My Main Counselor

Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live. Isaiah 55:3

For decades I missed out on the experience of hearing God speak to me directly on a regular basis. At times when I should have been leaning over and listening to what God wanted to tell me I was constantly running to people. I was looking to certain individuals to give me wisdom, direction, and guidance for numerous situations and decisions. While it may have seemed easier to go to them, in the long run I was paying a high price in my walk with God.

Aside from always feeling needy, indecisive, and crippled, I was keeping myself from developing a close, intimate relationship with God. While the Bible certainly talks about the wisdom that can be found in many counselors, there is a danger when God is not my ultimate Counselor. When I am spending more time listening to other people’s voices rather than God’s voice I am missing out on so much.

I think of it this way. How well would I develop a friendship with someone if I had very little communication with them? If I chose someone who knew her well and I communicated with that person instead of the actual one I wanted to have a friendship with, there would not be a relationship at all. This person might be able to tell me things they know and experiences they have but none of that would help me to build my own relationship. How different though if I would pick up the phone or meet with the person directly.

It is the same way with God. If I want to really know how to live the Christian life and know His voice I must learn to go to Him and listen! I have been amazed in just the past couple of weeks at how much He will say to me because I am finally taking the questions to Him. Do I miss the human counselors? Sometimes. Will I ever again seek a person’s advice? Perhaps. But the experience of learning to seek His face, stand in His presence, and hear His voice is so much better!

Father, the day I learned to go directly to You was the beginning of a new way of life for me. May it always be Your voice I seek to hear and listen to. Amen.