Make walking in the Spirit a lifestyle …
I recall playing games with my relatives when I wanted to introduce my fiancee (now my wife) to them. I had two pictures for the game; one tucked in my right trouser pocket and the other in the left pocket. After discussing my conviction to marry her and how wonderful she is, they were really eager to see her picture. Unlike today that we could have so many pictures on our phones to display, it was novel at that time to have a phone take and store pictures. So I dipped my hand into my right pocket and brought out the picture I took with a missionary who was about 5 years older than me. We had taken this picture looking exhausted after returning from a missionary trip in Niger state, Nigeria. Her dress was rugged for the mission trip, while her hair was covered with a headscarf and of course there was no makeup on her face. I handed this picture to my relatives while I fastened my gaze on their faces. I could not believe the conversation that ensued.
There was a deep silence in the room, then after a few seconds one of my relatives sighed and asked – “are you sure this lady is the will of God for your life?” While I was thinking of the best way to respond, another mentioned – “well, I really don’t know what to say”. I was perplexed by the expressions of disappointment I got that day and I had to quickly tell them that was the wrong picture. I brought out the picture of my wife dressed gorgeously in her Sunday best, taken by a very good photographer. “Wow!” Their faces came alive as they were hugging me and confirming to me that … “yes, this looks like ‘the will of God for you’”. Although I should have been happy at such a rousing acceptance, I was very sorrowful, because this is a classic example of how believers of today may miss the move of God in their lives when they make judgments based on outward appearances.
Our generation favours the spectacular, but spiritual things are not always spectacular. Many people miss out on the great things God wants them to do just because those things show up in unassuming ways, just as Jesus Christ was born in a manger. If we must always make miraculous decisions that will bring about powerful outcomes in our lives and on those around us, we must train ourselves to identify and follow the nudging of God in our hearts, even when they don’t appear spectacular. You will agree that some things may be attractive today, but detestable tomorrow. Therefore, we need to learn to see with our inner eyes.
Prophet Isaiah described the lifestyle of people that will walk with God under the new covenant when he said in Isaiah 60:19 “The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.” Believers in Jesus Christ have been wired to make miraculous decisions based on following the Lord’s prompting and not what their physical senses perceive. The light from the sun and moon helps us see spectacular things around us, but Prophet Isaiah is saying that our guiding light is from within. That means even if there were 1000 women in a dark hall and we were led by the Holy Spirit to identify Tope’s wife among them, all believers ought to get it right even if they have not met her before. This will not happen because they saw a picture or they were aided by the light of the sun, but because of the everlasting light within that brings constant illumination on ALL issues of life. Hallelujah!
Philippians 2:13 says “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure”. He helps us to make the right decisions and produces the right actions that agree with His planned destination for us. We do not need to wait for a spectacular loud voice before we say God has spoken. We need to train ourselves daily to constantly understand how He nudges our hearts to take the right decisions. That is the way of the Spirit we have been wired to live. When you want to make a decision, don’t consult Google first. Stop looking for a ‘big bang’ sign. Start paying attention to the nudging of God in your heart even for small things like choosing which road to take when driving – He is already at work in you. Learn to listen to God’s nudging in your heart and the corresponding actions you take to that effect will catapult you to greater heights. It doesn’t matter the number of options around you, as long as you train yourself to pay attention to God’s voice and follow what He tells you to do, you will make miraculous decision that will translate to supernatural experiences in your life.
– Tope Aladenusi
