John Rampton, an American businessman once remarked: “Empowerment isn't a buzzword among leadership gurus. It's a proven technique where leaders give their teams the appropriate training, tools, resources, and guidance to succeed.” John 16:13 confirms: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
Guidance is defined as advice or information aimed at resolving a problem or difficulty, especially as given by one in authority. It can include direction, teaching, counseling, enlightenment, suggestions and commandments.
Guidance often forms a principal part of early life. Good parents not only love their descendants and bring them up with care, but also hope to guide them towards a correct pathway or course in life. This purposeful act could encourage growth. Growth could be considered as an increase in knowledge which can lead to empowerment. Empowerment, which often incorporates the inner strength or resilience of a person, is generally the resultant factor from teaching but, can also be granted by God. It does not always require dependence of another human, it can, on occasions, be self-generated through learning. This may be critical when we have no one else to guide us. Prayer to God in this case for guidance can provide the required element of learning by taking heed of His advice by whatever method He chooses to communicate.
Dutiful parents have a significant role in life to guide their offspring. Sometimes it is hard and meets opposition. Often children believe that they know best. It is their life and the acceptance or rejection of advice or guidance from others is their prerogative and nobody else’s. Even in adulthood, the same may apply to a certain degree. God may want us to follow a particular path to achieve a specific goal, but we may feel that it is not really for us, so we reject it and go our own particular way only to find it requested again at a later time. Persistence is His fortitude, just as a child may eventually succumb and see sense in the advice given. We need to be aware that there are many instances in life when we should reach out to another for the appropriate guidance and support.
However, we should remember that God’s power is constantly at work within us. His aims for us to succeed in a given direction should be accepted with grace and never be rejected. It is for a definitive rightful purpose. It can help to provide strength of character, self-confidence and the power to control one’s own life. Despite the fact that it may be considered as God’s will and not necessarily as our own, it can lead to a beneficial and fruitful life if we follow it. 2 Corinthians 12:9 reminds us: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Guidance does not stop when adolescence is reached, it continues onwards throughout life. Knowledge and understanding continue to grow and can provide an additional form of direction that will suggest a path in life that is beneficial. God is constantly by our side to lead us by the hand through the troubled waters of life if we earnestly seek His help and advice.
Ezekiel 34:12-13 reminds us: “As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country.”
A tortoise is defined as a slow-moving typically herbivorous land reptile, usually of warm climates, enclosed in a scaly or leathery domed shell into which it can retract its head and thick legs. A story is told of an elderly but wise tortoise, who lived in the large garden of a cottage situated in a West Sussex village.
It is unusual for a tortoise to successfully live in the so-called outdoor wilderness of a British village, due to the fact that they regularly require warmth and the British weather does not guarantee that. However, Matthew 7:7-11 confirms “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” This tortoise had obviously dug itself out of its safe home garden environment where it had previously lived as a loved pet in the comfort of a heated building.
This particular garden had been its main habitat for some time. Within the garden was a fertile vegetable plot with copious amounts of assorted crops. Towards the boundary at the end of the plot, was an overgrown area of bramble, weeds and grass which provided warmth, shelter and an element of security for the creature.
On a particular day, the elderly tortoise was joined by a young rabbit that had recently left the burrow in search of adventure. The garden seemed an ideal place to explore. In the garden were a number of pear trees that had dropped ripened pears to the ground. These appeared appealing to the young rabbit who felt hungry and desired to try one. However, the wise tortoise warned the young rabbit not to touch them as the seeds contained within could be considered poisonous.
He gently guided the rabbit: “Stick to the vegetable plot, it is far safer. There is a large array of different food available which will feed your hunger with far more safety. A pear may entice with its sweetness, size and the juice. But, beware of the core with a stalk, as this could be considered the noose.”
Luke 6:43-45 confirms: “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
Amen.
