December 12
How many times in life do we utter that phrase of regret…
If only I had known, if only I hadn’t done that, if only I had listened…
Maybe if we remind ourselves of the Lord’s direction this Christmas season, we can avoid regret.
Isaiah 48:17-18 “This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea.”
He’s pretty clear there. We would have peace IF ONLY we had paid attention to His commands. I think that sometimes we see God’s commands as rules that He put in place so that we don’t get what we want (what WE want.) In actuality, His commands are design laws that He put in place not just to keep us safe and keep us from death but also so that we will thrive. He created us, He designed us, so He knows exactly what we need to thrive.
Think about it this way…You can pass all the laws you want to make smoking cigarettes or marijuana etc. legal, but we will NEVER be able to make it HEALTHY. Because God did not design us to partake of those things. God’s laws are designed to keep us healthy and at peace. Not just a little peace either, the verse says a river of peace!
God directs us because He LOVES us! He wants what is best for us so He gives us His commands to guide us and His Holy Spirit to speak into our hearts!
Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
He keeps His loving eye on us! Maybe we would be more willing to follow His commands if we realized His love for us! The next verse says don’t be like a mule that needs a bit and bridle to follow directions. If we realized his love for us maybe we would gladly follow His directions in everything we do, we certainly would not have any regret then!
2 Thessalonians 3:5 “May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.”