Guided by Grace (Exodus 13:21) - Radical

Guided by Grace (Exodus 13:21)

And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.
– Exodus 13:21

What a picture as God is leading his people out of slavery in Egypt toward the Promised Land. And just imagine the scene as all, however many people, I mean, only the Lord knows, we know hundreds of thousands of men and additional women and children. They all watch as a pillar of cloud leads them and directs them, guides them where to go, where to stop. At night, it’s a pillar of fire. Just imagine that scene in the sky, this pillar of fire ahead of you leading them, giving you light so that, as you travel, you know God himself is directing your path, guiding you where to go.

Exodus 13:21 reminds us of God’s direction through His Spirit.

That’s the picture we have in Exodus 13. And then you fast-forward to the New Testament, and the reality for us as followers of Jesus who are filled with the Holy Spirit of God, we have something better. Sometimes we think, especially when we walk through major decisions we’re making, or just walking through difficult days, God, what do I do? How do I move forward? Which direction do I go? Part of us would love like a pillar of cloud that directs us or fire by night that just guides our steps.

We have something better. We have the Holy Spirit of God, God himself, living inside of us, transforming our thoughts, our desires, leading us from the inside out, which just shouts to you and me, live in step with God’s Spirit, walk in step with God’s Spirit.

This is Romans 8:14, “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God,” or children of God.

This is what it means to be a child of God. That you are led by the Spirit of God. This means we wake up in the morning, we spend time with God, we listen to his Word, and we pray in his Spirit, lead me, guide me.

Exodus 13:21 highlights the call to live in step with the Spirit.

It’s one of the things I do at the beginning of my day and my time in the Lord. I just pray through my schedule for the day, as best as I know it, as I’m going to meet with this person, do this or that. God, please lead me, guide me. Help me to stay in step with your Spirit. And in the things that change in my schedule, that happen today that I don’t know are coming. Please help me to walk in step with your Spirit in those moments, and to know that God loves you and me so much that he does not leave us alone.

Amidst big decisions, amidst hard days, amidst good days… Whatever we face, his Spirit is in us to lead, guide, empower, help, and direct us. Oh God, we praise you for your Spirit. Holy Spirit, we praise you as the divine presence inside of us, better than a pillar of cloud by day or fire by night, leading us, guiding us, directing us, shepherding us, loving us, speaking to us, transforming us.

This verse teaches us to trust God’s guidance.

So God, we pray. In yielding to your Spirit today. Please help us. Lord, please lead us. Please guide, direct us by your spirit according to your word. God, help us to obey the leadership of your Spirit through your Word today. Help us to walk in holiness. Make us more like Jesus, we pray today. And when we face decisions…  And when we have interactions with other people… When we’re alone with our thoughts and desires, God, transform us from the inside out.

Lead us. Guide us to be pleasing to you and to build up others… To point others to you…To glorify you and to experience the joy of walking with you today. Oh God, I just pray that over every one of our lives. Help us to experience the joy of being led, loved, guided, and directed by you… By your Spirit in us today.

And God knowing that your Spirit’s in us to give us power to be witnesses… Help us to share the gospel today. Lead us to point people who don’t know you to you today. God, lead us to encourage brothers and sisters in Christ today, in the Spirit. Lead us by your Spirit to speak words of encouragement into their lives.

Prayer for the Moroccan Arabs

And God, we pray for the spread of your Word through your people and the power of your Spirit to all the peoples of the world.

We pray specifically today for the Moroccan Arabs, for 30 million of them who are mostly unreached by the gospel. I think about one brother I know in the middle of the mountains, in Morocco… The only believer for miles and miles and miles. God, we pray for your blessing, anointing, and leadership by your Spirit in his life… For the spread of the gospel through him and others like him… Scattered in different parts of Morocco.

God, we pray for the spread of the gospel and the power of your Spirit all across Morocco. For the glory of your name that people might know you as the Leader, Lord, Guide, and Savior, Shepherd of their lives. All across Morocco. We pray this in Jesus’ name, according to your Word, which we love in Exodus 13:21. Amen.

David Platt

David Platt serves as a Lead Pastor for McLean Bible Church. He is also the Founder of Radical, an organization that helps people follow Jesus and make him known in their neighborhood and all nations.

David received his B.A. from the University of Georgia and M.Div., Th.M., and Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Some of his published works include Radical, Radical Together, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, and Don’t Hold Back.

He lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area with his wife and children.

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