12-20-24-DAILY READING-ENG.

EXPERIENCING THE SPIRIT

                                     RELATIONSHIP IS THE KEY

Here again we must emphasize this truth: the relationship is the key. You must know Christ well enough that you already know your answer before He tells you the assignment. The more you know Him, the more the answer to any assignment will be “Yes, Lord.” And if you have a heart of ready obedience, He has a freedom to come to you with any assignment, knowing you'll respond. Your relationship will bring confidence that God knows what He's doing, and it will give you the ability to trust Him. We must never look first at ourselves, our abilities, and our desires to determine whether we'll obey or not. He is our Lord! If we don't have a heart of obedience, He may choose not to show us His will.

 For if we knew His will yet still chose not to obey, it would be far better not to have known at all. His mercy withholds the revelation of His will until we're ready to obey. Every time we choose to disobey His clear direction, a hardness comes over our hearts. But when our hearts are prepared to obey, the Holy Spirit has absolute freedom to lead us on in the exciting adventure of following God. God is always looking upon the heart. So if you're having a hard time hearing from God about His assignment, perhaps He knows your heart isn't ready to respond. That's what God is waiting for—a heart that's surrendered and ready to obey before you ever hear Him speak. Are you ready for God to reveal His assignment in your life? Any assignment? Are you prepared to say yes before you know what He'll ask? That may be the key to knowing and doing the will of God. Your heart must be convinced that He is God and He is Lord.