PUSH BUTTONS
Perspective: Trust or Take a Chance?
Have you ever told a driver, “Please just follow the best route, thanks!” but were too stunned to speak when he actually took the best route because it wasn’t what you expected? You had to remove your headphones and glasses to understand and hear clearly. Suddenly, your level of trust dropped at that moment. This is how we sometimes treat the Holy Spirit.
Before we go into some explanations, let’s take a look at Romans 8:14;
As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
This passage signifies growth — from being a babe to becoming a son through the leadership of the Spirit. Speaking of sons and being led, let’s look at Matthew 4:1;
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
The first part of this verse almost feels strange at first read — like, I trust You, Lord, but You are leading me to be tempted? What did I do? Can I know my offence? Respectfully speaking.
But ladies and gentlemen, Christians of this generation and the next, I loveeee to break it to you — you have to be led as a Christian! It’s part of your spiritual training — it’s a process, and there’s no skipping it!
You cannot lead yourself by yourself for two key reasons (among others).
- You cannot search your own heart. Jeremiah 17:10 says;
I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.
2. Your heart is naturally deceitful. Jeremiah 17:9 says;
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
The earlier you understand this, the better — for you, your destiny, and the souls you are meant to win.
Now, having understood this.
Picture this, if you are led by the Spirit, without knowing the full context, not knowing when or what kind of temptation will come — would you pass the test when the time comes, or would you fail?
If you do fail, who will you blame?
- Yourself, for refusing to grow and be led?
- Or the Holy Spirit, who provides wisdom and discernment?
I know we are in the season of the flow, but have you grown enough to go with the flow when it comes to God leading you? Can you trust Him blindly?
Are you the kind of Christian who always gives God clauses when He gives you missions? Like, “God, You suppose understand nau…” before deciding if you’ll accept it. (Agent Code Name: “God, You Suppose Understand”)
Back to Matthew 4 — we all know what happened after Jesus overcame His temptations, right? Amazing stuff! If you read that story from the end to the beginning, you would want to be led. You know why? Because you have perspective now! You have seen the bigger picture! You have seen how it ends.
This is the whole point of this write-up — you cannot see everything as it happens, so why not trust the One who has seen the past, is in the present, and sees the future? What are you so worried and anxious about? The bigger picture is somewhere in the future, so relax, cast your cares, and let Him lead you.
God wants us to see things, trust Him, and follow Him — no manipulation tactics, no games, no complaints — just full-grown trust, regardless of what our five senses naturally want to perceive, regardless of what the environment is saying.
Just in case you think His sight doesn’t cover you, this is what He said about you before you were even born;
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”— Jeremiah 29:11
This is a reminder in this season of generosity and love.
Be generous with your five senses — let God lead you.
Don’t be stubborn.
Remember whose perspective matters the most!
Cheers!
Emmanuel Ayeni
Push Buttons is a weekly devotional of The Powerpoint Tribe.
