Seeking Wise Counsel

Since we have been speaking on the topic of "Livin' the Dream", today we will be pondering the scripture that God gives us in regard to seeking wise counsel.  In proverbs - which is our "go-to" scripture for wisdom and discernment it states: A strong man knows how to use his strength, but a person with knowledge is even more powerful.  After all, with the right strategy you can wage war, and with many advisers there is victory.  So, how do we make sense of the times when those we "believe" to be Godly counsel are "seemingly" throwing wrecking balls at what we are building????


Remember we are to "count the cost" before we build things.  This process is explained in Ecclesiastes where we are told about the time for all things under the sun.  We have a time of gathering information before we run off like Peter and start blabbering senseless - albeit passionately honest thoughts.  I certainly am not saying that we are not correct - I AM stating that it might not be the time, we might not have a clear vision for their thought.  People need to "SEE" what we see. 

When things are a "new idea" people have nothing to base it on.  We all know and believe that God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow - we state that over and over again.  But we also state over and over again where He is telling us you will be amazed because I am going to do "a new thing". 

Do not differ you hope - differ your discouragement and cling to your hope. Seek His voice as you listen to their opinions to help you "count the cost", but NEVER differ His plans for theirs.  As I state in the opening of Deeply, Honestly, Passionately, Freely programs: 

Today, be still and listen to where God is leading you.  Write it down for all to see that it IS God - just like He instructed Habakkuk.  He is not speaking to just one or two of us - unless we are the only ones listening and desiring to allow Him to transform us.  I don't believe that to be the case - what about you?

My prayer is for all of us to see his face today - listen for what He says and then thank Him for giving us a piece of eternity to accomplish -  "Just being in the moments of today".

With Love,
Candace

This devotion by Os reflects a bit more on this topic:

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Discerning the Work of God
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman

"Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to intimidate me." - Nehemiah 6:14

Nehemiah set out to rebuild the wall at Jerusalem that had been destroyed. Nehemiah held a position in the Persian Empire that would be comparable to Chief of Staff in our government. Nehemiah wept over the destruction of the city wall and repented for the sins of his generation and the generations before him that had led to the fall of Jerusalem. Nehemiah responded to the news by seeking approval from his superior to take time off to rebuild the wall. Tobiah and Sanballat met Nehemiah's action with resistance, as did Noadiah the prophetess and other prophets. These were the religious and political leaders of his day. They became distractions to his work and opposed him.
Whenever God does a new work, it is often met with resistance by those in the established religious community, and sometimes among those from whom we would expect support. Jesus met the same resistance when He began His public ministry. This same phenomenon happens today. When God begins a new work that cannot be easily explained based upon prior experiences, many make the mistake of assuming it not to be of God. The very people who should embrace and encourage the work become the source of skepticism and opposition. God tells us that His ways are not our ways. He does things in ways beyond our limited understanding.

Before you are tempted to criticize or oppose something that looks different from your past experience, ask God for wisdom and discernment. Examine why you might be tempted to oppose it. The Lord cannot be put in a box. He delights in doing things in ways that may not fit our former paradigms.

Everyone’s journey is as unique as they are, no one can tell you how to journey your path except the creator of your path. We are looking to the creature, instead of the creator. The creature is to aid, not to answer. As I heard the whisper one day, “the answer is the sojourning,  the question an endless plight, be still and know that I am God and I love you, deeply, honestly, passionately so that you will know freedom and can love freely just as I would for me, always in all ways.