We live in a society that is increasingly poopooing the notion of winning a competition or being competitive. This is not going to be an opinion on whether that is an appropriate attitude, but this is most certainly a stand on the truth according to God’s Word. The gray area that everyone loves so much makes people feel comfortable, but it doesn’t cut it when it comes to living according to God’s standard. We either believe His Word and live it or we don’t. He has charged every human being with the responsibility of discerning right from wrong, light from darkness, and good from evil. Jesus Christ contrasts it best in John 10:10(NLT), where he tells us, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” Contrary to what many people would have us to believe, there is a devil; he’s Heavenly Father’s archenemy. His number one mission is to steal, kill, and destroy lives. If we don’t know how to properly discern, we might attribute the destruction that comes from the pit of hell as acts of God, and the loving kindness that comes from heaven as a plot from the devil.

When it comes to competition, there’s a level of compassion and caring in not wanting anyone to feel left out or that their efforts are substandard, but when it comes to the more than abundant life that Jesus Christ has made available, distinction and discernment is a must. God gives us a very important piece of wisdom regarding His Word. In Hebrews 4:12, He tells us that His Word is alive and active, that it’s sharper than a surgeon’s scalpel. It can divide the soul from the spirit and joints from marrow. His Word is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of our hearts. This is beyond razor sharp, and Heavenly Father has given us such a precise and on-point tool because we need it.

We need it because we have an adversary that tries on every hand to rob us of the life that God desires us to have. Heavenly Father will always dream a bigger dream for us than the one we dream for ourselves. He’s rooting for us to live the best life of which we’re capable, but it is important for us to discern the difference between the world’s definition of the best and God’s definition of the best. In many, many cases, these are two very different things.

Proverbs 14:12(NLT) tells us, “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.” Sometimes, we’re all over the map because we’re not clear regarding our purpose or who God wants us to be; we’re not clear about the direction to take in life. This is a vulnerability that the enemy can use against us. One of the ways he does this is by sending situations and people into our lives that look like the blessing we desire, but they aren’t. We are sometimes tricked this way because we haven’t learned to discern, or because we don’t wait for God’s green light.

Jesus Christ told us in Matthew 6:33 to seek God and His righteousness before we do anything else. Before we take that first step, we need to consult with the Father for guidance and direction. The answer from Him isn’t always on the double. Our patience and endurance to wait on the Father is absolutely essential, because He will never lead us astray. His blessings bring peace, wholeness, love, and rest for our souls. Whenever any of His yummies are missing, the light is still red.

As we sharpen the tool of discernment, we need to be patient, because God will show us what is best for our individual journeys. Romans 8:28 says that He causes all things to work together for the good of those that love Him and are called according to His purpose. There’s a synchronization to our lives when our hearts are set on pleasing God and doing what He asks. Don’t make the mistake of veering off the path He’s laid before you. Ask for God’s help and wait for His green light before you act on decisions and choices. He loves you, and will direct you on the best path for your life if you’ll allow Him. ■

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

“Wait on God’s Green Light” written by Fran for DomesticAbuseAwareness.Org ©2018. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!