Yesterday was 9th October, Independence day for our dear Uganda, the pearl of Africa. Yes. Winston, I agree with you. Independence, something that we usually fight for. We speak up about our rights because we would love the freedom to make our own decisions, wrong as they may be, atleast they will be ours.
I attend an amazing "bible study" every monday night. I say "bible study" because we do not always show up, say hi and turn our bibles to this book, chapter this and that. Don't get me wrong, we do study just not in the conventional way. It is in this bible study that I have met some of the most amazing people I will ever have the previlage of knowing for as long as I shall live. A little while back, we got a visitor. A one Fredrick who had just moved with his wife and 2 year old son as missionaries to Uganda from the United States. Why? God told him to. I have been relating with God for sometime and yet I still find myself in awe of the concept of direct instruction from God; about everyday things. However, over the course of a couple of weeks, I noticed that this is how he lived his life. Fredrick asks God about anything and everything. Selah. (Take a moment, pause and reflect) He even asked God the exact day, their unborn child would come into the world.
The past month or so has been quite different for me. I work for a consultancy and we are in a boom period, the blessings of God in terms of work coming in have just set camp in our office. We are grateful for the gift of work, thank you father. This however meant being busier than usual and often times feeling super exhausted. A few other things were happening outside of work and I felt like there was too much noise in my head. Too many decisions to make that carried a high risk with them. Thoughts like
"What if I totally blow it?" or "I just am not good enough" were regulars in my mind. Needless to say, I have been restless.
Yesterday, I attended a worship afternoon hosted by Seventh Harmony. As I sat there, listening to beautiful people make beautiful music with their mouths, I just couldn't believe my luck, that I knew, in person, people who sound that good. One of the members shared about God being the good Shepherd and his sheep knowing his voice. Wow. Another shared about the steps of the righteous being ordered by the Lord. Double wow.
"That used to be one of my favourite scriptures" I whispered to my neighbour, "It has just occured to me that it has been a while since I quoted, let alone remembered or meditated upon its significance"
I have been restless because I've had so many variables to look at. I had so many decisions to make. There were quite a number of paths and I had to decide whether I should choose one and go or simply just stay. I have felt overwhelmed by the feeling of helplessness at certain situations yet at the same time feeling like I ought to be able to do something. Like I said, too much noise in my head. But as I sang along to hymns and sweet songs that took me back to school fellowships, I was reminded that God loves me. He wants to be involved in my life. I do not have to do this all by myself.
"But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you." John 14:26 Amplified
Counselor, according to Microsoft word, some of the synonyms for this word are Therapist and social worker but allow me to refer to what I think is the origin of this word, counsel. A counselor, one who gives counsel. Therapists, are not taught to give you solutions but rather to help you think through whatever the issue is and find your own solutions. The holy-spirit however, is more than that. He gives counsel. He tells us exactly what to do, when to do it and how to do it. He sees the end from the beginning but everyday as it happens as well. He knows which paths are dropping with fatness and which route is best. He knows what you were created to do because He knows what He put in you to do that. God wants you to know. He does not delight in my restlessness.
Over the past couple of days, I have been reminded of this. My father's desire to be ever present in all I do. But more so, my need to surrender, to be sheep that allows to be led by a shepherd, listening for his voice, his direction. To let Him lead me by still waters. Papa knows best and from Papa, I choose to take my counsel.
