Taking It to Work:
In almost any city in the United States, if you want to have a little challenging fun, you can sign up for an Escape Room. For those of you who have never done or heard of it, it is a room that you get locked in, or sometimes its a series of rooms, and you have to find your way out. Now in order to do that, you have to follow clues, signs, rules and sometimes very obscure hints to finally “escape” and win the game before time runs out.
You can do these on your own, but generally you do them in a small group, and everyone works together to figure things out. They are fun, and can really challenge your combined intellect. As a safety, you also have a worker silently watching your team on camera, and you can ask him or her for the next step if you really get stuck.
Escape rooms can have a very strong Christian parallel to some of our work lives. We have a series of objectives to accomplish, usually with others. We move toward the next goals, but there are inevitably challenging situations that arise, decisions that are not so clear cut, and sometimes we can feel stuck in a position or situation that seems like it’s going nowhere. We may confer with others, consult experts, and maybe try some things that don’t work out so good. But like that escape room, we have Someone silently watching, willing to help at any point, but generally not consulted. Even though scripture calls Him our Wonderful Counselor, most of us only consult God when everything else fails.
Today’s scriptures remind us, that we have an all-knowing God, that if we seek and ask for His counsel ahead of time, and follow His leading and timing, we would move through that escape room in record time. Instead of us deciding what we are going to try next, and asking God’s blessing on our efforts, we follow His ideas, His next move, and in that case we don’t even have to pray for blessing, because we know He knows the way.
What obstacle is in your way at work, or in life in general? Where are you just spinning your wheels trying to move forward? Do you want to just continue to rely on yourself, your friends or coworkers for the next move, or do you want integrate some real help into all those opinions?
He that is always watching is waiting. He knows the way. Take your next moves to Him, and see if you can’t escape your challenge in record time, as His Word, works through you today.
Jn 14:26 (ESV) – But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Isaiah 9:6 (ESV) – For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Jer 29:11 (ESV) – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jer 10:23 (ESV) – I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.
Jn 8:12 (ESV) – Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Listening to the Holy Spirit (Rhema):
In seeking. you will find Me. My Spirit leads you to a place unknown. Men direct their path to the known and foreseen, but My Spirit knows a great and final destination that the mind of man cannot conceive, therefore, man does not know the way. My light is only for your next step. The draw may not be what is received. Better along the way it is for those who follow in obedience. They hear My voice and follow in faith, but their reward is greater than their expectation. To those who trust My way, there is no better. As they seek for silver in My name, in a place unexpected they will find more. I know the provision of the earth and the abundance that lies along your path, wealth not of gold and silver, but of brother and sister, and of peace and joy – in the end, reward for those who persevere along the path. Seek me that you would know your direction. Much awaits he who follows the way of the righteous, who listens and obeys when My Spirit speaks. To him there is much hope.
