I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. (Psalm 32:8)
I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to follow the Lord. When God released the Israelites and led them through the desert to the promised land, they could see His presence in a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night. His guidance was very clear. Sometimes I envy them the apparent ease with which they were guided. Who could miss pillars of cloud and fire? Yet they still went wrong and had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years because they were not listening properly to the Lord and letting His promises become their driving force and living foundation.
Today we are chosen to be Jesus’ friends, and He guides us through the still small voice of the Holy Spirit whispering in our hearts. God says: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. (Psalm 32:8)
It’s a wonderful thing that He always gazes upon you and me with eyes of love and deep care. He promises to teach us in the way we should go and instruct us by giving us His wisdom as we face different situations. We do need to have our hearts open to that inward whisper. It can be very subtle, but He always knows how best to get our attention and as we choose to listen, will make His voice clear.
I recently started training with a Guide dog though I sadly stopped it after a week. Warren was lovely but for many reasons I wasn’t sure if it was right for me. However, it was very illuminating to start the training. I’ve seen Marilyn working her Guide dogs for so long and been amazed at how they guide her round intricate obstacles or navigate narrow stretches of pavement. I’d always thought the dog’s movement on the harness would be extremely obvious offering no doubt as to when Marilyn needed to turn right, left, stop or go up or down. I was greatly surprised in my own training when I discovered the movements are infinitesimal. You have to learn to recognise the tiny differences in the dog’s rhythm and immediately follow them. Unlike Marilyn, I do have quite a lot of useful vision and found it very tempting to go by what I could see, rather than to try to learn my dog’s movements and follow him.
During that week of training, I sensed the Lord speaking to me: Beloved child, will you let go of your need to work everything out? I called you to follow me not to forge the path yourself. I can see the way ahead with a depth of knowledge that would be impossible for you to know. I’m not pulling you along on a rope. I’ve given you choice and the beauty of a sound mind. But I do want you to focus your heart on me and listen for my loving whispers. Instead of being anxious about the way to go, let yourself sense when I’m calling you to turn one way or the other or to stop. Follow me when I take you up in to new levels and keep close to me in those moments when your path takes you downwards. I am always with you and have promised to take you to still waters and into green pastures where you can feed and experience my restoring love. I’ve chosen you to be in partnership with me, just as Marilyn has been in partnership with her dogs. It doesn’t need to be the big obvious signs of fire and cloud. Just put your hand in mine and it will be my delight to open the right things up for you and to be alongside you in the faith testing seasons of your life.
This is a beautiful word of reassurance and is challenging too. A Guide dog, as clever as it is, is only a dog and can make mistakes, but Marilyn has to trust and follow nevertheless. Will I let go of my need to be in control and trust the Lord in the same way? He is so much bigger than any dog!
Prayer Whatever journey you are on today, will you put your hand in His and say ‘Lord I trust you to show me the way that is right for me. Please make my inner sensor tuned in to your every whisper or prompting. May I turn when you turn and stop when you stop. May my partnership with you grow ever deeper. Amen.
