Proverbs 4:13 “Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.”

Instructions are God’s tool for guiding us towards success and progress. They are directions from God to believers. 

There are over 1,050 commands in the New Testament for Christians to obey. They cover every phase of man’s life in his relationship to God and his fellowmen, now and hereafter. However, if neglected, dire consequences can ensue. 

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Psalms 32:8. 

The instructions of God cannot be overestimated in the life of a believer. If God does not instruct us and teach us the right way to live our lives as believers, we will end up following the wrong path, and as scriptures warn, ‘there is a way that seems right to a man but ends in destruction’.

Unfortunately, many Christians go about their daily lives without thinking about what God wants them to do. They speak and act without first seeking God’s approval. Though this may appear to be a cool thing to do, it is actually an act of rebellion in and of itself. Let us use the earthly family as an instance; when a child living in his father’s house lives as he wants without bothering to know the opinions of his father, such child cannot be considered as wise.

However, this is how many have been living! God has no say in their job; He has no say in their relationships; He has no say in their habits etc. As believers, we can’t afford to live outside God’s instruction. We are only safe in God’s instructions!

How can one receive and obey instructions from God? 

1. Study and meditate on God’s word daily.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and training in righteousness.” – 1 Timothy 3:16.

Taking just a few minutes each day to read what is in the Word will give you insight into how to live as a believer. Thus, make studying God’s word your habit. It ought to be the first and last thing you read each day.

2. Obey the common instructions you know.

Until we obey the general instructions in scriptures such as praying, fasting, being honest etc. it will be difficult for us to receive unique instructions from God.

3. Be Attentive

“Apply your heart to instruction, And your ears to words of knowledge.” Proverbs 23:12. 

A wise man once said God is speaking, but few are listening. A lot of times, God doesn’t speak in the loud and forceful way one would expect from a ruler. Instead, He speaks gently. Hence, Solomon admonishes us to tune our ears to His words.

The question the believer must ask himself is not ‘Is God speaking’, but ‘Am I listening to what God is saying?’

Nwodo Divine

We must align the ears of our mind and eyes to what God is saying. This means in every situation, location or circumstance you find yourself, you have to be conscious that God is with you and He could have something to tell you.

4. Habitual prayer:

Prayer helps us our stay aligned to hear from God.

We must pray like David;

“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.” Psalm 119:18-20. 

Folk, God won’t speak until we ask. Prayer makes God’s instructions more accessible and applicable. Moreover, It is on the strength of prayer we receive the ability to obey God’s instructions.

Bible Verses about Benefits of Instructions

 1. Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. Proverbs 12:1. 

A man who doesn’t love instructions doesn’t love his life.

2. He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth. Proverbs 10:17. 

 

Conclusively, God’s instructions are to profit us and are not a punishment to us. They are not chains that keep us bound, rather, they are guides that pushes us into the fullness of God’s purpose for our lives. Purpose in your heart to always ask God for His say in your life and decisions.

This article was written by GreenHills Emmanuel.