Daily Morning Message 3/25/2021

MORNING MESSAGE
March 25, 2021

"The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart to all generations." (Psalm 33:11)

"I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons."(Psalm 16

"Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand.
You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory." (Psalm 73:23-24)

We can form opinions, study solutions and believe conclusions, but there is no authority stronger than the authority of God. His counsel is the source of truth in any question. If there is any issue that is unresolved, remember the Master's instruction: "...seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness... (Matthew 6:33)
Go beyond wondering "what would Jesus do?" and ask Him yourself. Seek God first. His counsel is prepared for our particular situation at hand; no issue is too small to bring before Him. He waits for us to be ready to receive His holy word on it.

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye." (Psalm 32:8)
That is a promise from the Father Who cannot lie, Who loves you completely and Who never puts off a promise. When He says "I will", it's already done!

Eliphaz, one of Job's "comforters", gives good advice at the wrong time. We can take these words out of context and be blessed in them as a stand-alone precept:
“But as for me, I would seek God,
And to God I would commit my cause— Who does great things, and unsearchable, marvelous things without number." (Job 5:8-9)

The word of God is our counselor;
"Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors." (Psalm 119:24)
The Holy Spirit is our counselor;
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." (John 14:26)
Our spiritual leaders are our counselors;
"Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you...
So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said." (Exodus 18:19,24)

God will present His counsel to you through the Holy Spirit and He will confirm it. The key is to stay close to Him. In our frail human state, we always tend to focus on the problem instead of receiving the solution. When we can turn our attention onto the Lord, His counsel bathes our heart and mind.

In a classroom of Kindergartners, one of the first lessons to learn is to look at and listen to the teacher. Sometimes a hand signal can be used; sometimes rhythmic clapping works. Gathering the full attention of a group of five year olds takes patient wisdom and clever strategies. Focus is not one of their abilities yet. Trying to bend your thoughts and hearts to look and quietly listen for the Voice of our Teacher is hard work, when a problem looms. We all start in the Kindergarten of the Holy Spirit.
I feel that sometimes my rebellions and self-centered thinking strains my Heavenly Father's resources. But then He brings me back on track and pours even more patience and love down into my soul. His compassion and understanding are limitless; His love, never ending. His counsel is instantly available, He waits until my eyes are on the Teacher and I'm listening to Him. Stay close. Be present. Listen carefully!

"As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me.
Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice." (Psalm 55:16-17)