Any human will develop misunderstandings and mental confusions about guidance. There will be times when we get it wrong, this however, should not discourage us from seeking God’s pathway. This is why it is so essential to rest our minds and wills in the written word of God. We can’t always make the right application or even get the right interpretation, but we can avoid big mistakes by not violating the main tenets of scripture. Most mistakes are created not by misinterpreting God’s genera lwill for a life, but are birthed in the flaws of human personality. My Achilles heel has been impulsiveness, see the prize and grab it. Impatience joined to impulsiveness is a disaster. Early in our marriage it became apparent that my wife Jane was a controlled shopper. She could go shopping for hours and buy nothing, she just enjoyed the process. I would go shopping and come home with a new car or television. One time she was so disgusted with my purchase of a new television that she would not help me carry it in the house. A few hours later, the screen was cracked via an accident that she found satisfying. I didn’t even want to compare with other stores or auto dealers, “ lets just get it done,” that was my motto. If I became excited about a new project in church or product in a store, I was ready to go for it. At home it got me into trouble financially, at church it got me into trouble relationally. God’s will for me was fast, big, and now. For others, like my wife Jane, God’s will was to be discerned, and discovering it would be a process. This trait had to be trained out of me over many years, today it is not a chronic part of my personality, but still can make a special appearance when I am unguarded. As I sit here writing I can recall many mistakes I have made in my personal and vocational life because I was unable or unwilling to wait on God. To be unable to wait on God is a lackof spiritual maturity. This is why we need others so much, they can help us wait. Most good things that God does in his own time are worth waiting for.
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About Bill Hull
Bill Hull’s passion has been to help the church return to its disciple making roots and he considers himself a discipleship evangelist. This God-given desire has manifested itself in twenty years of pastoral service and the authorship of ten books. His first book, Jesus Christ Disciplemaker, is celebrating 20 years with a new edition. The Disciple Making Pastor and the Disciple Making Church are two successive books which make up his popular disciple making trilogy. These books have provided the church with a new paradigm for disciple making.
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Ouch! I know you are right, but the words still sting. I struggle so much with waiting on God. Though I'd never say it, my life tends to shout "God, if you'd just get out of my way I'd get your work done!" I'm glad we serve a merciful and long-suffering Savior who, regardless of my mistakes remains on the throne. Thanks for the post. It's a great encouragement to stay in the Word and stay close to God.
Bill, how do I get a username and password? I only see a log-in form, not a sign up form. Thanks