Last week a friend said, “Take time to remember.” Perhaps, he suggested this because in 30 months, I will reach retirement age. So, I took his advice, and now thinking back, I remember how GOD choose to take little things in my life and make a Big Move for the cause of Christ. The year was 1994, and I was one of the leaders in church chaperoning our youth choir on a week-long retreat to Garden City Chapel at Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. There would be group Bible studies, time for reflection, journaling, and prayer. However, there were rules the youth would not embrace.

Ø Everyone had to be on our campsite by 9:00pm, and in the rooms by 10:00 pm.

Ø Mandatory lights out at 11:00pm.

Ø No radios or televisions permitted on the site (This was before the iPhone era).

To compound the stress, we were going to be performing concerts, holding seven backyard Bible Clubs, and we would be witnessing to the Lifeguards, vacationers, and the homeless. No surprise the girls volunteered to witness to the lifeguards, leaving me with 15 young men who were not eager to talk with strangers, little alone share their faith. Now, as I stood on the beach wondering what to do GOD said, “Build a Sandcastle.” Not understanding why, I said “Yes LORD”, I knelt and began making a simple mound. Then, slowly but surely our youth began to ask, “Jay Adam what are you doing?”  To which I said, “Just building a sandcastle, would you like to help”? To my surprise they each said, “Sure, what’s the plan.” I replied, “I don’t have a plan, let’s just trust GOD.” One by one people on the beach came by to see what we were doing. Now here is a GOD moment, we never shared a verse of scripture. We did not have a chance as the crowd began to proclaim what they thought we were making. Sporadically they began talking too and listening to each other asking about their life circumstances. Then as the cross became evident one by one Christians in the crowd began to witness by sharing, praying, and praising GOD. Looking back, I realize all GOD desired was our availability. We planted a seed of faith that day, others watered, and GOD brought in the Harvest…isn’t that what we are supposed to do daily? I challenge each of you to incorporate a time to remember GOD’s Faithfulness. Let the cross of Christ become evident in your life. 

Every day we make hundreds of decisions. Many decisions we make we are not particularly aware of. Decisions like to stop here, to go there, to eat here, and whom we choose to interact with during our day. Nonetheless, some decisions before us are weighty with lasting consequences. Let’s examine how to make tough decisions in the light of GOD’s will. Many decisions will keep us up at night, and some decisions are life-threatening, or even life changing. These kinds of decisions are frightening and tough! Before we make decisions the first thing to consider is does this path align with GOD’s will for our lives! We want to be wise and discerning, and above all remain in the center of HIS will!

 

First, let me say all decisions should be made in light of GOD’s word. Therefore, the Bible should be the plumb line by which our lives are measured. However, there are some decisions that get muddled up with emotions, possibilities, and plain out indecisiveness. This is when we like Lauri need to listen for the voice of GOD. We know the prophets and patriarchs throughout the ages have heard GOD’s voice and proclaimed his message with confidence. We believe our GOD still speaks to us today, therefore we need to listen for HIS voice. But how do we hear GOD’s voice? Our lives are noisy, and our heads are filled with so many voices vying for our attention, and ways to influence our decisions. So how do we receive clear guidance from GOD for our everyday lives? I admit the answer is easy, however it is difficult to accomplish. The prophetic question, how to receive guidance from GOD? The simple answer is through listening prayers. A Listening prayer centers around a clear request for GOD’s guidance. In making our request, we submit to GOD’s guidance and authority over the other voices we hear throughout our daily lives. Then we hit the pause button. We wait on GOD in a time of silence, giving the Lord opportunity to speak to us. We focus our time of prayer on intentional, purposeful listening, and letting GOD do the talking.

In closing, I would like to share the following quote: “Sometimes in order to keep moving forward, not only must you take one step at a time, but you must be willing to look back occasionally and evaluate your past, no matter how painful it is. Looking back lets you know whether or not you are headed in the right direction” (G.K. Adams).

 

Soli Deo Gloria

Yours in Christ

Jay Adam Pearson