Do you ever feel like you are flailing? I do at times. And it's not because I am unaware of the fact that His Spirit lives in me as a believer, and is there to guide me in this life. Sometimes I choose to run the show on my own, and take on the roles of soldier and general. Whether this inclination is born out of pride, fear or something in between, in those moments, I am sure that blazing my own path is the proper direction. And in retrospect, I always regret this decision.
John 14:26 says this: But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
David in Psalm 25:4 says this: “Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow.”
I often use the metaphor of a battle scene, and I am huddled in my bunker, awaiting my orders from the one whom I trust with my life in that moment. The general. The one with the knowledge, heart, confidence, and fortitude to make those crucial decisions that saves lives. The leader in the battle. It does seem a bit ridiculous to be given a fully loaded rifle, and be expected to maneuver through gunfire and chaos without any direction from an authority figure who knows the terrain and has been there before. So why do we do it? Why don't we wait on our general to give us the order and obey?
We are a byproduct of the curse after all, and it's no wonder that we have a tendency to want to rebel and do it our way, before ultimately learning that the consequences are quite painful. Sometimes fatal.
When the Lord left this earth, He did not intend for us to flail in a state of confusion after his departure. To try to find our own way amongst the fire that the world hurls at us. The enemy is masterful at using our doubt and pride against us. And without the Holy Spirit moving us through the obstacles along the way, we will fail.
Jesus promised that He would "be with us always, to the very end of the age.”(Matthew 28:20). We only need to listen to our general's voice during our time with him, read and meditate on those instructions in his Bible battle plan, and follow his leading in obedience.The general has given us orders out of love for his children. With our own best interest in mind. Like a good Father would.