Do you remember the TV game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
I used to watch contestants answer several multiple-choice questions that increased in difficulty as the game progressed.
In their time of need and moments of uncertainty, contestants were not left alone when they were stuck on a question.
They had lifelines.
There are two lifelines I remember contestants using, Ask the Audience and Phone a Friend.
In what may have appeared to be a great incentive, these lifelines brought added stress to some contestants.
Soliciting advice from others meant that there was a chance they, too, did not know the correct answer. Caught between other people’s opinions, added pressure sometimes led contestants to make the wrong decision, leading to a loss.
Who do you depend on when you are facing a difficult situation? Is a relative, close friend, counselor, or mentor your first line of defense?
In 1 Samuel 30:8, David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”
David’s first stop during a time of uncertainty was to seek God’s guidance on what to do next.
He really did not have much to choose from because some of the people around him wanted to stone him, and he couldn’t call on his family because they had been abducted.
As our great Defender, God is always willing to direct us when we seek Him. Nicole, The King’s Daughter
“What is one to do when it seems as though you are distant in their time of distress?”
On March 13, 2020, this was a question I asked God during my prayer time.
I patiently waited for a response. Within several minutes I had a vision of Psalm 118 written in a cloud.
Not wasting any time, I located the passage of scripture and began reading the chapter.
My jaw dropped when I read the fifth verse. It says…
“I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.”
Drawing from David’s life and personal experience, I discovered that when we use our spiritual lifelines, whether it is prayer, faith, or God’s Word, we get…
- Strategies on how to move forward through pain, grief, and heartache. The strategy may involve a pastor, mentor, or friend to help navigate various phases of our life.
- The right word to minister to our needs at that very moment. God’s Word helps us to look at situations from His viewpoint and bring us to a greater hope than what the world can offer.
- Repositioned from focusing on our problems to directing our attention on the One who can help us in our time of need.
Which one of the spiritual lifelines will you use today to help you in your time of need: prayer, your faith in who God is, or His Word?
There is nothing wrong with seeking wise counsel, encouragement from someone you trust or getting someone’s input regarding making a decision.
Can we both agree, though?
There are times when the people we are comfortable sharing life’s challenges with are not always available when we need them most?
Christ is the Ultimate Lifeline for all mankind. His life-saving grace is ready to guide us in all seasons.
If you find yourself stuck, whatever that looks like for you, use your spiritual lifelines so you can progress in your purpose and do the things God placed you on the earth to do.
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I loved that, I choose to ask my spiritual life line, Christ Jesus Himself.
Great food for thought
I am so glad you enjoyed the post. Thank you for sharing your response.
Where do I even begin? In many ways, this was very personal to me. I was unsure whether or not I had heard God and whether or not I had made the right Godly decision. I asked God to show me something to help me keep doing what I believe he told me to do in this season. I am overjoyed to have a spiritual lifeline. Thank you for spreading this message.
You are welcome. I am grateful this devotion helped confirm that you are exactly where God wants you to be in this season. Thank you for sharing your response to this post.