Our guidance system (part 3)

In part 1 we saw that the “primary circuit” of the guidance system God has equipped us with is comprised of our own heart, mind and will. Then in part 2 we saw that, as a result of sin entering the human race, God introduced His written word in order to counteract the effects of sin in the heart, mind and will of man. Through following the principles and commands found in God’s word, fallen mankind could to a large extent reverse the damage that was done to the “primary circuit” of his guidance system.

This process of the Word of God reversing the damage done by sin is referred to in psalm 19:7 as “restoring the soul.” David referred to this same process again in Psalm 23:3, saying “He restores my soul, he guides me in the paths of righteousness.” This same process of “restoring our soul” through the Word of God is referred to several times in the New Testament as well. In James 1:21 we are told to “receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.” And in Romans 12:2 Paul admonishes us not to be conformed to this world, but to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

But even though the stories, teachings, principles and commands found in the written word of God all have a powerful restoring effect in the soul of man, they alone are not enough to reverse the damage done by sin. It was for this reason that God made the New Covenant. Through the New Covenant God has provided a way for us to have our old corrupted guidance system not only counteracted by His written word but actually replaced with a brand new one, made in the image and likeness of God.

Many New Testament passages show us that, through the new birth, mankind is literally regenerated by the power of God – born again of the Spirit of God, made in the image and likeness of God’s own divine nature. (John 3:6, Ephesians 4:24, Titus 1:5, 2 Peter 2:4) Through the new birth God effectively “re-wired” the “primary circuit” of our on-board guidance system by both giving us a “new heart” as well as putting his own nature in us in the form of the Holy Spirit. Now, as a result of the new birth and the infilling of the Holy Spirit, together with the continual transforming effect of the Word of God in our soul, we can again begin to trust the guidance of our own heart and mind.

Because of this, when we encounter situations where we find ourselves needing guidance, our first and natural tendency should be to “do what is in our heart” (1 Chronicles 17:2) because we know that God is “with us” in the form of His Holy Spirit in us. And as we continue to “renew our minds” and “restore our souls” by meditating on the commands and principles in God’s word, God will continue to guide us in the “paths of righteousness” by means the on-board guidance system which he put inside of us. For most of our everyday life decisions, this combination of the Holy Spirit and word of God within us is all we will need to walk in God’s guidance.

If you are a Christian seeking to walk in the guidance of God today, remember that He is the one who created you in His own image and likeness, and intended for you to be able to make decisions based on the leading of your heart, mind and will. And as you ask him to lead you and guide you in “right paths,” remember the internal guidance system that he has already put within you, and begin to trust its leading. You may very well find that walking in God’s guidance is as near as your own heart and mind!

In part 4, we will begin to explore some of the other ways God guides us when the primary and secondary “circuits” of our guidance system are either insufficient for the decision we are facing, or might otherwise lead us out of the perfect will of God.