Need instruction or counsel for 2016? Seek God!

Need instruction or counsel for 2016? Seek God!

Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie

Copyright

In fall of 2008, I was given a framed scripture that has impacted my life and has been a constant source of stability since that time. It was given to me just a few weeks before my late husband was diagnosed with a rare disease and reminded me in the uncertain days I faced, that God would direct me step-by-step. Recently, I encountered a few challenging weeks and, once again, this scripture was my anchor.“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” Psalms 32:8 (NIV) 

As we enter a new year, it is comforting to know that God will instruct us, teach us, counsel and watch over us, as we seek Him. I have my plans, goals and dreams for 2016 and, yet, I have lived long enough to know that things do not always turn out the way I want them to. Nevertheless, I have a security and someone I can depend on and his name is Jesus. My job is to look to him, seek him, listen and trust.

A few weeks ago, I had just finished a big fundraising event for work and was dealing with all the paper work when my youngest son called to visit before he boarded a plane to Paris, France for work. Even if he is 6-feet, 4-inches, he is still my baby. I told him I loved him and would be praying for him, only to find out later that evening about the terrorist attacks in the city he was flying into. Needless to say, I prayed a little more intensely upon hearing that news.
Five days later, my daughter called from the emergency room and her two-year-old had broken his arm playing on the playground. Days before, she had been in the same emergency room with her two-month-old that had a high fever. Once again, I prayed and committed my kids and grandkids to the Lord.
 At this same time, I was also preparing for a grand opening of a building project I had been working on for the past four years and was in the middle of moving to the new BCFS Hill Country Resource Center. This was also a busy time for me at work, as I was overseeing 10 Christmas appeals for the different cities I work with so things were quite hectic. As I was unpacking boxes, I received another call from my daughter, “Mom, I need you to pray, we are in the ER again with Truett and a team of 15 just surrounded him. His blood sugar is sky high, and they are moving him to ICU,” she said. We were unaware, at the time, that this little boy was a Type 1 Diabetic.
As I pondered the words I heard and tried to think of what to do next, I remembered Jesus came to this earth as the prince of peace, and I had a God-given right to walk in peace in any situation. I knew I needed to go to Houston and help my daughter and son-in-law in this crisis as they had a two-year-old in ICU and a new baby that could not be in the hospital room with them.
“Lord, how am I going to meet my deadlines, prepare for the grand opening in three days, unpack my office and take care of those I love?” I prayed as I packed my suitcase. And there it was, sitting on my dresser: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” Peace flooded my heart and I knew I could not figure it all out, but that God would show me step-by-step. Once again, this scripture anchored my soul in a trying time and my job was to seek, listen, trust and walk in the peace God provides in times of crisis.
The rest of the story is, a few days later, the boxes were unpacked, the grand opening went well, my grandson was released from the hospital, my son was safe, but still in France and God was once again faithful to instruct, teach, counsel and watch over me.
I challenge you as you enter 2016 to write out Psalm 32:8, put it where you can see it, and let it be your guide into the new year. Whatever you face, I have no doubt that God will instruct you as you walk with him, teach and counsel you as you look to him, and watch over you.

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