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(as presented by Lisa Bishop)
In Psalm 16:7-9 the Psalmist declares: “I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure.” You can hear the Psalmist’s unwavering confidence in receiving the counsel and instruction of the Lord. He knows God will guide him!
And notice the reason that the Psalmist is so confident in receiving godly wisdom, why he is not shaken and his flesh dwells secure. The reason he does not waver is because he has set the Lord always before him. And when he sets the Lord before him, when he puts God first and seeks him first, the Psalmist’s heart is glad and his whole being rejoices.
I love how God is so straight forward. How he makes his promises so clear in his Word and the benefits when we obey. James 1:5 instructs us when it says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Where are you relying on your own wisdom when God is inviting you to ask for godly counsel? Where are you putting your confidence in human instruction and not divine guidance?
Maybe you are in the midst of a career transition and up until now you have tried to figure out the next steps on your own. Perhaps you are in a financial crisis or your marriage is in ruin and you are seeking the counsel of friends before putting God first and asking him to instruct you.
If you are a follower of Jesus that means that you received the Holy Spirit the moment you put your confidence in and received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. And Jesus says that his Holy Spirit is your counselor, your guide, your helper, your wisdom. Bring your current circumstance before the Lord, put him first. Resist seeking human advice before seeking the counsel of God. Watch out for ways you misplace your confidence and redirect your trust to Jesus.
Ask him to help you. He is waiting to give to you generously.