Dear Friends,

On the threshold of another new year, the road of life stretches before us, both as individuals and as a church. We may have some idea where we want it to lead or expect it to go, but really we do not know; and even when we make plans and carry out actions, we still do not have overall control of the future.

Our Message for 1992, which appears at the beginning of this letter, leads us to the sure way of traveling the right road in the future. God is the only one who can safely lead us, and also keep us in the right way, for the right way is the way of his purpose. The words of Proverbs 3 v 5,6 appreciate this by giving us three constant practical actions and attitudes by which to live every day and every moment of each day. If we live in this recommended way, God will direct our paths.

The assurance is not simply that God will tell us where to go and what to do next; but that he will make sure we do travel down that road, and will supply all our needs for that journey of life. It assures us of God’s presence in the road of life. He will direct our paths, not just by occasional instruction, but by constant guidance by his continual presence.

As Christians we have the Lord with us all the time. Jesus said he would never leave us or forsake us. But we can so live, and so think and act, that we are not listening to or hearing God’s direction, but really following our own. These three instructions tell us how we may be sensitive to God’s direction, and be in such a position and condition of mind and heart that we do not miss any word God may give.

Nor can we obey one direction and neglect the other two. The three instructions hang together. Although I have placed the first in bold type, we certainty will not be able to trust in the Lord with all our hearts, unless we can cease to trust and follow our own preconceived ideas and goals. Neither will we be able to trust in the Lord with all our heart, if we are not acknowledging God’s Lordship everyday in every little detail of our lives.

I will be preaching on these two verses on the second Sunday morning in January (not the first because this is a Family Service), and at that time will be seeking to guide us all into fuller understanding of Proverbs 3 v 5,6. The purpose of this letter is to set the scene for that sermon, with some preliminary general points. I do hope that you will all be present in Church on the second Sunday morning in January.

One of the biggest problems in living is being honest with ourselves, and facing the real motives behind our thoughts and actions. Our traveling down the road of life is only too often hampered by self deception and self desire, which prevents us hearing God’s directions. To overcome this we need to be constantly looking into the mirror of God’s word, which exposes all thoughts of the heart for what they truly are. Also we need to be obedient, whatever the cost, to what the Holy Spirit says to us in His word.

The call in Proverbs 3 v 5.6 is a little frightening, at least to our fallen human nature, because it calls for total submission, surrender and obedience to Jesus in everything. It is to allow Him into every compartment of our lives, giving Him total control. It is frightening because we give up the right and possibility in the future of saying no.

As I write, the leaders of the European Community are deliberating at Maastricht. Great Britain’s reservations seem to be precisely in this direction. Mr. Major does not want to sign a treaty which commits Britain to laws and directives in the future which we will have no control over. I believe this to be right in the case of the Common Market, because the European Community is run by people who are fallible, human and prone to sin. Our surrender to God, however, is the only wise arid safe thing to do, because in doing so we are putting ourselves into the care of one who, if obeyed, will cause us to live above the folly of mankind.

Our trust in the Lord needs to be total. Sometimes this trust will lead us where things are painful for us, or where, like God’s direction to Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, obedience is totally against the grain, as well as very painful. Yet Abraham found obedient trust to be the true way.

May I encourage you to take these verses to heart, meditate on them daily, and seek grace to live by them, so that God’s direction upon us all individually and together as a Church at St. Paul’s, may bring us safely on the true path of life in 1992.

Your servant for Christ sake,