Where do you get your advice?

Scripture: John 7:3-5

³Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. ⁴No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” ⁵For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

⁶Therefore Jesus told them, “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right.”

Observation: Jesus brothers, who are in the world and of the world at this time, are telling Jesus what they think he should do. There advice, however, comes from their own thinking and is not inspired by God. Jesus knew better.

Application: The right guidance comes from the Lord, not from the minds of men (or women).

Prayer: Dear Lord, you have surrounded me with people whom I seek for counsel. Thank you for putting people in my life who know you and love you and you use to counsel me. Please help me to distinguish, however, the advice which comes from you from the advice that comes purely from man (and woman). Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit and also your Word so that I can determine the truth. Help me to accept only the teachings that come from you and ignore the rest.

*****

There are a lot of advice-givers out there. Some we pay, some we just ask, and some we don’t even ask, but they want to share their opinions anyway.

I have fallen into all of those categories. I haven’t been paid for anything in more than 7 years, though. I can say, however, that I’ve been in the other categories much more recently. And I’ve sought the advice of the first two many times in my life.

Yesterday I had a bad mom day. I let myself get cranky and impatient with my kids and when the last straw fell, I wasn’t very pleasant. I yelled. And I wasn’t very nice.

I thought about blogging about it once I knew I wouldn’t be interrupted, but I was concerned for the advice I might receive. I didn’t want to hear that what I did was okay, that I was being hard on myself and that everyone loses it sometimes.

I needed biblical truth and guidance. No, I am not perfect (and thank you God, for loving me anyway) but I should still strive to be better. To exercise self-control. To show love and gentleness.

As I was yelling at my children for their misbehavior, I could only hear myself and be reminded that I instruct them not to yell, to stay calm and to explain their feelings. And there I was, losing control and showing irritation and yelling. Way to model good behavior, Mom.

Later in the evening I did go to each of my boys and explain that my behavior was not appropriate. I told them what I did wrong and asked for their forgiveness. The sweet boys they are, they both hugged me, told me they forgave me and explained that they understood.

My reading this morning reminded me of where I should go to receive guidance. I think that this guidance can come from prayer, from reading the Bible and meditating on it and also from others who seek the Lord’s guidance, provided I then check it out with God using the first two methods. Wordly advice is just that: Wordly.

I am thankful that the Lord forgives me… and that he forgives me a LOT and that He also sets me on the right path so I can do better next time.

More Prayer: Please, Lord, continue to guide me today. Help me to hear your whispers before I begin to shout. Help me to live out and nurture the fruits of the Spirit as you have shown me in Galatians 5:22-23:

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Thank you for never letting go of me, but instead for continuing to counsel me. Help me to hear and heed your advice alone.

*****

If anyone has any Bible-based guidance or reminders to share, please comment away. I need all the reminders I can get!