Greetings from Fort Worth, TX where I pray this letter finds you in good spirits and full of the joy of the Lord.
I want to place a group of verses here for you to read and meditate on. I believe they will bring some new insight to what I know the Lord is speaking to us in this season.
Proverbs 3:5-8 (TPT) It reads, “Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on Him to guide you, and He will lead you in every decision you make. 6 Become intimate with Him (Here the AMPC says, “In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him…”) in whatever you do, and He will lead you wherever you go. 7 Don’t think for a moment that you know it all, for wisdom comes when you adore Him with undivided devotion and avoid everything that’s wrong.
8 Then you will find the healing refreshment your body and spirit long for.”
First, I want you to realize in these verses that it’s not just a suggested spiritual GPS for life but a command to respond to a spoken word that has been given from the Father that brings refreshment both physically and spiritually. Let me explain with an example from my experience flying airplanes.
In aviation, you are the pilot in command (PIC) of the aircraft you are manning. As you approach the aircraft you are solely responsible to inspect it and ensure it is airworthy. You check that the body is sound and that vital fluids such as oil and fuel are good and adequate. We should approach our lives in the same manner.
Once inside the aircraft you follow the checklist to start the plane, and then turn on the radios for communication. Communication is one of the most important parts of aviation.
As the PIC you are expected to check the weather, and other key information concerning your current location, and the airspace, which is the vast mass of space above you and along your route of flight. You also must check the condition and environment of your destination.
This information gives you a good idea of what to expect for your flight. You have a general idea, but you do not have the big picture. The airport tower and Air Traffic Control (ATC) on the other hand does. These two entities are in contact with each other concerning your flight. In other words, you have a part to play and so do the controllers. It’s a partnership.
Before you even move from your parked position, you check the local weather again, and then, don’t miss this, you contact the tower.
The reason for this is that the tower is aware of all movement at the airport and is ready to guide you to the active runway for take-off. Once in the air, the tower will give you permission to transfer from its radio frequency to the ATC frequency of that area, which then will lead you to your next checkpoint and ultimately your desired destination.
Here is what I want you to see, neither the tower operator nor ATC is in control of your aircraft or its condition, you are. Remember you are the PIC! Due to your limited vision of your surroundings, including other airplanes in the area, there is a need to contact these parties and keep constant communication with them, to have faith, if you will, in them and what they know.
One of the most important areas in aviation as a pilot is communication followed by understanding. Proverbs 3:6 (TPT) says, “To become intimate with Him…” refers to this type of relationship, a dialog. In addition, after every command that is given by the tower or ATC the pilot is to acknowledge the command by responding. Let me give you an example of a command given to a pilot flying a plane.
ATC: “63405 maintain 3000 on heading 090 till established, cleared to land ILS 17.”
Pilot: “Maintain 3000, heading 090 till established, cleared to land ILS 17, 63405”
Although this seems redundant, the acknowledgment from the pilot lets the controller know that his command was given, understood, and executed by the aviator. This type of procedure ensures avoidance of other aircraft and a safe arrival to the destination.
To acknowledge God is not to simply turn your attention to Him, although this is part of the process it’s not all of it. Acknowledging God is to know that He has spoken and released His word into your situation and that you heard it and acted upon it. The fact that you are breathing right now is an indication that God speaks, for man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. This evidence requires your acknowledgment.
My question for you is this. God is speaking guidance to lead and direct your every step and decision, are you acknowledging Him? Not just agreeing or knowing that He has spoken but acknowledging His word by responding in word and deed. To acknowledge is not just to say, “Yes Lord, I hear you, but is to take what was spoken and as the PIC of your aircraft/life make the altitude and heading adjustments to align your will or plane with the will of the Father/ATC. This is how we arrive safely and on time to our destinies.
Jesus was a great example of this as we know He only spoke what He heard the Father say, and only did what He saw the Father do. This is acknowledging the Father.