Tag Archives: seeking direction

January 27, 2026 · 6:04 AM

Presence Over Provision

Jim Cymbala, pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle, tells the story of a time early on in their church history where he was under a lot of financial pressures. The church was small, the building needed repairs and he was exhausted trying to make everything work. To solve the issues, he stepped into a business venture. He admits that he didn’t pray about it first, he assumed it was from God because it looked good, and then the venture collapsed. He said that he rushed ahead of God and thought the opportunity was the answer he was looking for. God used failure and conflict to return him to where he was supposed to be. He warns believers to follow where God leads and not where opportunity leads. It’s something a lot of us face. We see a golden opportunity and assume God is in it, but He’s actually trying to lead us somewhere else. It’s important to seek Him first and plant roots where He tells us to.

In Genesis 26, Isaac had left the land God had promised to his father Abraham because of a famine. While away, he increased in wealth and possessions to the point the king was intimidated by him and asked him to leave. He left and camped in a place that looked like it had provision for him, but conflict followed. He moved again and faced more conflict. He went to Beersheba where God had met Abraham, and God met him there too. God made the same covenant with him that He did with his father. Then verse 25 says, “So Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord [in prayer]. He pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well” (AMP). He realized he had been chasing what the land offered and not where God was leading. When he found the place of presence and God’s provision, he pitched his tent permanently and dug a well to set up future generations in that place. The closed doors he faced led him to the place God wanted him.

Psalm 37:3 says, “Trust [rely on and have confidence] in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and feed [securely] on His faithfulness.” Like Abraham, Isaac and so many others, our first step is to trust the Lord and not our circumstances. He is our source and our provider. Next we are to do good where he plants us. Isaac built and altar and dug a well. He pointed others to the Lord and provided blessings to others through the well. When we follow God’s presence instead of earthly provisions, we can dwell where He plants us securely. That doesn’t mean we won’t face conflicts or problems. It means we can have peace in them knowing that He’s working things out for our good and fighting battles for us. He will be faithful to His promise no matter what comes our way. We must rely on Him though. Look for where He is leading you rather than certain opportunities. Ask Him if He is in those opportunities or not. If He is, then follow them. If not, keep moving. When you follow His presence, He will provide what you need.

Photo by Lucas Cullen on Unsplash

Following God’s Plan

One of the things that bothers me is when someone asks me for advice on how to handle something, and then they don’t take the advice. I’ve shown them what to do, but they either didn’t want to do the work, like the things I told them or had someone else tell them something different to do. Either way, when they’re still stuck in the situation and come back for help, my mind wants to turn them away. However, somewhere in the exchange, my compassion overrides my pride and I try to direct them to the right path out of their situation. A lot of times they didn’t get in the situation overnight, and they’re not going to get out of it overnight, no matter how badly they want to.

I find myself doing the same thing to God though. I run to Him with my problem or circumstance i want out of. He directs me to His Word, but i don’t always like the prescription. Instead of listening, i try other things, other ideas or anything besides what His path out of it is. It’s amazing how many times we all go to God with a problem, sometimes of our own doing, seek His path out of it, and then tell Him what we’re going to do. What we’re really saying is, “God, i know you have a plan for me, but I want to do it this way. Will you please bless it and let me do this my way?” How can we expect God’s blessings when we’re telling Him what we’re going to do instead of seeking His plan and path?

David, who was known as a man after God’s own heart didn’t approach God that way. In Psalms 25:4 he prayed, “Direct me, Yahweh, throughout my journey so I can experience your plans for my life. Reveal the life-paths that are pleasing to you” (TPT). If we want to experience all the blessings God has for us, we’re going to have to submit to His plan and walk on His path. God has no problem revealing His plan and path for how our lives should go. It’s up to us to obey and to stay on that path. When we get off of it is when we experience a lot of pain. Staying on God’s path doesn’t mean you’re not going to experience hardship, pain or set backs. It means you’ll have His blessings, guidance and protection through them. He has a plan and a path for you, but it’s up to you to stay on it and follow it.

Photo by Jan Huber on Unsplash

Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.

Red Light Green Light

I’m taking the week off to spend time with family. I hope you enjoy this previously written devotional.

A fun game to play with a group of kids is Red Light Green Light. All the kids start out on one side while you’re on the other. You turn away and say, “Green light!” Their job is to run towards you as fast as they can while the light is green. Randomly, you turn and face them and yell, “Red light!” They have to stop immediately. If they move during red light or don’t stop, they get sent back to their starting point. You repeat this process until someone reaches you, then you start all over.

Following where God leads can feel a lot like that game. There’s a series of red lights and green lights along the way. If you’re looking for a pattern, you won’t find one. There are times when green lights seem to on,y last for a short while, and red lights can take years. We love the green lights because they make us feel like God is doing something in us and that we are being productive for Him. When the red lights come, it can feel like we’ve done something wrong. That’s not the case. Red lights come for many reasons. It can be to protect you, to teach you, to grow you, to wait for someone else’s obedience or some other reason.

The important thing is to wait where God has you for as long as He deems necessary. The Israelites went through this in the wilderness. Numbers 9:22 says, “Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud [of the LORD’S presence] lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the Israelites remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they set out” (AMP). We don’t want to go where God’s spirit isn’t leading us. If you’re in a red light season, it’s ok. You’re where God wants you and that’s the best place to be. Rest in His presence because your green light will come.

Photo by Tsvetoslav Hristov on Unsplash

Surrendering Anxiety

Did you know that just being afraid of something is not considered a phobia? The fear must altar your behavior in some way to be considered a phobia. The same is true of anxiety. Many times we may be anxious, but when it causes us to change what we’re doing, we are considered to have anxiety. It shows up in different ways. Many times, we try to altar the situation ourselves, but that can make things worse. We don’t make the best decision when we are worried. I know that for me, it causes me to run through scenarios trying to find the right way to fix it. I lose sleep and can’t concentrate on things throughout my day. In turn, it affects every area of my life until I’m so desperate that I force the issue.

You’ve no doubt heard the Psalm that tells us to be still and know that He is God. What you may not know is that the Hebrew words for be still mean to let hang down; to be relaxed, especially the hands. It can also mean to not make an effort or exertion. Meaning take your hands off the situation and let God handle it. The Passion Translation takes that into account and writes that verse this way, “Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God” (Psalms 46:10). So many times anxiety has altered our minds to the point that we lose sight of God in our situation. God wants to remind us that He sees us, and knows what we’re going through.

It’s tough to take our hands off the situation. It’s better to ask God for wisdom in how to handle it though. Ask God to give you peace in your mind and clarity of thought as well. Surrender your anxiety to Him, recognize He is in control and follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Our behavior change in a situation should not be out of anxiety, but rather out of thoughtful prayer after we’ve handed it over to God. If you want to see God in what’s going on, be still, put your hands down and relax. Breathe. Pray. Listen. Begin to thank God for all He’s done, and all He’s going to do. Your life is in His hands and He is in charge of the outcome. Trust that He will do what’s best and grow you through it. God is at work and it’s for your good.

Photo by Road Trip with Raj on Unsplash

4 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as anxiety, be still and know, bible study on, bible verses on, Devotional, devotional on, difficult situations, let God handle it, letting go, phobia, seeking direction, take your hands off, what does the bible say about