In the photograph we see a lake and the rolling hills. Everything looks idilic and serene, but if you were at this scene you would hear cars pulling up, a motorway not far away making much noise and smells of fatty foods. It is the Killington lake services. There is more to nature than just a picture. There is the sounds, the smells and the whole experience of being there.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could be right all the time? I’m not sure it would!
9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
Solomon is perhaps the most famous for being wise. But what he actually asks for is an understanding heart. Not to have intelligence. One thing I haven’t got is a good memory, especially for names. It plagues me how embarrassing it is to forget peoples names, even names of people I have just met, or people that I have known for many years.
An understanding heart. When we are under pressure we tend to go into autopilot and make snap decisions. But Jesus seems to do the total opposite. Just before his arrest and death he retired to pray. When news came of John the Baptist being beheaded, he withdrew to pray.
Even though our situation, or someone else situation might seem futile or hopeless we must make prayer our default action in response to anything.
I am learning that lesson as I write these blogs this year. I have learnt that the most important part of the trinity has to be active in our lives – the Holy Spirit. But learning to listen to the Holy Spirit is not a default action, it seems almost counter intuitive, but God works when we invite him into our life. The Holy Spirit is that permanent discernment, permanent understanding, we just have to listen to Him.
Dear Lord, come into my life more and more. Come into everyones life that asks and for those that still have a wall of blockage stopping your love affecting their lives, remove that wall and show them compassion.
In Jesus name
Amen
365 Exhortations 