Thursday, September 2, 2021

Someone Who Listens

 There is someone who we talk to just about every day. That person listens to us, and we listen to him or her. Sometimes that person wants some advice. Other times he  doesn’t want advice, but he  needs you to listen to him, to support and encourage him. And sometimes she is not looking for conversation, she just wants you to be by her side to hug her and love on her. 

Every one of us would feel more secure and focused if there was somebody in our lives to give us wise counsel, encouragement, support, and show that they love us and care about us. Also, no matter how old we are we need that person in our lives to point us in the right direction. Of course even a wise friend can not always know how to advise us about a difficult choice we need to make. 

Not knowing fore sure what direction to go can cause much emotional stress. Is there a way that we can know for certain the road that we should travel? The Apostle Paul and young Timothy had been going from town to town preaching and encouraging the people to obey the word. At some point Paul decided that they would journey to Asia to continue to preach the gospel. We would assume that they had been praying about where they needed to go, but maybe not. Paul and Timothy had been going in the direction of the Asian province of Mysia, and their plan to cross the boarder was abruptly halted. Here is the reason, “When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to go any further.”

Paul who encouraged those who were believers to pray without ceasing evidently followed his own advice. At just the right moment the Holy Spirit told him he was not to go into Asia. Paul is a great example of someone who carried on a conversation with the Spirit of Jesus everyday. If we really want to know the path our lives should follow we should not miss a day talking and then listening to Jesus. He is the only one who will not give us incorrect advice. He is our friend on whom we can always depend.

The Art of Striking Out

During his major league career Babe Ruth hit 714 home runs, but he struck out 1,330 times. Ruth is known as one of the greatest hitters of a...