Picking a word for the year has been a most compelling journey over the years. It’s interesting to see where it shows up, and how it applies to life right in the moment.
It usually slips in so quietly one can hardly notice it at all. It’s what happened just the other day.
Each morning I read portions of Scripture from The Revised Common Lectionary (< link).It was this portion earlier this week which grabbed my attention:
“The congregation in Antioch was blessed with a number of prophet-preachers and teachers:
Barnabas, Simon, nicknamed Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, an advisor to the ruler Herod, Saul. One day as they were worshiping God – they were also fasting as they waited for guidance—the Holy Spirit spoke: “Take Barnabas and Saul and commission them for the work I have called them to do.”So they commissioned them. In that circle of intensity and obedience, of fasting and praying, they laid hands on their heads and sent them off.” (Acts 13:1-3, MSG)
The church at Antioch spent time in worship and prayer and fasting, seeking God’s will. They bowed low before Him, in obedience, as they waited for His direction. This was both an individual and corporate time of prayer.
And the Lord spoke to them and guided them.
This early church prayed and fasted in order to understand exactly what the Lord would have them to do. How should they move forward? Who were they to send out into the mission field? They did not rely on their own understanding, intelligence, preferences, or wisdom.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NASB)
I wonder what would happen if we did just that – fasted and waited for guidance. If we didn’t rush our decisions?
Guide.
May we wait for guidance from the Lord and not rush our decisions.
When we listen for His voice, He will keep on the right track – His.
This time of year our thoughts turn towards thanksgiving and gratitude. We all have much for which to be grateful. Gratitude is intentional, and it is amazing, when we intentionally focus on gratitude, we discover just how much we have been given. In her post, More Gratitude Jar Ideas for This Autumn Season, Lynn Simpson shares her lovely gratitude jar and her sweet ideas.
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
The word “waiting” stood out to me, as well as prayer. Sometimes we want instant guidance. Or we go ahead, asking God to bless our plans instead of seeking His. How we need to wait in prayer before moving forward.
It’s true – we want an instant answer. May we patiently wait for His guidance and keep in prayer.
Thank you, Joanne for this wonderful meditation on “guidance”. I have always marveled at the way the early church “waited” on God. So often I grow impatient when waiting on God’s guidance or become overwhelmed with the pressure to make a decision.
Looking back, I can see my worst decisions came from rushing ahead instead of waiting.
I am currently in a season of waiting on God for guidance in an important decision, and your post has confirmed what I felt in my heart, I must continue in prayer, and wait for clear guidance before moving ahead.
I often feel pressured to make a quick decision. Donna, I will be praying for you as you wait on the Lord to provide you the guidance you need.
I’m excited for you with such a meaningful word! I’m sure it has a lot to teach us!
Michele, it has been quite the word this year. Some days I look intently for my word, other days, not so much. This reflection came as a surprise. The word slipped into my morning read, oh, so quietly.
Yeah, I loved Lynn’s Gratitude Jar post, too, Joanne. Sometimes we need the obvious spelled out for us. And she’s done it so beautifully and creatively.
Joanne, I love your word for next year. Guide seems like a multi-faceted word. So much to learn and adapt into our lives from that word. I look forward to reading more of how God guides you in the coming year.
Guide has been my word this year. Sorry if I gave the wrong impression. It has been a word that has brought much reflection all these months. I am looking forward what it will teach for the remaining part of this year.
Patience is not my middle name, yet life flows so much better when I remember to wait and listen for God’s guidance.
Yes, I so agree. Maybe that is the lesson – as we wait, we grow more patient.
As I mature in Christ it’s easier to wait for his guidance. Just the other day I was talking to him about how I love that I can recognize him pausing me to slow down and wait for him. It’s made such a radical difference in my life.
{{Hugs}}
xo
I also agree with you, Paula. The longer I walk with the Lord, the more I am learning it is best to wait. It doesn’t always come easily but it always is best.
Waiting, fasting, listening…such crucial elements in our walk with Him, Joanne.
❤️ Yes, crucial elements and God so helps us to develop these elements.
Very convicting. Too often I pray God will guide me as I go instead of taking the time to really pray and fast for answers. I know He works as we go. But I realize I haven’t been doing the “Be still” part well lately.
I think you have hit on something important. We need to know when He wants us to go and when we are to wait. May we ask the Lord for wisdom and then be willing to obey as He leads. In so doing, we won’t run ahead of Him, nor lag behind. We’ll keep step with Him.
It’s wonderful how God directs & guides us in the everday little things Joanne…isn’t it?
And how He specifically highlights the Word or phrase He has given us in so many different areas of our life as we go along.
Blessings to you my friend, Jennifer
It truly is wonderful, Jennifer. It shows me how He is interested and involved in all the details of our lives. Grateful for you.
Gosh, thank you for sharing my post about gratitude jars! I hope they inspire hearts of gratitude this season and beyond! Guide – that is a wonderful word. I can fly ahead, thinking I know the pathway God wants me to take instead of waiting on His guidance. Waiting and hearing God’s guidance is a way I definitely need growth, so I look forward to reading more how God guides your understanding of learning His pathway for your life. Blessings to you on this journey!
Not rushing our decisions is so important. Guidance may actually already be on the way if we’ll just be patient about it. One concept that I have to remind myself about many things in life is to just slow down….