We often don’t know the wisest choice to make. We do our best to figure things out. We fret as to whether we made the right decision and fear we didn’t. When facing decisions, we always have a choice: we can lean on our own understanding or seek and trust the Lord. In Psalm 32:8, God tells us “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” What a promise! God himself promises to lead and guide us and when we follow him in faith, we move forward with confidence.

God doesn’t speak to us with audible words so the way to recognize his guidance is to be grounded in his Word. The Bible is source of how we should live and the path we should follow. God’s Word is the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17), and the Holy Spirit will use it to speak to us to reveal God’s will for our lives. When making any decision look to him. Pray to him. Ask him to guide you. Ask him to show you his will. Then trust him. When you do this, he “will make your paths straight.”

Praise

Praise God for his promise of guidance. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

If we want to seek God’s wisdom, how do we find it?

God promises that those who seek his council with all their hearts will find it. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

How do we recognize God’s guidance?

Being familiar with and having knowledge of God’s Word will help us discern whether our decisions come from him. His Spirit will never prod us to do anything that conflicts with his Word.

Pray

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

He leads me beside quiet waters,

He refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake. (Psalm 23:1-3)

In Jesus’ name

Amen.

Scripture references are in New International Version.