Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
This passage of scripture teaches us that one of the most critical aspects of the Christian's life is that of learning to walk humbly with God in all situations, and therefore it is necessary that we find out from the Bible, how this is done. In walking humbly with God, we must consistently follow certain set formulas that are written in God's word, prominent amongst which is that of waiting on Him before making any major move, or taking any serious decision. This involves taking our concerns to the Lord in prayer, and asking His advice before we say or do anything that can have adverse effects on us. Plans should never be made without first consulting with God, for it is often the case that we involve Him at the back end of our planning and decision-making processes, after the damage has been done. The Bible makes a very weighty promise in the following verses which every Christian should take personally. Let's read:
Isaiah 30:20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: 21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
The above passage means that through the providence of God, He will let His will be known to those who trust in Him, even though some of these experiences He may permit us to pass through, may cause adversity or affliction. Even though it is not necessary, it is a well-known fact that human beings learn best from the bad experiences we go through, and although it is often the case that God is not instrumental in bringing these circumstances upon us, yet He often uses them as stepping stones so that we can learn the most important lessons of life.
This is what took place when He taught the philistines that bowing down to Dagon was not only an act of folly, but that it put them at odds with The One who had their very lives in His hands. After their fish god was toppled and mutilated by unseen hands, two days in a row respectively, they finally got the message, and the result of that particular learning curve is recorded in the scriptures as a warning for all future generations. Let's read:
1st Samuel 5:3 And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. 4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. 5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.
However, in the Christian's life, God prefers to use the methods of loving entreaty, and it is His will that we cultivate a meek spirit that is willing to be taught by Him. Now, wouldn't it be cute if we could all learn our lessons the first time around, or better still, from the experiences of others, without the need for the more advanced classes in the school of affliction? It is the will of God that Christians avoid making unnecessary mistakes, and avert the snare of bringing hardships upon ourselves for no reason. This is done by seeking God first in all of our ways so that we can be directed in paths of righteousness.
Every one of us have serious lessons to learn, and God has promised to teach us individually and collectively, but we must be willing to be taught, and therefore when we have issues or plans, they should be brought before God in prayer, for either confirmation or dismissal, at His own discretion. This method coupled together with His word and the guidance of His Holy Spirit, can save us many a heartache and tribulation that could otherwise be avoided, and thus He bids us cultivate the spirit and attitude of a learner. Let's read:
Isaiah 54:13 And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
Let us therefore ask God to give us a humble and teachable spirit that is willing and patient enough to wait on His guidance and leadership in our lives, and we will soon discover that a multitude of problems we now face will vanish into thin air, only if we walk humbly with Him. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to cultivate this attitude in our relationship with God, and He will be more than willing to guide and keep us through the learning processes, according to His good and perfect will. Let's read:
Proverbs 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: 12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. 13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!