Don’t you love the deleted scenes and bonus material at the end of a movie? Sometimes these are the parts that make you laugh or think the most. I often try to figure out why those scenes didn’t make the final cut. Sometimes it’s obvious—an actor forgot his lines or a prop went haywire.

Other times a scene is perfect and still gets cut. Maybe the scene made the movie exceed the time limit or took the focus in a different direction. Or the scene is similar enough to another that it winds up on the cutting room floor.

The same process happens with books. In the final edit, editors go over the manuscript chapter by chapter, paragraph by paragraph, line by line. Are the topics varied? Have we duplicated a theme or focus verse or used the same story twice?

In the final edit of my upcoming book, Lord, I Believe, I was so excited about how God leads and guides us through life that I wrote about it—twice.

You guessed it—one of the devotions ended up on the cutting room floor.

But, thankfully, it didn’t get run through the shredder. Instead, I saved it to share with you as a sneak preview of what you can look forward to in Lord, I Believe.

I hope you enjoy it!

I Believe God Will Guide Me

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Psalm 32:8

When was the last time you made a big decision?

Did you feel confident or terrified? For many years, I leaned heavily in the terrified direction. What if I made the wrong choice and regretted it? Or missed something wonderful because I chose the wrong option? Do I, or don’t I? Should I, or shouldn’t I? Like a kid in a Tilt o’ Whirl, I bounced from one thought to the next until I was dizzy.

One of the most appealing parts of surrendering my life to Christ was knowing someone wiser than myself would guide me. I didn’t just gain a Savior; I gained a Counselor who would come alongside me to warn me of danger and point me to the good way.

 I’ve often wished God’s guidance came in a daily memo. If it did, though, we’d have no need to cultivate our relationship with God. We’d grab our instructions and head off on our merry way. “Thanks, God. I’ll take it from here.” 

Instead, God makes His guidance available through more personal and hands-on ways. He provides wisdom through His Word. But we have to read it. He offers insight through prayer. But we have to set aside time to meet with Him. He brings wise counselors into our lives, but we have to seek their advice. And He speaks through the voice of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, but we must learn to recognize His voice.

Although I’ve often wished for an audible, “Thus sayeth the Lord,” I’m grateful God chooses to guide us through our relationship with Him. When I face a decision, it’s exciting to apply biblical principles that point me in the right direction. When I bring my need to Him in prayer and see Him answer through “random” circumstances and “chance” conversations, my faith grows. And when a wise friend shares just the right bit of information to tip my decision, I rejoice in God’s provision. Best of all, the sweet certainty that the Holy Spirit gives allows me to move forward in confidence.

 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;” God promises. “I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

Aren’t you glad we can rest in this today? 

Embrace the Truth: No matter how big or difficult our decisions may be, God’s guidance gives us confidence.

Declare Your Faith:  Lord, I believe you will guide me in every decision I face. Thank you for giving me your Word to guide me into all truth, prayer to help me connect with you, and Christian brothers and sisters to come alongside me. Most of all, thank you for the Holy Spirit, who lives inside me as my counselor, comforter, and friend. Remind me to seek your will for every decision and forgive me for the times I act independently of you. In Jesus’ name I ask, amen.

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