Following Directions

"This is how I spend my life; obeying Your commandments." Psalm 119:56

For the previous five days I have spent most of my waking hours at my husband's bedside following his heart surgery. Today he was discharged from the hospital and he has returned home with a file folder of instructions. Restrictions have been placed on his activity for the next twelve weeks. These are not guidelines or suggestions; these are directions from heart specialists who know what is best and he needs to adhere to these stipulations in order for optimum recovery to continue.

How are you at following instructions? When the Lord speaks to you from His word or by the prompting of His Spirit do you immediately obey or do you hesitate, question, reject or forget what He has spoken to you? We have a "heart Specialist" who is deeply concerned that the beating of our hearts walks in step with His commands.

I've spent some time thinking over direction the Lord has given to me in the past, and I have to say that I think I'm pretty good at following "exact instruction" when He speaks specifically to me. In the past I have clearly been led by the Lord to pray for certain people; to send my son to Public School and trust God; to move to a new church; to work in the kitchen and serve food at a Ladies conference; to teach Sunday School, facilitate a Ladies Bible Study and send gifts of money to certain people or ministries. I find these followings easy because God's Word to me has been so obvious that there is no room for doubt or mistaking His desires. My heart just thrills to respond.

I struggle more with the general instructions that we as Christ-followers are all called to obey. Loving my nieghbour. Respecting my husband. The 'doing good', trusting completely, surrendering fear, releasing doubt, rejoicing always, praying without ceasing and the list just goes on and on.

The Bible, God's instruction Book, gives us direction for all areas of life including marriage, parenting, business, finance, aging, worship, and loving. We need to receive His guidance with the joy expressed by the Psalmist earlier in this chapter as he wrote: "I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your word", Psalm 119:16.

I think we're all familiar with the scenario of purchasing a product that highlights, "some assembly required". Included with the item is a multi-page booklet with details and diagrams to help aid construction. Most often we think we can handle the putting together on our own. We ignore the help provided that would make life easier because of our self-reliance. God has provided the "instruction manual" for our heart, soul and mind, yet from Sunday to Sunday many never open His Word for guidance and encouragement. God's Word has wisdom and reason that guides us for our best interest, keeping us under His protection and love. How foolish we are to neglect all God offers to us.

On our own, we cannot begin to follow His instructions 'exactly'. We need God's strength to enable us to obey. Living by God's instruction is a challenge, but it is the only way to spend our life. Our days don't need to be filled with guess work, but God's work as we allow Him to move our hearts in accordance with His will.