Walking with Kings (though not like them, I trust)

I have been reading in the Books of the Kings recently; my, what tragedies. To have the prophets that God sent their way and yet to turn and follow their own selfish ambitions. Truly we are a selfish and self-centered people. Just as the kings were basically one disaster after another, so we will find our lives a disaster if we try to live apart from God. Walking in the Spirit is not going to be a "bed of roses" and often He will lead us along a path that may not make sense to us. The great blessing is that it not need to make sense to us; we only need to follow obediently. We often state that His will is "for our good and His glory," but then we want to decide for ourselves what is "for our good." If God is truly in control and if He is truly our God, then He has every right to determine what is best. Our simple task is to follow. A dear friend always quotes the short chorus, "My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all I have to do is follow." How right he is, yet how difficult it is to follow.

I have heard it said often that "life is like a roller coaster." I like coasters, but some of them do not like me, so that may not be a good thing. Seriously, life does have its share of ups and downs, yet my God is faithful and He provides and meets my needs even when I cannot see around the next corner or over the next hill. A lesson that is often difficult to learn is that God's timing is not according to my calendar. I can schedule life events and activities on each of my many calendars, but God uses His own calendar. It is easy to run ahead or to lag behind; the challenge is to keep pace with Him. I desire to be so in tune to the Spirit that when He shows the next step I am ready to take it. God does not use the pillar or cloud or fire, but the Spirit is even more effective if I am in the Word. Therefore, if I want to follow the Spirit closely, I need to meditate on His Word and His works. As I study Him, I grow to adore Him more and truly, He is worthy of our adoration. The more I fellowship with Him, the more I trust that my life will imitate Him. At that point I am ready to follow Him wherever He leads. I do not need to understand, I only need to follow. So, follow I shall.