Lesson: Needing Direction
Author: Mark Stusek
Date: 8/3/08
QUESTION: Do you need direction in some area of your life today?
Are you facing a situation that is confusing? Do you lack a clear
course of action?
If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, it’s okay. God
is not unaware of your or my situation. He is still seated on the
throne and He has not forgotten us.
Life is full of choices, and if we want to make wise choices that
glorify God and bless us, we need God’s guidance.
How do we know God will show up? The same way we believe
a trusted mate or friend will respond. We trust them, too.
I. A Guide To Instruct
1. God promises to guide
ISAIAH 42:16
“In paths they do not know, I will guide them.
I will make darkness into light before them and
crooked places straight. These are the things
I will do and I will not forsake you.”
QUESTION: How will He guide us to make the
right choices/decisions?
2. God promises to provide a word/way
ISAIAH 30:21
“Your ears shall hear a word behind you that says:
‘This is the way; walk in it.’”
Obedience to God’s voice always gives direction
and blessing; it’s not about avoiding unpleasant
ways.
QUESTION: How do you know it’s God’s voice, and not your thoughts or Satan’s voice?
3. God can be trusted
DEUT. 31:8
We can trust God to be our Guide because He will
never mislead us. He will be with us.
PSALM 139:1-5
His knowledge of you or I is perfect. He understands
our personality, our strengths, weaknesses, joys,
sorrows, needs, what tempts us, what concerns us.
He will direct you and I in the best path possible if
we will follow Him.
Some of us, particularly men, refuse to follow the
path, i.e. Pistol Pete Maravich.
If you’re over 45, you probably remember the first
reports trickling out of
about a floppy haired kid who scored baskets at
will and passed and dribbled a basketball as only
the Globetrotters could. His name was Pistol
Pete Maravich. Maravich played three seasons
at LSU and averaged 44 points per game. This
was before a basket counted for three points.
Maravich’s parents were church going, religious
people. Maravich said he believed in God to be
there to help when he needed something or got
hurt.
At 18, Pete and a friend were invited to put a show/
clinic on for a Campus Crusade for Christ Camp.
After three days of hearing the truth, his friend
made a commitment. Pete flatly rejected Jesus
Christ. He went on to LSU and had it all—
popularity, fame in college, and averaging
44 points a game. He still holds the record for
all-time leading scorer in the history of college
basketball.
In 1970, he signed then what was the largest
contract in the history of sports, and became a
millionnaire.
After that, Pete became obsessed with the thought
of “what’s life all about”. Fame, popularity,
money and women still left a void in him. So he
pursued alcohol, yoga, religion (Hinduism),
philosophy, the study of UFO’s, nutrition—he
Maravich’s parents were church going, religious
people. Maravich said he believed in God to be
there to help when he needed something or got
hurt.
At 18, Pete and a friend were invited to put a show/
clinic on for a Campus Crusade for Christ Camp.
After three days of hearing the truth, his friend
made a commitment. Pete flatly rejected Jesus
Christ. He went on to LSU and had it all—
popularity, fame in college, and averaging
44 points a game. He still holds the record for
all-time leading scorer in the history of college
basketball.
In 1970, he signed then what was the largest
contract in the history of sports, and became a
millionnaire.
After that, Pete became obsessed with the thought
of “what’s life all about”. Fame, popularity,
money and women still left a void in him. So he
pursued alcohol, yoga, religion (Hinduism),
philosophy, the study of UFO’s, nutrition—he
was a vegetarian for 3-1/2 years.
In 1980, he quit basketball bitterly. He became
a recluse for two years and became very depressed.
He put on a good front in public, but at home his
guts were in shambles. He couldn’t find the
answer.
One night late in 1982, Maravich received Jesus
Christ. He awoke his wife and announced after
giving/submitting his life to Christ that God spoke
to him and assured him he was saved.
On Jan. 5, 1988, Pete Maravich, at age 40, was
playing some hoops with some friends when he
collapsed and stopped breathing. An autopsy
revealed a congenital heart condition that no one
knew he had. It was the type of condition that
usually takes the life of people before they turn
20 years of age. Yet God had let Pete live.
Pete had rejected the plan of salvation at 18 years of age, but God allowed him to enjoy
one of the most amazing basketball careers
ever—before it almost destroyed him.
GOD CAN BE TRUSTED!
4. You were created for a distinct purpose
EPH. 2:10
We can trust Jesus Christ to be our guide
because He created you and I for a distinct
purpose.
When God formed us, there were special
assignments He planned for you and I to
accomplish.
Each assignment is tailor-made for your and
my giftedness and temperament. The path has
never been travelled by another before you.
PSALM 37:23, 24
The steps of good men are directed by the Lord.
If we fall, we have not failed, for He holds us in
the palm of His hand.
God loves to use flawed people, for when they become successful, they aren’t arrogant; like some who think they deserve it. They have a Joseph attitude.
SUMMARY
Do you need direction in some area of your life
today? Jesus Christ wants to guide you.
Are you facing a situation that is confusing? God
wants to bring clarity to the situation.
Do you lack a clear course of action? God wants
to give you His word and direct your ways.
SOURCES:
In Touch Ministries, August, 2008 Newsletter
K-Love magazine, November, 2007
Slam Dunk, Editor Dave Branon