The Guidance of the Lord is ...

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. 

Prov 3:5-6

This is such a familiar passage of Scripture!  Do we really read it?  Do we really believe it?  Do we consider it an encouraging passage that comes to mind when we think things aren't going right?  This morning in my devotions, the Lord brought me to Proverbs 3.  It's so easy to just skim over these verses.  I felt the Lord wanted my heart to meditate on these verses.  I began thinking of it in a fresh new way.  Trust ... all my heart ... lean ... acknowledge ... direct your paths. 

Suddenly action has kicked in again! The whistle blew and time in!  Action is in swing!  I blogged about the time out last Wednesday, then on Saturday, I had a new showing, then again this afternoon.  The anticipation was killing me and I was feeling anxious about the showing at 1:30pm.  I kept having to remember my scripture from the morning.  A dear friend reminded me "chill girl, He already knows the outcome". Trust in the Lord!  This was definitely the phrase that would settle my heart.

Well, it was definitely the day of up and down news!  I really needed to remember to trust!  I also needed to lean not to my own understanding.  My understanding would go up and down along with the news and I needed to chose to lean on the Lord and forget the understanding that I kept gaining (and losing as bad news came).  After the showing on Saturday, I asked how it had gone, but all I got was "good, they liked it".  After the showing today, I asked how it went and the answer was "they liked it but they are worried about the Walmart".  The owners of the Walmart in the plaza next door want to turn it into a Super Walmart and for some reason, this is a highly debated topic that discourages people from buying my house.  My realtor proceeded to tell me that she thought that we may need to lower the price.  I was discouraged by the news, but I kept trying to remind myself to trust the Lord.  By the end of my work day, I got another text from my realtor asking at what time I would be home and that she wanted to review an offer with me!!!!  I came home not knowing what to expect and again reminding myself to trust the Lord and not lean to my own understanding.  I didn't know what the offer would be and if it would be good or not. 

Acknowledge Him in ALL my ways ...
The first 3 definitions in the dictionary are perfect!!!

1. to recognize the rights, authority, or status of ...
2. to disclose knowledge of or agreement with ...
3. to express gratitude or obligation for ...

I need to recognize that I am not my own, I am bought with a price, I am under His authority.  In prayer, tell Him of this recognition and, in sharing with other people, to also share about this recognition and submission with them.  Finally, express gratitude to the Lord for His work and confess that I owe Him all!  When I do this, I receive the promise that He will direct my paths!!!!

As I anticipated the offer, I was keeping these verses in mind, although I didn't dive into the definition until now, so it is more confirmation and reaffirmation to my heart now.  I sat with the realtor and we were going to walk through the offer.  She sweetly shared how she had been praying about the sale of my house and it was very encouraging and a blessing.  She began the process by sharing that the first christian couple that I blogged about were concerned about the Walmart and were pretty much backing off.  

Then she shared that in her dealings with another client of hers, they had placed an offer on a house that she later realized was the same people with whom I had my previous contingent offer (with the previous realtor).  They had also been burned by that deal and the relationship with that realtor.  It was quite unfortunate.  They didn't really want to talk about it at all, but after a while, they did talk to their new realtor, who gets along well with mine.  Anyway, now they had an offer on their house and they didn't have a house to buy.  They still liked my house and decided to come see it, albeit reluctantly.  They are the ones that came on Saturday, although I wasn't told until today.  Yesterday, they met with their realtor and drafted the offer that they sent to my realtor today!!!!!!!!!!!!!  As I evaluated the price and the offer, it was evident that it was fair, although lower than the previous agreement (although not terribly).  Their house also sold for a lot less than they had it listed for with the previous realtor.  As I thought about it, I was at peace.  I felt the Lord directing and making the path straight, going before me.  Accepting this offer was the third link in a chain of house deals that were in progress.  I realize that the Walmart is a reason to deter many buyers and I have peace about not being greedy (not that I should ever justify peace about being greedy).  The first house still needs to sell.  My realtor is now making the sale of that one a priority to get the rest going.  We are now praying the first house sells!

The Lord is bringing out other things from this Proverb to my heart, but that will have to wait for another blog entry ... suffice it to add that the Proverb goes on to say: "Honor the LORD with your possessions" ...

Sooooo ............  I signed the offer and if things continue with the current motion, I will be closing in January!  Please join me in prayer that the Lord would sell the first house in the chain, that I would continue walking in faith and His guidance would continue leading the way.  I am joyfully directed in Him and by Him!!!!