“And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” (Isaiah 2:11)

When God instructed me to drive across America I was pretty sure He was kidding me. I wasn’t totally healed and logic told me the trip was a bad idea. But God kept nudging me and of course I made the journey. God protected me very mile, all 8,500 of them. Had I listened to my own reason, I would have not taken the trip; I would not have obeyed God’s instruction. I would have missed out on all of the gifts I received while I traveled. We have to be ready and willing to hear God’s word and to obey. We must be willing to put reason and logic away if it stands between us and God.

When we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us, we often have to ignore man’s measure of success. I didn’t earn one penny on my trip. In fact, I sometimes slept in the van I rented because I couldn’t afford lodging. To some, the trip would be considered a waste of time and resources. But I touched the lives of the people that God put in my path. I gave them hope. I prayed with them. I ministered to them in the ways God instructed me. When we are obedient to the Holy Spirit, we trust that God’s plan is all the success we need.

Proverbs 3:5 instructs us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” When we rely on our own reasoning, we put ourselves first. Making decisions based on our own reasoning can backfire. We may miss out on the plans God has to prosper us. (Jeremiah 29:11) Had I listened to my own voice of reason, and not allowed the Holy Spirit to work in my life and lead me, I would have missed a life changing journey.

F.R.O.G. Practice: Listen carefully to what the Holy Spirit is instructing you to do. Don’t let your own reasoning and understanding stand between you and God. Be obedient and trust that God will use you to His glory.