When I Need Advice I Have To Run To One, Not Many
In my teen and young adult years, I’d always run to someone who would give me advice from the opposite of what the Word states. At the time I wasn’t a believer so I had no idea what the Word initially stated.
I began to reflect back on my life and had seen how this verse, Luke 6:39 “He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?” ESV, resonated with a lot of my choices. (Just to be clear, there is no pointing fingers here, I had choices, but when given wrong advice, those choices were reflected on that).
It was then that He drew me to His word and it became alive and active in my life (Hebrews 4:12 NIV). It began to show me areas in my life that needed correction. Just as it states in 2 Timothy 3:16, “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (ESV).
Friend, I want to ask you something that I had to ask myself.
Has there been a time where you ran to someone else rather than the Word of God or went to Him in prayer?
What about now?
I regretfully say that I have!
Don’t be ashamed if you have. Don’t feel guilty. I think we all have been there once, or twice, or even a few times. These are lessons we learn through life, and somehow God intertwines himself in those moments to show us that we don’t have all the answers and neither does anyone else.
Looking back I had seen my younger self take advice from those who didn’t follow closely with the Lord. I had seen how gossip was brought up, how choices impacted my life, and I was able to see who to rely on. Jesus. I needed him to guide my everyday steps. My actions. My words. Everything I say, do, and need guidance on, I knew I needed Him, not other peoples advice or opinions.
It took a lot of mistakes in my life to see how quickly we can fall into a pit when we aren’t replying on our true source of advice, Jesus. Just like I stated above in Luke 6:39 about the blind man.
Dear sister, what if we run to Jesus and His Word first for advice? Then a trusted believer who follows closely with the Lord? One who will lead us not astray (or the pit shall we say) but pointing us more to Jesus and His Word? It can and will change us deeply. Our roots will grow down into Him knowing He is the source of it all.
His very refreshing Word that lights our path, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to our path.” (Psalm 119:105 ESV), will lead and show us the way that a blind man cannot.
What helped me when I needed advice or guidance, was meditating on scripture daily, spending time with Christ before my day begins, and running to him with every storm or problem I encounter, knowing I need the very advice from Him. He is more than willing to give. “Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7 (NIV).
When we aren’t seeking his counsel first, his advice or guidance first, we then turn to seek advice from others. Though it isn’t merely wrong to seek godly counsel, we must train ourselves to run to Christ first and foremost.
He will then be faithful enough to highlight to us who to speak to, if needed.
There was quite a few times where I needed an answer then, and he was silent. But I continued to pray and ask for an answer, steps, and guidance. He then highlighted someone’s name, a person I knew, and I contacted her. Funny thing is, God already spoke to her beforehand knowing I’d call her asking for help in this situation. She already said yes to God! How amazing is it that we have a very faithful Father to care enough so deeply for us, that he speaks to others on our behalf, before we even come to them. He is the same with you to friend. We just have to learn to sit and be still, waiting for Him. HIs advice, his answers, his directions, are always on time and the perfect response we need.
I challenge you sweet sister, to run to Christ and His refreshing alive and active Word first, before we begin to seek counsel elsewhere. He is faithful enough to give us what we need within that time. Open His Word and allow it to penetrate your heart, hide it in your heart, read it and meditate on it daily. And never be afraid to come to our Father asking for help, steps, and guidance. He is ready to help us, he is just waiting for us to come to Him.
