The Nudge

by Dr. John E. Neihof, Jr.

Jeremiah 10:23-24 NKJV
O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself;
It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
O Lord, correct me, but with justice;
Not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing.

Dear God,

I cannot know my own heart or motives apart from the discernment of Your Holy Spirit through Your revealed Word. I cannot discern my path or even my next step, apart from You. Neither do I wish to do so.

I want you to guide my feet to a plain path. I want Your Holy Spirit to discern my heart, my motives, my deepest intention, and lead me in a path of holiness within and without.

Please correct my errors. I prefer to be corrected before I err. Check me with Your divine prompts to my heart. A flinch, a sigh, a nudge of intimacy. Help me to live close enough to You that I can sense the beating of Your heart of love for me. Tune the ears of my heart and conscience to hear Your softest whisper. Restrain me from resisting, ignoring, or overriding Your voice to take my own course of action.

But in those moments of disobedience, those occasions of haste when I ignore Your gentle prompt, correct me. Jeremiah prayed, “Correct me, but with justice. Not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing.”

I want to learn of You. I want to hear and obey Your voice. I want to feel Your nudge.

In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Amen.