Knowing God’s ways
by Margaret Silvester
I wonder if, like me, you regularly receive petitions to sign. These are for different causes, some to see justice done for the oppressed in different parts of the world, and others to urge governments not to allow laws to be passed which are out of keeping with God’s word and His ways.
Sadly, because God’s Word and His ways are not always clearly taught, an increasing number of Church-going Christians have unwittingly become involved in practices that are far from being in keeping with God’s word and His ways. Relativism, the world view that says “if it feels right to you, do it”, prevails in the world, and seems to be rapidly creeping into the Church.
The Bible makes it clear that, if we want to really know God, we’ll need to know His ways. Moses prayed “Teach me your ways so I may know you” (Exodus 33:13). David asked God to teach him His ways, for then he would walk in God’s truth. Knowing God’s ways and God’s truth will keep us from deception and keep our hearts sensitive to the inner voice of the Holy Spirit when we could be led astray.
David asks for an undivided heart. This is a heart that’s willing to face the radical choices with which we’re presented in a world of no absolutes and bring God’s perspective. It’s a heart that’s fully committed to God by free will choice and has the desire to please God, whatever the cost. Today we might say it’s the opposite of being double-minded, two-faced or compromising from selfish motives.
The reason David asks for an undivided heart is that he would fear the Lord. His psalms show that he’d discovered this was the safest way to live. The same applies to us, of course. The fear of the Lord delivers us from the fear of people, and from all other fears. It simply means that we honour God for who He is, choosing to live in uncompromising obedience to Him. We do this because we love Him too much to hurt Him by deliberately going against His ways or His Word.
Prayer: Dear Father, please teach me Your ways, that I might truly know You, and learn how to live in the security You give to those who fear Your name. I ask for forgiveness for times when my heart has been divided and I haven’t stood firm for Your ways of righteousness. Today I pray for an undivided heart to live uprightly and courageously for Your glory. I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Margaret Silvester had a career as a teacher prior to being called into full time Christian Ministry with her husband, David, in 1986. They were involved in establishing a Healing Ministry in the local church and Margaret has a passion to see lost and wounded people found and restored. She and her husband joined the Ellel Ministries teaching and ministry team in 2000 after a clear call from God. Margaret`s book "Stepping Stones to the Father Heart of God" has recently been published.
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