The Lenten Season gives us opportunity to reflect on who Christ is and examine our hearts as we prepare for Easter. During Lent, many practice fasting, self-denial, or increased acts of service. It is a time to repent of our sin and receive forgiveness. The ultimate goal is heart transformation – as we enter into Christ’s suffering, we become more like him. This year, we offer this Lenten blog series as a way to help you become closer to Jesus. Each post will reflect on a different spiritual discipline – some inward, others outward; some individual, others corporate. May these spiritual practices facilitate God’s formation of your soul. Today’s post was co-written by Becca Feins, one of our church members, and Melissa Lowther, our Ministry Associate.
According to a brief google search, guidance is defined as “advice or information aimed at resolving a problem or difficulty, especially as given by someone in authority.” We are constantly seeking and receiving guidance about what to do, where to go, and what to believe. But, how much are we vetting our sources of guidance? How much are we relying on those who know us best and are pursuing Christ to speak truth to us, as opposed to those whose voices may be the loudest?
Guidance is something we need on a regular basis. In Acts 13, we encounter a situation where the church is joining together in prayer, fasting, and worship and they are led by the Holy Spirit to set apart Barnabas and Saul for ministry. Together they responded to the leading of God and sent the men according to their calling. There was power and clarity in coming together to seek the direction of the Lord. There will always be someone with more knowledge and wisdom than us, as well as someone who can benefit from our knowledge and wisdom. We need each other to give and receive guidance.
God has given us plenty of guidance through His word (the Bible). Reading it and knowing it will help guide you through the many circumstances of life. In John 8:12 Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” As the lights of the sun and streetlights guide us as we walk through the streets, may the light of Jesus guide us as we walk through all areas of life.
And the light of Jesus can be cast by those around us who are also seeking Christ. As we consider this spiritual discipline of guidance, here are some suggestions for how to practice it:
- Join a small group that is reading Scripture together and seeking God’s wisdom for life.
- Consider meeting regularly with a Spiritual Director (an honest, spiritually mature, humble Christian leader) to point you to the way of Christ and help you notice the spiritual significance of your entire life.
- If you are seeking direction about a major decision in your life, consider gathering your closest, godly, honest friends to seek God with you and share their wisdom.
