Stepping out on faith....

For we walk by faith, not by sight. --2 Corinthians 5:7

We are told to walk by faith not be sight. To be guided by the truth we believe in rather than by what we can tangibly experience. But how do we know when we are stepping out on stupidity instead of faith? When we make big decisions listening to our heart, what if what we think is coming from the pure part of our hearts where God whispers to us is actually coming from the worldly, blind part of who we are that listens to the world's lies more than God's truth? The simple answer is to compare what we think we are being led to do with God's word. The simple answer is to pray for guidance and discernment. The difficult part of this process is learning to recognize the guidance when it comes. We must empty ourselves when we seek answers from God so that we can be guided only by His influence rather than our own falleness. We must open ourselves to whatever answer He provides so that we do not catch ourselves listening only for the answer we want to hear. When we are dead set on a certain path, it's so easy for us to be closed to God's tugs in a different direction. Sometimes when we don't listen, He lets us learn by falling. Other times, when we step out in the face of all the obstacles we see trusting in His guidance, He parts the seas or stills the waves for us to pass on untouched. When we step out on faith, He may show us miracle we would have missed if we let the fear of falling keep us from taking the first steps.