I’ve seen people go to social media to seek advice. They get a ton of comments and very few are the same. It’s one thing to go there for advice on what color to paint something and another thing to ask for life advice. I have a couple of people I’ll go to for that. These are people I trust to speak the truth and whose advice will line up with Scripture. Getting advice is only half of the solution. Following the advice and putting it into action is the other half. Sometimes it’s not easy to follow the advice of a trusted advisor. They can only advise. It’s up to me to enact. This is where a lot of people struggle. They’re good at getting advice, but putting it into action and following through when faced with consequences of change keep them where they are.
In the book of Esther, we find out that her parents died when she was young and she was raised by her cousin Mordecai. As she was going through the king’s beautification process, she kept seeking the advice of Mordecai who advised her not to reveal she was a Jew. Esther 2:20 says, “Esther had not revealed her family or her people [that is, her Jewish background], just as Mordecai had instructed her; for Esther did what Mordecai told her just as when she was under his care” (AMP) Later on she sought the advice of her handler on what she should take before the king when he selected her. Then when Haman threatened to kill the Jews, Esther took the advice of Mordecai again in order to save her people even though it could mean she would be put to death. She followed through with the advice of her trusted advisor and saved a nation.
Proverbs 20:18 says, “Get good advice and you will succeed; don’t go charging into battle without a plan” (GNT). Who are your trusted advisors? Who gives you godly advise that will help you succeed? Don’t fall in the trap of paralysis through analysis where you either get too much advice or you over analyze the advice you’ve been given. It wasn’t easy for Esther to take Mordecai’s advice to go before the king, but victory was won because she did. Your victory is on the other side of following God’s instructions for your life. It’s not always easy following His plan or even knowing it. That’s why you need someone who knows Him and His Word to be a trusted advisor in your life that will also hold you accountable to following through with the plan.
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Devotions by Chris Hendrix 