Remove the Roadblocks

Proverbs 16:9 teaches that we can all make our plans, but in the end, it’s God who establishes our steps. As you look back over your life, you will notice that things did not work out exactly as you planned. Through all the ups and downs of life, you will find a silver thread—the hand of God moving things around to accomplish his purpose.

When you place your faith in Jesus Christ, the Spirit of Jesus comes to live in your heart. The Holy Spirit serves as your guide, drawing you and directing you into the center of God’s will for your life

God doesn’t treat you as a robot, directing you to eat a particular food for lunch or wear a certain pair of shoes to work. Instead, God treats you as a son or daughter. He reveals his moral will through the Bible, and he guides you into his specific will through the daily direction of the Holy Spirit.

Christian maturity and spiritual growth require that you learn to prefer God’s plan over your plan. If a wrestling match over who has control is constantly taking place inside of you, then God’s best for your life will often be compromised. But as you trust his plan and rest in the truth that God is a good Father, his purpose for your life will unfold.

This leads us to our third habit: obey the daily promptings of the Holy Spirit. 

Habit 3 teaches us to live every day surrendered and open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, following his promptings and direction. As we learn to follow the leading of the Spirit, we grow in compassion and awareness of others. The Holy Spirit stretches our love and makes us more like Christ!

Read Colossians 1:22–23 aloud. What word or phrase stands out to you in this passage? 

Scripture tells us that because of the cross, the believer is now holy in God’s sight, without blemish, and free from accusation. What do these phrases mean to you? How have they impacted the way you see God? How have they affected the way you see yourself? 

According to verse 23, these attributes are true if you continue in faith. Acceptance before God is not dependent on your perfect obedience or your impressive moral record. Instead, it is dependent on whether you believe! How does this truth personally impact your relationship with God

Shame is the greatest roadblock to hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit. If you believe that God rejects you, then his voice becomes almost impossible to hear. How would your life look different if you believed and acted on Colossians 1:22–23? Memorize these verses and ask God to break the power of shame over your life.