desires a relationship with me. He wants me to go to Him for help and not try and fix it on my own. He knows the desires of my heart. He knows my concerns and has His hands open waiting for me to lay them there.

Dear Lord,

Forgive me when I take my concerns to others before You . Help me to hear You today. Speak words of truth to me through Your Word. Help me to recognize Your voice. Whether it is through scripture, nature, a dream or another person, open my ears to Your wisdom. Thank You for the wise counsel of other believers that You have put in my life. I lift those up to You that feel as if they are alone. Reveal Yourself to them this week. Open my eyes to someone that needs to be reminded of Your love, grace and mercy . Give me the courage to speak to them. It is in the name of Jesus that I pray these things. Amen.

October Memory Verse

Will you join me this month to memorize Proverbs 27:17? It is important to be part of a community where others support your faith journey as well as hold you accountable. I know know what I would have done the past 25 years without these friendships.

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”—Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)

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