Following the Leader: Giving God the Reins

By Lee Ann Layson

Sometimes, in addition to the Bible, it is helpful to have a book written in a personal style with which we can easily connect. This scripture-based devotional book discusses real-life issues, emphasizing that we are not meant to face the challenges of this life alone. God will lead us through our daily lives no matter what befalls us. Following the Leader: Giving God the Reins gives us loving support and hope in our time of need. Because each brief devotional includes a prayer, the readings are appropriate for those on the go or those who just want a quick inspirational lift.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 22, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973664246

Lee Ann Layson

A mother of three children, Lee Ann Layson is a 25 year veteran Georgia high school English teacher. She has written two previous devotional books: Love Lifted Me and Finding Light From the Darkness. Besides her joy for writing, singing at her local church choir and spending time with her family are her passions. Just like you, she has her ups and downs and wants to share how God loves us, especially through the hard times, even if we don’t feel His presence guiding us. She has discovered that when she tries to direct her own life, it leads only to disappointment. Trying to give God leadership of her life, though she still falls back into old behavior patterns from time to time, is the only way she knows to find peace.

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Copyright © 2019 Lee Ann Layson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6423-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6425-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6424-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019906702

WestBow Press rev. date: 07/08/2019

Contents

1 We’re Following the Leader

2 Close to You

3 Humbling Ourselves

4 All Walled In

5 Anger Issues

6 Run, Run, Run as Fast as You Can

7 Living in a Material World

8 Be Still My Soul

9 God Bless America

10 Now, What?

11 And Keep Us From Temptation

12 I Have the Joy

13 Testing, Testing, 1,2,3

14 I See You

15 You Gotta Have Faith

16 To God be the Glory

17 Stand by Me

18 Are You Lonely Tonight?

19 Driven by Fear

20 Those Who Have an Ear, Let Them Hear

21 We Will Never Be Shaken

22 Make Me Bold

23 We Are One in the Spirit

24 Owner of a Lonely Heart

25 From the Palm to the Tree

26 Hold on

27 Rebellious People

28 I Will Do It

29 Watch It

30 Work It

31 Freedom Indeed

32 Put Your Heart Into It

33 Go In The Way Of Wisdom

34 For Every Season, Turn, Turn, Turn

35 Grace Is Found In Disgrace

36 Life In The Fast Lane

37 Who Do You See When You Look At Me?

38 Prisoner of Love

39 I Am The Worst

40 The Grand Finale

He leadeth me: O blessed thought!

O words with heavenly comfort fraught!

Whate’er I do, where’er I be,

still ‘tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

He Leadeth Me

Lyrics by Joseph H. Gilmore

Dear Reader,

So many times we have tried to convince ourselves that if we just had control of our own destinies, our lives would be great. However, the times I have tried to rule over my own life have lead me to poor choices and regret. How’s it working for you? Probably not much different, right? Right.

The only way we are going to find any semblance of peace in our lives is if we let God be the God of our lives. I know that sounds pretty obvious, but if it is so obvious, why do we constantly fight against His leadership?

Please join this journey with me as we try to learn together how to stop being self-willed and to learn to trust our lives to the will of God instead. I’m ready if you are!

Yours in Christ,

Lee Ann Layson

1

We’re Following the Leader

No one whose hope is in You, will ever be put to shame…Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are my Savior.

Psalm 25:3-5

I remember years ago, watching a video of Peter Pan with my children. One of the songs pulled my attention away from the chores I was trying to get accomplished while my darlings sat mesmerized and entertained. The characters in the movie chirped happily as they marched along in perfect cadence singing, We’re following the leader wherever he may go….

Of course, that worked fine in the Land of Make Believe, at least it did for Peter in the long run, but not so much for us trapped in today’s world. Jesus once told Matthew, Follow me (Matthew 9:9). He was Someone worthy of trust, Someone Whose word meant something. However, today’s world is filled with all types of leaders in all types of places, leaders that make sweeping vows of hope and deliverance, but their delivery falls quite short in the long run, hollow echoes of words, promises unkempt, promises broken.

In Psalm 25 David cries out to God that he knows he can trust God to show him the way. David confesses he is lost and afraid and does not know what to do.

Don’t we also feel shamed and betrayed when we give our trust over to others to help us and guide us, but they aren’t who they have led us to believe? We feel deceived and embarrassed that we did not see through their shams and fabrications. Worse, now it seems like the whole world knows our business, especially due to social networking sites, and we feel like we can’t even look anyone in the eye without being humiliated in return.

Indeed, you may have made similar mistakes as I have. At times I have put my trust in the wrong people. Too many times I have trusted my own intuition and insight in such matters and have totally left God out of the equation. Big surprise that this has led me to heartache, not only for myself, but for others I love as well. I hope you have not had similar regrets, but you might have.

Unfortunately, it is