Guidance: May 2, 2014

TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014.

GUIDANCE

DEFINITION:

The process of giving direction; advice or counseling.

SCRIPTURE:

Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait on all the day. Psalm 25:4-5.

Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. Psalm 25:12.

He will guide you into all truth. John 16:13.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

When you are facing the need to make a decision, big or small, it is important to wait on God for His guidance, direction and timing. We want to share with you three ways that we can take an active role in the process while we wait on God.

First, we need to examine our heart, asking the Holy Spirit to expose any wrongs in our life. If something comes to your mind that the Holy Spirit brings to you it is important that you take care of that sin immediately.

You accomplish this by confessing, repenting and doing whatever is necessary to correct the situation. At times we often put this aside because the impending decision we need to make is our main concern. We cannot expect God to work in our lives as long as we allow sin to control our life. In order to receive God’s full blessing, we must deal with any sin in our life.

Second, when we seek direction from God we need to learn how to listen patiently and attentively for the Lord to give us the guidance we are praying for. We find it very difficult to wait on the Lord because we want quick answers and a quick fix. Our timing, however, is not the Lord’s timing.

Another reason why we find it hard to wait is that we want the Lord to do it “our way.” We cannot allow ourselves to be tempted by our feelings and our own logic if we want guidance from God. God knows what is best for us and He will give us the guidance we ask for which we can be sure is best for us because it will be in accordance with His perfect will for us.

Third, the answer to our request for guidance sometimes requires our involvement. For example, if you are out of work and trusting God to provide a job for you, God expects you to actively look for a job. Some people just sit back and pray several times a day reminding God of their need. Waiting on God is not an excuse for inaction on your part or to be just lazy.

How can you be sure that you are making the right decision? What do we need to do to hear the voice of God responding to our need for guidance?

We need to clear the pathway. We already mentioned above the need to get rid of the sin in our life but we also must ‘be willing to make our desires secondary to His.

We need to exercise patience. Sometimes it takes a great deal of strength when you feel time is so important in making your decision. But if you rush ahead of God, you may not only miss His will but miss a special blessing that He has for you.

You need to search the scriptures. Many people just take time to pray but how can God communicate to you if you do not read His Word? God gave us His written Word, the Bible, to be our guide in this evil world we live in. The psalmist declared that God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105).

The Word of God has an answer for every need and the Holy Spirit will speak to us through God’s Word and will always point us to the right direction if we wait on Him.

LEARNING:

Our memory verses for this week are the sixth, seventh and eighth of the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20: 13-15.

You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal.

PRAYER:

When I face a critical need in my life and need to make a decision help me to wait on You. Help me to be patient, search the scriptures and not rush to a quick answer that is not according to what You want for my life.