He is Leading You -- Now

For many believers who are well-versed, skillful in righteousness (Hebrews 5: 13), they have no trouble articulating to themselves or to others who they are in Christ.

The question then becomes -- "What do I do now?"

We know that God works in us both to will and to do for our good pleasure (Philippians 2: 13). We know and believe that God has given us a new heart (Ezekiel 11: 19), and that on this heart God has written his laws (Hebrews 8: 11).

Still, for me, I still felt ill at ease with discerning God's will about anything.

Then I meditated on Psalm 23, and stayed on the third verse:

"He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."

God is our good Shepherd, one whom we can trust because He has laid down His life for us:

" I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

"But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

"The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine." (John 10: 11-14)

His life is now our life (Galatians 2: 20):

"For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." (Romans 5: 10)

and

"For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God." (Romans 6: 10)

He has given us His life; therefore, we have no reason to doubt that He will give us anything else that we need (Psalm 23: 1):

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 32)

So,I know that I can trust Him, as evident in Scripture, but what will be the certainty for me? His peace in us guides us:

"And let the peace of God [Lit. Christ] rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." (Colossians 3: 15)

Peace is something that God keeps us in (Isaiah 26: 3; Galatians 5: 22), the perfect indicator that He is with us. Whenever our peace is dis-eased, that is the easy marker that He is not leading us in that direction.

We cannot lose our standing in Him, for we have already been made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21). We also bear His name as His reborn sons and daughters (John 1: 12; 1 John 3: 1-3). We do not need to worry that we are out of fellowship with Him, and as we walk in His peace and love, we can be certain that He is guiding us!