Finding God’s Direction - 1

Finding God’s Direction - 1

Subject: Finding God’s Divine Direction in Our Lives

By Rick Welborne

Proverbs 3:1-10 (NKJV) ¹ My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;
²  For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
³  Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
⁴  And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
⁵  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
⁷  Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
⁸  It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
⁹  Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
¹⁰  So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. 

--We all should want to find God’s direction for our lives. We should all want to know God’s plans and destiny for our lives. How do we arrive at the destination God has for us?

--The truth is…say that…the truth is…You are one decision away from changing your life forever. What’s interesting is that you probably do not know what that one decision will be. 

--It is natural to think that such a big, life changing decision would be obvious. Sometimes it is, like taking a job in another state and relocating your family. Or maybe returning to school to finish your degree. 

--Clearly decisions like these cause countless consequences rippling through our lives and for years to come.

1. Small Decisions Can Have Huge Effects on Our Lives.

--Our lives are constantly spilling over into the lives of others, and theirs into ours. We all like standing dominos up side by side. Our small decisions flow into consequences we didn’t see coming.

--I love giving life examples of what I speak about…I had been the youth pastor in Covington, La. for almost three years when I felt God wanted me to finish my college degree…Where should I go to school?

--My lead pastor thought I should go to Springfield, Missouri to the A/G Bible College there…his reasoning was…that is where the A/G Headquarters was…Meet the big wigs and make connections.

--I thought, it is cold in Springfield and I do not do cold weather…I had taken kids there for college days in January and thought I would freeze. I made it a matter of prayer. God is the One Who connects us!

--Our men’s ministry was going on a 26-mile canoe trip which turned out to be a 26-mile race! I was put with a man I did not know and was told to make him feel welcome. An avid canoer and we won the race. 

--Guess what? All he wanted to talk about was what a great Bible College SE University in Lakeland, Florida was. He and his wife both had graduated from there…who knew? God!

--In the process of a canoe trip, I got God’s direction for where to go back to school. It was warm weather and it was exactly where God wanted me to be.

--Not only did I get my education there, I found my wife at a nearby church, which that decision alone opened a ton of doors for me in ministry…every decision we make has major consequences. 

--Every little choice you make now determines the story that you will be telling later in your life. 

Proverbs 1:29-30 (NLT2) ²⁹ For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
³⁰ They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them.

--The decision not to fear the Lord…the choice not to listen to the wisdom of parents, pastors, or teachers has consequences. A young man in Covington, La. who would not listen to anyone. 

--Pastor Rick, I am sick of you, my parents, my teachers, and everyone else telling me what to do and when I have to do it. I am just going to leave home and go join the army! Say what!

Pro. 1:31-33 (NLT2) ³¹ …they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes.
³²  For simpletons turn away from me—to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.
³³  But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.” 

--After basic training, this simpleton came to my office at the church and as soon as he walked through my door he broke down and started crying…I am such an idiot! No argument here.

--The army tells me when I go to sleep, when I get up, when to eat, when to bath, when to run, when to drop and do 40 push-ups. They never stop yelling at me…I want to come home. You must eat the bitter fruit.

Proverbs 12:26 (NKJV)                                                                                                                                         ²⁶ The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray. 

--How important is it for us to choose friends wisely…Oh, how I remember Owen and I remember my parents who were not Christians at the time telling me…He is bad news.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NKJV)
¹⁹  I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
²⁰  that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them."

2. Our Choices Accumulate to Tell Our Life Story.

Craig Groeshel – What is always true is that the decisions we make today determine the stories we tell about our lives tomorrow. Every day, all day, we make one small choice after another. And those choses keep accumulating, each one woven into the rest, forming the tapestry that is your life story. 

--The purpose of this series is to help you make good godly decisions which enhances you to become God’s direction. If your destination for your life is peace and joy…you must make deliberate choices.

--Many people do not like to hear this…You have to be willing to take responsibility for every decision you make. Stop playing the victim card and stop blaming others because of your poor choices.

--When you choose to follow biblical principles set forth in the Word of God and you are dedicated to staying on this path for a lifetime, you will have a beautiful destination. 

--One way or another, each decision you make is the decision of a lifetime, whether or not you can see where it ultimately leads. You are one choice away from making your best decision ever. Solomon.

Proverbs 3:1-6 (NKJV) ¹ My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;
²  For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
³  Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
⁴  And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
⁵  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. 

--Look at verse 2…this is what obeying God’s Word will do… For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Daily choices lead to long life kissed with peace. 

--Do we truly trust the Lord with all our hearts when it comes to, not just big decisions, but every decision. Pastor, you make it sound like every decision is so important…In all your ways acknowledge Him. 

--Can it really matter where we eat lunch or dinner (which Mexican Restaurant)? If we acknowledge Him (if we ask Him) He may send you to a specific place to minister to a specific person. 

--I remember determining I was going to a specific place to eat and as I thought about that, I felt overwhelmed to go to another one. I simply made the decision to go where God wanted me to go. 

--I no sooner had sat down and this waitress came and sat at the table with me…thru her tears she said I prayed you would come here today…she confessed her sins, received direction. It matters!

Galatians 5:25 (NKJV) ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

3. Our Decisions Lead to Predictable Consequences. 

--The truth is many (probably most) of our choices lead to fairly predictable consequences. And as we learn to choose well, we can connect the dots of where we are and where we want to be. 

--When we choose in a moment of temptation or peer pressure to take that first drink, that first smoke, or that drug…we have just opened the door to much pain and suffering for yourself and others.

Hosea 10:12-13 (NKJV)
¹²  Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.
¹³  You have plowed wickedness; You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, Because you trusted in your own way, In the multitude of your mighty men. 

--The best decision you can make is always the next one. Each decision should move you closer to becoming all that God made you to be, to turn your life in the direction of a story you’ll be happy to share.