Jesus Revealed in Doctrine EIGHT STEPS FOR GUIDANCE
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Ps. 32:8.
If we would know God's will for us in any particular question, we must, first of all, by God's grace, come to the place of having no will of our own in the matter. This can be accomplished only through God's power, and through the personal relationship with Him. Second, don't go by feelings. You may have feelings on the subject, and, in fact, the Holy Spirit often will give impressions and convictions that will be very close to the area of feelings. But the important thing is not to make your decision based on feelings alone: (Don't make your decision based on any single aspect, but put all of the information you have together, and make the decision based on all areas.)
Third, seek God's will as revealed in His Word. There will be times when His Word does not reveal, for instance, whether you should move to Florida or Michigan. But there are principles that apply to many situations. And this brings us again to the fact that the primary purpose of God's Word is for communication as well as for information.
Fourth, take into account providential circumstances. Be sensitive to the open and closed doors. Note the direction He has been leading you in the past, and try to see whether the present decision somehow fits into the picture.
Fifth, take the decision to the Lord in prayer. Seek His guidance on your knees, through communication with Him. Take time to listen to the still small voice. Spread out your case before the Lord, and give Him your consent for Him to work out His plans for you.
Sixth, counsel with Christian friends. Godly parents, teachers, ministers, can often give important insights because of their experience and their life with the Lord. Here again, don't depend upon others to make your decisions for you, but listen to what they have to say, and add it to the total picture before deciding.
Seventh, make a decision! Don't sit on the fence forever. Decide. And then tell God in prayer what your decision is and move ahead on that decision. And eighth, invite Him to stop you if you have somehow gotten your signals mixed up. As we allow the Lord to guide us, we will be led by Him. He has promised to fulfill the purposes He has for our lives.
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Ps. 32:8.
If we would know God's will for us in any particular question, we must, first of all, by God's grace, come to the place of having no will of our own in the matter. This can be accomplished only through God's power, and through the personal relationship with Him. Second, don't go by feelings. You may have feelings on the subject, and, in fact, the Holy Spirit often will give impressions and convictions that will be very close to the area of feelings. But the important thing is not to make your decision based on feelings alone: (Don't make your decision based on any single aspect, but put all of the information you have together, and make the decision based on all areas.)
Third, seek God's will as revealed in His Word. There will be times when His Word does not reveal, for instance, whether you should move to Florida or Michigan. But there are principles that apply to many situations. And this brings us again to the fact that the primary purpose of God's Word is for communication as well as for information.
Fourth, take into account providential circumstances. Be sensitive to the open and closed doors. Note the direction He has been leading you in the past, and try to see whether the present decision somehow fits into the picture.
Fifth, take the decision to the Lord in prayer. Seek His guidance on your knees, through communication with Him. Take time to listen to the still small voice. Spread out your case before the Lord, and give Him your consent for Him to work out His plans for you.
Sixth, counsel with Christian friends. Godly parents, teachers, ministers, can often give important insights because of their experience and their life with the Lord. Here again, don't depend upon others to make your decisions for you, but listen to what they have to say, and add it to the total picture before deciding.
Seventh, make a decision! Don't sit on the fence forever. Decide. And then tell God in prayer what your decision is and move ahead on that decision. And eighth, invite Him to stop you if you have somehow gotten your signals mixed up. As we allow the Lord to guide us, we will be led by Him. He has promised to fulfill the purposes He has for our lives.
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