When we repent of our sins and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior the Holy Spirit comes to live within our hearts. 

He is the one who guides us in the ways of the Lord. It doesn’t matter what storm we may be experiencing at the moment, He knows the way home. 

However He is not free to dictate the way. He could, if God demanded it, but He doesn’t because the Father gave each of us a dangerous thing, our own free will, thus the Holy Spirit will not overrule our will, to do so would be against God's will.  

He wants our will to be as His, this is why He gave us Holy Spirit, so He can guide us to His will.

The Holy Spirit is my best friend. He guides me each day in my desire to please Jesus and He also empowers me to accomplish the work. If you will take the time to read Ephesians 2: 8,9 & 10, you will discover as I have the secret to serving the Lord and living in His Joy.

Want to know more?  Read on

Capt. Ben Marler 

Thanks be to God, I am no longer required to navigate a large fishing vessel in the Gulf of Mexico. At last, my wife and I have retired from a lifetime labor of love. Both of us are enjoying our retirement even though we miss our many wonderful customers.

Our vessels were equipped with the best in electronics as the latest equipment was always a blessing in locating the fishing hot spots I depended upon. All of them had one major weakness. Each was reliant upon a steady source of power from the 12 volt electrical system to operate as designed. The loran [long range navigational instrument] is especially sensitive to any type of interference. Electronic power surges were always a problem and needed special filters.

This brings me to the one vital instrument that always worked if it was kept well away from harmful heavy metals or magnets. My compass was always reliable to do one thing and that was to show me the way to magnetic north. The compass card that floated within the compass was divided into 360 even parts or degrees. I knew from experience if I fished to the southwest of Destin Florida a course of 60 degrees would take me home. It wasn’t long before I knew what compass heading would take me home no matter where I was fishing. This was comforting as I normally fished a long ways from land and it was always dependable, even if the electrical system went down.

Many times I have said, I wish the Lord would put strings on my arms and
legs and make a puppet of me. This is after I have done something that I
later regretted. These things I label as “stupid things”. Perhaps you have
done a few of these yourself. I know for sure I was not following the One
most important to me and this bothers me a lot. It wouldn’t be long before
I turned to my wonderful Counselor and Compass for direction.

I am surprised at the number of sermons I have heard in my life on verses 8 & 9 that omitted verse 10. I am positive the Lord did not give His
disciples eternal life and then leave them to their former life styles. His
purpose in coming to Earth was to become our Redeemer from sin death and to usher us into the family of God.

Any self-willed attitude will lead to destruction. Even as I write, I know
the time of the apostasy is near! You can bet the farm on it. This great
falling a way will occur because people who have claimed a relationship with Jesus are ignoring their Spiritual Compass.

Do you start your day off with a “Good Morning Lord”? Or do you say, “Good
Lord, its morning.” If you do, then stop! You can change right now.
Isn’t it true that many people will tell you they are Christians but there
is no evident of Christian fruit in their lives? Those who follow their
Spiritual Compass will produce delicious fruit just as a luscious apple will
grow on a cultivated apple tree.

The apple orchards that have been deserted and found most often in the yards of abandoned farms may produce apples, but the fruit is stunted and food only for deer and other wild animals. This describes many who have strayed from God’s purpose for them.

I have written this message for those of you who claim a relationship with
God thru a living faith in Jesus Christ as your Redeemer. It is to
encourage you to take an account of what your life is producing for His
Kingdom. God will not be pleased when we put His business second to our own. If we do, our fruit will resemble that mentioned above. Do you know the reason we have the fruit of the Spirit is so we can bring others to the firm hope that we have in Christ? We should be the happiest people on Earth. Not only has He graciously forgiven us of our sins, He has also given us fellowship with Jesus. We do not have to go looking for Jesus. He is in
our hearts. Praise His Holy Name!

If you feel your life is off course go to a quiet place and ask the Holy Spirit for directions. Not only will He give you what you need for today, He will remain close always pointing the way Home. If you ignore Him or if I had ignored my compass on Emmanuel I would have been way off course from the Destin sea buoy. I would have become lost.

May God help you to use Ephesians 2:10 as your daily commitment prayer. "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Just agree with it and repeat it in 1st person singular. You will make God’s day, everyday!

If you desire to know more about this Jesus Christ who loves you, and you want to ask Him  into your heart, receiving His Saving Grace please click on this Salvation Prayer