Prayer of guidance: Beginning a week in prayer.

Our loving Father, is not bound by space or time. He is omni-potent and He is omni-present. There is wisdom in asking Him to go before us in our life situations and there is humility in surrendering to His plans. One lesson, I have learnt the hard way is not to ask God for His opinion only when I think that it is important for me to do so. but to submit everything to Him, even those things that appear insignificant. You will be amazed at things you will begin to see and hear, as He honors your request by directing your path.

A few months ago, I was invited to join a bible study group. At, the time, I did not know that it was a cult group. During the first few weeks, the teachings were based on parables that Jesus taught. Nothing was amiss. I never bothered to ask God if He thought I should join this fringe group. As a matter of fact my spirit was reluctant but I thought it was probably my flesh speaking so I kept asking God to give me the strength to attend all bible study meetings.

One day, I was invited to attend an in-person fellowship meeting in Birmingham. The night before this trip, I asked God to protect me on my way going there and on my way coming back home. In the morning, I had an unusual sharp abdominal pain which caused me to miss my departure train from Warwick. This pain was unusual because it was a kind of pain that I had never experienced before. Not severe but somewhat so discomforting that I could hardly stand. As I was trying to recover from this, I was contemplating staying at home. I picked up my phone to inform the bible study review teacher that I would not be able to make it. She insisted that I had to take the next train and attend regardless. Normally, her conduct would have been a red flag but I ignored it. I went ahead, bought a new train ticket and literally dragged my self to Birmingham. By the time, I got there, the abdominal pain had disappeared. We fellowshipped, prayed, played games, took photos and ate together.

On the very next day, I requested for the photographs of the previous day for my own records and the review teacher refused to give them to me citing some data privacy concerns. She gave a similar excuse concerning the sharing of learning material. The reasons, she gave at the time did not make sense to me and my alarm bells started ringing at this point. Why take photos anyway if the intention was not to share them I thought? Who was keeping these photos and for what purposes? Why were they cagey about their doctrine and learning materials ? I knew there and then that something was amiss.

That same evening, as if to confirm my worst fears, a strange topic about, the "one true pastor" who they perceived to be Christ in the Second coming was introduced which is contrary to the teaching of gospel of Christ. The bible clearly states in 1 Timothy 2:5, that there is only one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ. He, gave a warning in Mathew 24:23 that if anyone says to you, "look here is the Messiah! or 'There he is! do not believe". When Jesus , comes for His bride, the church, on the Lord's day, everyone will know that He has come. The word says, in Matthew 24:27, "Just like the lightning comes from East to West , so will be the coming of the Son of Man". His second coming will not be a secret. Be warned, stay away from someone claiming to be Christ in any shape or form and anyone who is secretive about their teachings. Like the Berean Jews, be of noble character, show yourself approved before the Lord by receiving the word eagerly and examining the scriptures daily to see if the teachings you have received are true.

In my story, I was convinced that I was in the right place, doing the right things but when I asked God to guide me eventually, He then showed me the hidden things that I was not aware of. The moral of the story is that we need to watch and pray without ceasing. Every decision you make, big or small, ask God first what He thinks about it. He will undoubtedly, guide your steps and reveal hidden things to you. I have attached a prayer of guidance below to help you ask God for guidance this week as you go about your business.

Read Isaiah 30:21, Isaiah 58:11, John 14:26, John 16:13. Proverbs 16:9, Psalm 32:8, Philippians 2:13 and Psalms 91:10 for scriptural understanding.

Prayer:

Dearest Father, I submit this week into your loving hands. I pray that you will guide every footstep that I make. Whether I turn left or right, I pray that I will hear your voice behind me, telling me which way, I should go. I pray that I will be like a well watered garden wherever you have planted me. I pray that the advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom you have sent will teach me all things and remind me of what you have said in your word. I pray that He, the Spirit of Truth, will guide me into all truths and tell me of things to come. I may have made plans in my own capacity as a human being but it is only you who can establish my steps.

All through this week, Father, may you teach me and instruct me in the way I must go. May you guide me with your loving eye. Though I may stumble, I will not fall, because you Lord, my protector will uphold me with your hand. I pray that your angels will go before me, to guard me along the way, to connect me to people and places that you have prepared for me according to your good, pleasing and perfect will. As I walk through this journey of life, please fortify my mind against the lies and deceptions of the enemy. Guide my footsteps with your word and let no sin reign over my life. For it is you Father, who works in me to will, and to act in order to fulfill your purpose. Your plans loving Father, are meant to prosper me and not to harm me. They are plans to give me a hope and a future. Let your Devine will in my life be done in Jesus mighty name. I pray.

Amen.