March 17, 2014.

“So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”
(Romans 8:12-17)

I am at another biomedical science interview today for the University of Florida. If I am being honest, I applied all over, and I choose some schools in Florida for the simple reason that I like traveling to this state on vacation. However, ever since I flew in today, I have experienced something that I was not expecting in the least. I honestly thought I would come here, check it out, decide it was cool but way to far from home and then go back to waiting on Vanderbilt’s answer. But something just feels right here. I can’t explain it. I didn’t feel this way at Vanderbilt (well, not completely at least) or GRU. I like the feeling.

Typically, I do not base my actions or beliefs solely on feelings. I think the bible is clear that the heart of man is deceptive and cannot be trusted. In fact, Jereimiah has this to say about the heart:

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind,to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
(Jeremiah 17:7-10)

There are also several passages in the book of Proverbs that tell us not to rely on our own mind/heart, because we would always just be lead to do what we want to do. So why did I start with the passage from Romans 8? Sometimes feelings do matter, especially when you know that they are not from your own origin. I had no true desire to come to Florida for grad school. GRU was only 4 ½ hours away from Chattanooga, and I though that was terrible. UF is 7 hours from Chattanooga, and 9 ½ hours from home. But I feel like the Spirit might just be leading me here. I have peace about living here. I am excited that I may get the opportunity. I have already found a church that, as far as I can tell, I really like. Plus, one the one weekend I am here to interview, the weather just so happens to be perfect, for the first time in a while here, so the grad students say. Could this not all be part of the Spirit’s guidance?

Romans 8 is a go to chapter for many Christians when they want to be assured of who is in control and that everything is going to work out for our good if we love The Lord. This is a beautiful concept. But Paul also talks about living a Spirit guided life, and that is both terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. It’s very hard to explain, as I am just now figuring it out. Oh how great it is to be a child of the King! Abba, Father! Lead us in your will, O God.

Pray for guidance, and take a leap of faith. It just might change your life.

Suggested Daily Reading: Proverbs 28, Isaiah 6, Jeremiah 17, Romans 8.

The Lord grant you wisdom.

-Walter