"STEPPING-STONES"...

LAID OUT by God... for the GUIDANCE and INSTRUCTION of each of His people.

Molding, encouragement, discipline, and LOVE...
from GOD.

A tablet from the on-going INTERNET BOOK, "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets"
( http://www.terrific-tabs.com )
by John N. Todd III, M. D. (link; about the author)

The web-link to this "tablet" is: http://www.terrific-tabs.com/print_guidance.htm
To send a "live" link to a friend, copy and paste this web-link in an email message.

"Doctored"... 9/00; 10/01; 11/01; 12/01; 2/02; 3/02; 5/02; 6/02; 10/02; 12/02; 2/03; 6/03; 7/03; 8/03; 11/03; 2/04; 8/04; 2/05; 11/05; 12/05; 4/06; 12/6/06

CLICK HERE to go to the "FRONT PAGE" of "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets"
CLICK HERE for ALPHABETICAL INDEX of this entire WEBSITE
CLICK HERE to EMAIL your thoughts to the author


God guides, encourages, activates, teaches, allows, directs, empowers, changes, enables, molds, protects, "prunes", disciplines, and loves those individuals whom He has "accepted" -- those He claims as His own.... His CHILDREN, His SHEEP, His servants, His CHOSEN ones.... His people (see links).
Jeremiah 10: 23 (NIV) I know, O LORD, that a man's life is NOT his own. It is NOT for man to direct his own STEPS. 24 Correct me, LORD, but only with justice -- not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing.

Proverbs 20: 24 (NRSV) ALL our STEPS are ORDERED by the LORD. How then can we understand our own ways?

Isaiah 42: 16 (NRSV) (God speaking through Isaiah): I will lead the blind by a road they do not know.... I will guide them by PATHS they have not known. I will turn the darkness before them into light -- the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do; and I will not forsake them.

Proverbs 5: 21 For human ways are under the eyes of the LORD; and He examines all their paths.

Isaiah 30: 20 (NRSV) Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction -- yet your Teacher will not hide Himself any more; but your eyes shall see your Teacher. 21 And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the WAY.... walk in it."

When God's people pray, we ask God for guidance, and for instruction, and for help -- and for courage, and protection. God always answers the prayers of His people. (See link: Prayer and Praying.) God knows the needs of His children; and He knows His INTENTION and plans for each of them. Yes, God always answers prayers -- affirmatively -- by guiding, and building, and instructing His people.... and by changing their thoughts and attitudes as they pray, and as they seek His support and His favor. And.... even more wondrously, God guides and protects His people, even when they have NOT requested His "attention" -- and even when they do not sense or recognize His presence, and His effect, and His power.... in their lives.

I must add, though, as most of God's people (link) already know, the response of God to our requests for guidance and instruction and support, is not necessarily the response that we humans may have anticipated ("hoped for").... and God's response to our prayers may not be the "answer" we had in mind for ourselves, when we implored God for His help and encouragement. You and I must admit that we humans usually pray for success and support, for ourselves -- in those endeavors which we have already decided upon -- and we ask God for "answers" which we calculate, in our own scheme-of-things, to be beneficial to ourselves (mainly).... and which, then, we hope will generate some peripheral benefit for others.... and for the rest of "mankind".

Guidance by God does not necessarily mean that God will cause a gentle warm breeze to blow on your back, as you go merrily on your way.... in the personal plans that you have asked God to "endorse". In fact, God's response may seem to be quite the opposite.

My experience and my understanding are that God guides us where He wants us to go, to do what He has planned for us.... all along. When God's people get off the "track", God guides (bends, molds, shapes) them back to the intended path. Sometimes, in my experience, this "guidance" may be rather harsh -- much more like "discipline".

And that brings up a major point.... about "discipline", and disciplining.... from God, and by God. God's individuals.... when they deviate from the way that God has specified for each of them.... can anticipate and expect to be led back (or dragged back) to the course already planned for them, by God. "To discipline" does not literally mean "to punish". The word "discipline" is derived from a Latin word meaning "pupil" -- hence, to be taught or led, like a student. I like to think of the word "disciplining", in a spiritual sense, to actually indicate "disciple-ing".... meaning God's process of generating "disciples" for Himself.... that is, in this sense, God's altering and bending and pruning and building each of us, His people, to become "Disciples of God" (and, of course, also meaning disciples of "God-Incarnate").

Note the following pertinent Biblical quotations on this subject:

Proverbs 3: 11 (NRSV) My child, do not despise the LORD's discipline, or be weary of His reproof; 12 for the LORD reproves the one He loves -- as a father the son in whom he delights.

2 Corinthians 12: 8 Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 9 but He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for POWER is made perfect in WEAKNESS." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses.... so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities -- for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

Hebrews 12: 5 (NRSV) And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as "children" -- "My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, or lose heart when you are punished by Him; 6 for the Lord disciplines those whom He loves -- and chastises every child whom He ACCEPTS." 7 Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children..... for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? 8 If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate -- and not His children.
Note now, and read out loud, for yourself, these additional quotations from the Book of God.... concerning God's guidance, discipline, instruction, molding, pruning, building, and protection.... of God's people:


Psalm 23: 3 (KJV) He leads me in paths of righteousness, for His name's sake.

Jeremiah 10: 23 (NRSV) I know, O LORD, that the way of human beings is not in their control; that mortals, as they walk, cannot direct their steps. 24 Correct me, O LORD, but in just measure; not in your anger, or you will bring me to nothing.

John 15: 2 (NRSV) Jesus speaking: He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit, He prunes to make it bear more fruit.

Isaiah 58: 11 (NRSV) The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong.... and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.

Habakkuk 2 (NEB) 1 I will stand at my post. I will take up my position on the watch-tower. I will watch to learn what He will say through me -- and what I shall reply when I am challenged.

Psalm 78: 52 (NRSV) Then He led out His people like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock..... 72 With upright heart He tended them, and guided them with skillful hand.

Job 6: 24 (NIV) Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong.

Psalm 25: 4 (NIV) Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me; for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 32: 8 (NIV) I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you, and watch over you.

Job 5: 17 (NRSV) "How happy is the one whom God reproves; therefore do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

Psalm 94: 12 (NRSV) Happy are those whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your Law.

Isaiah 54: 13 (NRSV) All your children shall be taught by the LORD; and great shall be the prosperity of your children.

Psalm 139: 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. 24 See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 138: 8 (NRSV) The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. Your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

The above scriptures are but a small sample of God's promises to His people. If.... as most Godspeople (God's people) already believe and accept -- the Bible is indeed the true "word of God", then the promises shown above are irrefutable.

Now, I will add two beautiful references from the Psalms, concerning God's promise of protection for His people:

Psalm 91: 9 (NRSV) Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, 10 no evil shall befall you; no scourge come near your tent. 11 For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the adder. The young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. 14 (And God says): Those who love me, I will deliver. I will protect those who know my name. 15 When they call to me, I will answer them. I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them, and honor them. 16 With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.

Psalm 57: 2 (NRSV) I cry to God Most High, to God who fulfills HIS purpose for me. 3 He will send from heaven, and save me. He will put to shame those who trample on me.... 4 I lie down among lions that greedily devour human prey. Their teeth are spears and arrows; their tongues sharp swords.... 6 They set a net for my STEPS. My soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my path.... but they have fallen into it -- themselves.

Those individuals who have been awakened by God.... those who "belong" to God.... "feel" the caring presence of God in their lives. These same individuals can readily look-back, and see the "stepping-stones" that were previously placed in their lives by the guiding hand of God-the-Father. That is. "Godspeople".... as they advance along life's journey, and as they grow is spiritual maturity.... and when they look back, and behind, and down the mountain-side.... they can invariably see the firm-but-loving presence of God. That is, they can "see" (as the gospel-song says) that "He was there.... all the time".

But, obviously.... no one can "see", in advance, the stepping-stones that God is currently placing.... day-by-day.... for our future guidance and direction. That's where faith-then-trust comes into the "picture".... for each of us. (See link "Trust, the step beyond faith".)

And, to quote again, this time from a hymn, "I do not ask to see the distant shore.... one step alone (is) enough, for me."