What is the first thing that comes into your mind when you hit a brick wall because of a challenge that seems to keep you in place?  It does not have to be a major obstacle.  It does not have to be a long lasting one.  It could be just for a moment in time.

Surely, we can gather an expansive variety of answers; yet, because our lives unfold as progressive steps in discovering the Author and the Finisher of our faith, learning remains a daily pursuit.

One evening, I felt seemingly empty.  My initial move was to call a friend, but I couldn’t think of anyone I could reach out to fellowship with. 

My second thought was to watch a feel-good Christmas movie on YouTube, but it didn’t quite feel right either.

Then, I caught myself right then and there realizing that my auto-pilot mode needs to be dealt with and is up for correction.   I know very well that I am in this season of learning to acknowledge Him in “ALL” my ways.  If His Word says “ALL”, that only means one thing, “ALL”.

“Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In ALL your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.”  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You see, when we have a humongous mountain to face, our hearts sense the deep urgency to call upon Him. But, in most cases when we only see molehills in front of us, we take matters into our own hands, mindlessly thinking we can handle them without acknowledging Him. 

His Word says to acknowledge Him in ALL our ways.  We are to take thorough knowledge and recognize Who He is that is pertinent to our situation to fully partake of His relevant attribute.

It so amazes me of how so mindful our Heavenly Father is of us. He knows us more than we know ourselves. His sight never leaves us.  His ears are never dull to hear us when we call.  He affectionately cares for us and watchfully cares about us.  His thoughts of us are more than the sand in the sea and it is His utmost delight to be passionately involved in our every step. 

His Word says, He busies Himself with our every step. He is not passively observing us; rather, He is actively watching over us, eagerly desiring to be intimately engaged in our moment-to-moment lives.

With these thoughts in mind, I sat down for a while, quieting myself, listening to the stirrings deep within, and waiting for His gentle prompting.  Hmmm I’m learning.  This is “Lesson 101: Acknowledging Him in ALL my ways”.

I knew then that I was not empty because the Greater One, Christ in me, the Hope of glory, indwells me.  It just felt that way which surely was a lie of the enemy.  

Indeed, we are not to be ignorant of the enemy’s schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11).  Instead, we are to know how to recognize, discern and arrest them at its onset. 

Then, His leading became evident as I turned my attention and affection toward Him.  He said, “Write for your Blog.”, and I willingly obeyed. 

As I started to write and revelations came flowing, I got watered.  Joy slowly bubbled up and within minutes I was filled and flooded.  What an awesome experience.  Thank You, Jesus.

Writing for my blog with the intention to refresh others, I myself got refreshed.  He said (inner prompting), “When the water of My Word starts to flow from the fountain of living water within you, you, as the vessel, get wet and watered first.  You are like a hose connected to the faucet. When the faucet is turned on and the water begins to flow, you are the first to receive it. Being filled and flooded with My Presence positions you to be My conduit, bringing water and refreshment to others.”

Then, His Word confirmed what He prompted me to do.

“If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” (Isaiah 58:10-11 ESV)

There may be times when our initial step is to focus on how to save ourselves, but contrary to our natural ways, His higher ways see things differently.  The above-mentioned verses says that if we pour ourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, if we put others before ourselves, His supernatural endowment is poured upon us.  

When we move towards God’s purpose with His divine guidance and wisdom, He satisfies our desires in scorched places, makes our bones strong and we shall be like a well-watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never fail.  Hallelujah! 

We are to constantly and consistently remind ourselves that we are spirit beings that have souls (mind, will and emotion) and we live in a body.  Therefore, a challenge that is recognizable by our senses is to be primarily addressed according to the revealed Word that carries the anointing to break yokes and destroy bondages.  This God-breathed Word is life-giving with life-long results. His Word is living and powerful.  His Word is near us, in our hearts and in our mouths spendable when revealed and lived out by faith.  His Word is so accessible to us 24/7, activated by the words of our mouths and faith in our hearts.

No wonder God says in His Word, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (rescued, healed, prospered, delivered and made whole).  This represents a complete and comprehensive salvation in spirit, soul and body.  A nothing-missing, nothing-lacking, nothing-broken … a life of wholeness is our Heavenly Father’s will and delight.

Upon the revelation of this higher reality, our old ways of addressing a particular situation no longer applies regardless of how insignificant our condition may seem.  We are to seek first His kingdom and His ways of doing right to hit the nail on the head, listen to what He is speaking and move in rhythm with His. 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank You, for always busying Yourself with my every step.  Thank You for Your grace that empowers me to respond to Your intimate invitation for me to live and move and have my being in You.

Thank You, Jesus, for showing me how You lived Your life in continual acknowledgement that it is The Father in You Who does the work, that You only do what You see Him do and speak only what You hear Him speak.

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for unceasingly making known to me our Heavenly Father’s will and His perfect ways through the revelation of His Word always.  Amen!

Photo Credits: Melai Felicidario; Japan