Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; Don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He is the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all.Run to GOD! Prov. 3:5-6
Every now and again when the hustling and bustling of life activities come to a halt, we find ourselves in reflection mode. The choices that we have made rummage through the proverbial magnifying glass within our minds. It is within these moments that no matter how well established and successful we have become that secrets deep within our heart surface, and we admit to ourselves silently that we could have made better choices in some aspects. Better choices where success was at the expense of happiness; instant gratification at the expense of self-esteem and pride at the expense of love. There are areas where choice wounds cut so deep that although it’s been years the wound has still not been healed. It is in those moments that we furtively wish for a do-over. Although in the open we pretend that this is not applicable to us, behind closed doors we allow the light to enter the darkest room in our hearts.
Contrary to popular beliefs even stalwarts of old like Abraham, David, Paul, Jonah to name a few, had these pensive moments, but they allowed the light of God to shine in the darkness of their heart. They had a revelation of the “do-over” God. There are several keys required to unlock the doors of the do-over process. The first key to having a do-over is to ALLOW the light of God to shine within our dark areas. David stated emphatically in the book of Psalm that he wanted God to “enlighten his darkness.” After letting the light in, the next crucial step that we must take is to TRUST God. I say trust… really TRUST God. We often profess that we trust God, but when put to the test we fail miserably as we murmur, complain, whimper, whine, look for other options and sometimes even become stagnant. However, take God at His word and Trust Him from the bottom of your heart not trying to figure things out on your own. You see God can be trusted. He can be trusted even when we mess up. If we should go back to the beginning of the Bible, we read the famous story of Adam and Eve’s poor choice, which resulted in them needing a do-over. In their time of need, they did not run to God and asked for the do-over instead they tried to cover themselves and hide from the presence of God. However, God showed up consistently, and inquired Adam where are you? When they reluctantly admitted where they were and allowed the light of God to shine in, God introduced them to the “do-over” God. Proving that even in your mess God can be trusted.
The next vital key is listening. LISTEN to the voice of God. We are a generation who love the sound of our own voice. This I believe is the genesis of problems but that’s another story. To prove this point where we converse we often listen to respond to the individual and not to hear what is being said. Listening to the voice of God is key as it will keep us on track to our destiny. It is listening to our own voice and the voice of others that causes us to be hijacked and held as captives on our journey to our purpose. As such, we need to LISTEN to God’s voice, listen not to respond but instead LISTEN to FOLLOW. The voice of God not only guides, reproves and admonish but it also comforts. Whenever we fail to listen, just like sheep we end up falling in ditches and cannot come out unless drawn out by the shepherd. Therefore, LISTEN to God’s voice to get instructions for a do-over.
Finally, we need to run. RUN to God. Whenever we are faced with heightened emotions, our first instinct is to run. This I realize is a good thing as the reason it was embedded within us is that we can RUN to GOD. It is said that the reason we are given a leap year is that the calendar does not truly reflect God’s time and so it drifts. Whenever there is a leap year, we get to spring forward to where we should have been before we drifted. Just like it is in the natural we in our spiritual lives have often strayed from God and need a do-over that will cause us to leap into the place that was designed for us to be. As such, we need to run to God. Run to God like Joseph did when he was faced with the choice of satisfying his flesh. After all, the Bible did say that we should flee youthful lust. Run to God. Run like a deer runs into the water whenever it is thirsty or afraid. Run to God, as He is the only one that can give the ultimate do-over.
Now, never forget that the keys to a do-over are ATLR. Allow the light of God to shine within our darkness; Trust God; Listen to God’s Voice and Run to God.
12/3/16 Dr.R.
Issues from the Heart 