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- Written by: Don Goulding
You will hear a word spoken behind you, saying,
“This is the correct way, walk in it,”
whether you are heading to the right or the left. (Isaiah 30:21)
I’m directionally challenged. I’ve been lost in Spain, China, Panama City, the Fijian jungle, and the Canadian ocean. To travel with me is to spend blocks of time puzzling over our location.
Enter GPS mapping technology. Thank you, Jesus. Somewhere in the unseen space above, satellites beam location data to my smartphone. A pleasant voice says, “Turn right in five hundred feet.” On land or sea I know where where to go.
We also have a GPS for life—the Holy Spirit. Like my phone, I keep the Spirit with me here on earth. He stays in communion with my Father in heaven and, largely through the Bible, relays love and direction to my heart. I can navigate life with confidence.
I would have expected God’s GPS to give me directions like, “In one year there will be an obstacle of a job change, so get ready.” Instead, the stream I receive is, “I love you, I’m with you, peace, joy, you are mine, turn left now.”
My life plans are only revealed on a need to know basis—and mostly, I don’t need to know. My gracious Father is in charge of directions, not me.
God’s primary message repeated to my simple heart is, “I love you.” When I receive that, I find I know where I’m going, to whom I belong, and what to do in the next moment.
Prayer: Sweet Holy Spirit, help me receive your guiding love.
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- Written by: Don Goulding
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2-3) (NIV)
In the Winnie the Pooh story by A. A. Milne, Rabbit suggests they cure Tigger of his bouncing by losing him in the woods overnight.
“Oh, we'll find him again next morning, and mark my words, he'll be a humble Tigger, a sad and small Tigger, an ‘Oh, Rabbit, am I glad to see you’ Tigger. And it'll take the bounces out of him, that's what!”
The plan backfires, and it’s Rabbit himself who gets lost. He comes out of the long night humbled from his pride.
When it comes to nonessential theological doctrines, I feel like Rabbit. I used to be confident of my beliefs and critical of those who differed. What came out of my mouth was intended to win debates rather than honor Jesus.
Students of theology are soon faced with the thorny disagreements that have plagued church history. Our limited human intellect leaves us thrashing in brambles far removed from God’s path.
From outside the thicket, I hear Jesus searching for me. I need only follow his voice, return to the simple gospel, and let him bring me into the fullness of grace.
I went into the forrest of nonessential doctrines with an attitude of “I have answers that will unbounce others.” I’m coming out of those same woods a broken Rabbit, an “Oh, Jesus, am I glad to see you” Rabbit.
Prayer: King Jesus, may humility close my mouth except to glorify you.
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- Written by: Don Goulding
You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3) (NIV)
Dani and I met a missionary couple, who’s story changed us.
“I wanted to attend Bible college in Europe,” blonde Californian Leah said. “But I had a brain tumor. Churches around the world prayed, and a torrent of God’s peace overtook my heart. I wanted it to swallow me. I told my doctor I would forego treatment and trust God. He told me I was foolish.”
Leah enthusiastically sold her belongings in preparation for college or death.
Balazs took over the story with his Hungarian accent. “I was forced to drop out of college because I had testicular cancer, with less than a ten percent chance of survival. Hundreds prayed for me, and peace filled my heart also. I didn’t know Leah. But I knew the same peace.
“When treatments were no help, I discontinued them and waited to see when I’d go to be with Jesus. The doctors called it suicide and fought my decision with legal actions.”
Back in America, Leah’s doctor raised his eyebrows over her latest test results. The tumor had disappeared. As a result, he became a Christian and left for the mission field.
Leah left for Bible college in Hungary. Leah met Balazs. They had a lot in common, including God’s peace and a miraculous cure that later came to Balazs as well.
“Then he asked me to marry him,” Leah said.
After his parables, Jesus often said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” His point was that some stories are meant to change the listeners. Like this one.
Prayer: Prince of Peace, reign in my heart above all else.