28th April, 2022.

HOW YOUR LIFE SHOULD BE GUIDED.

Psalms 37:23 The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. NLT

I heard the story of a man who gave his life to Christ in a church meeting. On his way home, armed robbers waylaid him and others. He was asked in the usual manner armed robbers ask their victims, "Your life or your money"? His response was "I just gave my life to Christ in the church today so I have it no more with me. Also, I gave my money as offering, I have it no more with me." I cannot ascertain if the story is real or a fiction but therein lies deep truth about the life of a believer. Right from the very day you gave your life to Christ, it ceased to be yours. Your life is no more with you. Apostle Paul says, "For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God"(Colossians 3:3 NLT). The government of your life has changed power and handed over to a new master and Lord which is Jesus Christ. Any effort made to control your life is rebellion against the leadership of your life.

Apostle Paul said, "He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them(2 Corinthians 5:15 NLT). This is the truth about your life as a believer, your life is not your own. You are meant to live your life for Jesus and Him alone. It is a regimented life. You obey as He commands. Those who understand the Christian life from this perspective will never take any step without consulting the one who owns them. They won't go anywhere or change their location except their master say so. Neither will they negotiate instructions with Him. The idea of negotiating instructions with God is alien to the culture of the scriptures. It draws men into what looks like God's will but often they are off the track.

I once had a chat with someone about relocating abroad. In our conversation, I made it known to the person that the base of my assignment is here in Africa. I cannot move unless God says so because He alone direct the affairs of my life. The response I got was, "There are souls abroad too. You can do missions there as well"( paraphrase). While that may be true, the one whom I'm living for hasn't sent me there for now. What some are doing today is what I call "convenient living". Their belief is that whatever is "good and convenient" for them is God's will for their life so even if God calls them to do an assignment in a not so convenient terrain, they'll only accept to do it on their terms and not on His. It is possible to be in ministry but in the wrong location no matter how good the place looks. Many have missed God because they don't trust Him enough to lead them aright. That's the reason some singles ask funny questions like "What if God tells me to marry someone I don't like"? Some already believe that God may not give them their taste, they quickly come up with the idea of presenting their "candidate" to God for endorsement. Those who live for Him seek to be guided by Him in all things. This is how your life should be guided.