I remember a Scripture verse given to me by an elderly lady one Sunday as I discussed my plight with her:

Proverbs 16:9 – A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. (NKJV)

The music business had been a dream of mine since childhood, and I had thought that surely God would bless it, particularly since it involved Christian material. Was I just asking the Lord to support me in this venture, but it was not His will for me? After all, is it not that "the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord"? (Psalm 37:23a NKJV)

I truly believed that I had been led by the Holy Spirit to open up my store. It's possible that some of my inexperience in operating a retail business during the recession in the 'eighties led to my failure. However, the final nail in the coffin was hammered on that holiday July first, following a massive sale of stock. I felt broken!

As it turned out, sometime later, through volunteer work with a Christian organization, I was able to work a satisfying, ministry-type job through sixteen years before retiring. I believe that these steps were ordered by God, not by me. By the way, a lady opened a Christian bookstore in town not long after I closed, which I believe was her calling.

My suggestion is that if you believe that God is leading you to take a step of faith in something, after praying about it, be sure that you have confirmation and a sense of the environment surrounding the situation, and be sure to ask for mature advice.

Prayer: Father God, make us more sensitive to the leading of Your Spirit, so that we can make decisions more in line with Your will for our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NKJV)

A man carries a heavy box into his garage, places it on the floor, and begins to assemble the lawnmower contained inside. His wife comes to watch.

"Honey, you seem to be having some trouble," his wife observes.

"No, I'm doing okay, dear. I've put things like this together before."

"But there appear to be some parts left over. Don't you think you should read the instruction manual? It says here that the mower should be put together according these diagrams, or the warranty will not be honoured, and it could even be dangerous," urges his wife.

"Well, all right. Oh! I see where I went wrong," the husband exclaims. The man proceeds with his wife guiding him through the instructions, fills the mower with oil and gas, and away he goes.

Have you ever gone through an assembling exercise and felt rather foolish for not first beginning with the written instructions? This can be equated with living one's life without guidance from the One who created us. Manuals are prepared for equipment, so that their parts can be assembled properly and the items repaired if needed.

God offers us a better way to assemble our lives and to repair any damage, rather than the flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants approach of the world. We have His manual, the Bible, as well as Christian leaders and our own individual prayers to the Lord to get us through this challenging life. Let's remember to check our operator's manual — the Bible.

Prayer: Lord, help us not to go astray from living our lives by Your holy Word. May we honour the Bible-supported counsel of our Christian leaders in our life's journey. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

I was thinking about this recently, and I began to ponder how being in tune with God is so important in our daily walk and in our worship of Him.

Psalm 1:2 – But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. (NKJV)

Through the media, we are bombarded each day with worldly philosophy, which can sway our thinking away from the truth of God's Word. Even some church bodies have fallen into this trap. Reading and meditating on God's Word can help to prevent that from happening to us.

Ephesians 5:19 – Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. (NKJV)

Singing to the Lord with one another can strengthen our spirit, refresh our souls, and provide encouragement from the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 16:13 – Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. (NKJV)

I find that I am renewed in the Lord and feel His presence when I share my faith with someone. These are times when, in witnessing to someone, I often recall Scriptures that I haven't quoted for awhile.

Just like the frequent tuning of my guitar allows me to do it automatically, regular prayer, reading the Bible, and fellowshipping with God's people keep me in tune.

Are you in tune with Lord and His purposes? I suggest a tune-up this spring in worship to the King of kings.

Prayer: Lord, show us what we need to do to be more in tune with You. Guide us to be more in line with Your purposes in our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

My wife and I, along with her dad, decided to visit her mother in the hospital following her surgery. Before I left home, I pulled out a couple of frozen prime steaks and placed them on the kitchen counter to thaw while we were away, thinking that I would cook up a nice dinner for us all when we returned.

After our visit, her dad offered to take us out to a local restaurant, so I rushed home to put the meat in the refrigerator. As soon as I entered the kitchen, I immediately noticed that the steaks were no longer on the counter. In fact, there was no trace of them, except for the cellophane wrapper on the rug below. My dog had pulled the rack of meat off the counter and had herself a huge raw steak dinner. To add to the insult, she had also urinated on the rug.

I could have strangled that dog because, not only did she steal our steaks, but then she went on to dispose of it on the floor at various sites in the house throughout the night and the day afterwards.

Now you may wonder what possible analogy this experience might have to our spiritual lives. However, if we leave our Christian life unattended, the devil can steal our enthusiasm for the Lord. This can result from not reading God's Word or praying or fellowshipping with other Christians. The enemy can then have access to abscond with blessings that we had previously obtained from the Lord. Just like the yucky mess left by my dog, we could then, enticed by the world's moral standards, leave behind some messy life situations.

1 Peter 5:8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (NKJV)

Staying in touch with the Lord can prevent us from losing valuable things in our lives. Let's guard our hearts and stand strong in our devotion to the Lord. Then, we will be less likely to lose what we have gained.

Prayer: Father God, help us to be diligent to maintain our walk with You, so that the enemy cannot steal Your anointing and blessings from us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

A few years ago, I was employed by the Salvation Army as a bail supervisor. My work entailed receiving, by court order, individuals who required weekly appointments at our office, and reminding the bail clients of their conditions of release. Opportunities were also there for me to arrange for and/or to provide personal life counselling. There is one experience with a client I will never forget.

A gentleman was assigned to me who was charged with allegedly having sexual relations with his 14-year-old daughter. It was disturbing to me because he was a professing Christian. I could see that he was in deep distress about the whole issue.

The client shared that his older daughter, with whom he had issues, urged the younger one go to the police and falsely have them lay charges against him. He felt that this was an exercise in vengeance from her because of their troubled relationship.

I sensed that there might be evil spirits involved in this situation, infusing into his daughter's mind actions to do damage to her father's reputation as a Christian.

Revelation 12:10b – For the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. (NKJV)

Remembering this Scripture, I prayed with my client that God would hold His hand against all evil spirits that were enticing his daughters to accuse him falsely.

A week later, he brought his two daughters into my office to meet me. They had gone to the police, confessing that they had just drummed up the allegations against their father. The charges were dismissed, and he no longer had to report to me. This procedure rarely happens, but with God, anything is possible.

Not all of our troubles stem from the attacks of evil spirits, but we need to pray for discernment as one of the spiritual gifts.

Prayer: Lord teach us, we pray, to be more effective in our supplications, realizing who the enemy really is. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

The apostle Paul was given just such a vision of heaven:

2 Corinthians 12:3-4 – And I know such a man — whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows — how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. (NKJV)

Ten years later in a seniors' home, Joyce was having an afternoon nap when she suddenly found herself in a beautiful place where everything was clean and white and peaceful. When she awoke, she said that her room looked so filthy compared to what she had just experienced.

Later in the dining room, she shared her experience with the ladies at her table. Joyce said that they looked at her strangely and assumed that she was out of her mind, like some of the other residents. Following her experience, she seemed to lose her fear of dying.

Years later in another facility, she was seen reading her Bible and Christian articles, and enjoying gospel music tapes. She passed away peacefully in her room at the age of 91. The staff said that she always had a lovely smile for everyone.

Our prayers may not come to pass until years later. When we pray for an issue, God may answer "Yes", "No", or "Wait". The onus on us is just to trust a loving God.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for answered prayer, even though it may be done long after we issue it. In Jesus' name, we give thanks. Amen.

I began to equate this with the differences in the rate of spiritual growth that I've noticed in some people over the years. I thought to myself, What could the reason be for the difference in spiritual development? Many Christians, when giving their testimony, will share only about the day they were saved, not indicating any further growth in God. If they are asked what the Lord is doing in their life lately, they seem lost for words.

Hebrews 5:12-13 – For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. (NKJV)

Could it be that those who appear to have a somewhat stale testimony are the ones who have failed to stay in the light of the Lord? In order to receive the light of God's revelation for us, we need to be exposed to Him, just like the corn needs God's light to grow to its full height.

Psalm 119:130 – The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. (NKJV)

What's blocking the light of God in our life? Is it the shadow of the spirit of the world — through television, wrong associations, idols, and neglecting God's Word? If we are stymied in our growth in the Lord, then we need to read His Word daily. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17 NKJV). God's Word is alive, and we receive more light in the reading and studying of it.

The apostle Paul encouraged us to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12b NKJV). It takes effort on our part to grow in the Lord.

Prayer: O God, help us to push aside those things which challenge our growing in You. May we be examples to others to seek You in Bible reading and fellowship with the believers. In Jesus' mighty name, we pray. Amen.