“O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.”
The lyrics above from the sacred hymn “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” are some of my favorite lyrics in Christendom. I love them because they articulate the struggle many Christians go through on a daily basis. We’ve experienced the love, grace and mercy of God, and yet, we are still prone to wander and stray away from the Lord we love. Why? I guess it’s because of the human spiritual condition. Our flesh is at constant war with the spirit.
I found myself in this struggle again. I blatantly disregarded everything the Lord was telling me. I kept praying for answers and clarity, and the Lord gave me the answers right in front of my face. However, I still proceeded down a course I knew wasn’t God’s will for me. I’m back on track now, but I could have saved myself a lot of trouble if I’d just listened in the first place. I know I’m not the only one who wrestles with obedience and hearing from God. So, I just wanted to reinforce one of the main ways God speaks to us.
The Peace of the Holy Spirit
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid” John 14:27 (NRSV).
One of the main ways God speaks to His children is through peace. If you don’t have peace about a decision, person, place, position, etc., then maybe God is trying to tell you something. God is not the author of confusion, fear, worry and dismay. If you’re in a situation that is filled with these things, then it may not be what God wants for you. Whenever you’re in the will of God, you will be filled with peace. The Holy Spirit will not trouble your spirit trying to get your attention. When you don’t have peace, it’s like God waving a huge red flag in the spiritual realm telling you to step back and reposition yourself.
“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6–7 (NRSV).
Oftentimes when we’re looking for answers from God, we look for huge external signs like burning bushes or a pillar of clouds and fire. However, sometimes the signs we’re looking for are internal. If you’re currently wrestling with a decision or circumstance, ask the Lord to help you look inward. If you don’t have peace, if feel you feel the Holy Spirit stirring your spirit, then maybe it’s time to regroup and rethink whatever it is you’re trying to pursue. Always let peace be your guide.