GUIDANCE BY THE WORD AND THE SPIRIT
Psalm 27:11Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
Psalm 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou
shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
Isaiah 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I
will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light
before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and
not forsake them.
When I need direction I
meditate on verses concerning guidance as I go through the day, trying to be
sensitive to His leading in every situation that arises to know what step to
take next. The more time we spend with the Lord, the more we will recognize His
voice and will not follow a strange voice. We learn to tune in to His voice and
begin to hear Him more clearly. He is always speaking to us but at times we seem
to be too busy to listen or have our mind filled with other things.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
The Holy Spirit is our Helper and Guide and His ways lead to peace. The Lord speaks to us by His Spirit but it will never contradict His written Word. We should always test everything by the Word of God.
Luke 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
Some go by their experience, a voice or impression and think it is God, but that is not always true. The enemy can try to deceive us to get us off on the wrong path and out of God’s will. We need to compare all verses in the Bible on a certain topic to rightly divide the Word of Truth. God's Word contains the answer to any problem or situation that may arise. If it is not specifically stated, then there are principles in the Word to help guide us in the right direction.
Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light unto my path.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
If we have prayed and committed ourselves to His ways, we can stop and listen to His still voice that says, "Go this way"; sometimes "Caution" or "Stop". Other times its like a green light, giving directions.
Isaiah 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
It is also helpful to know the character of God when seeking guidance. His Word tells us what He is like. Some may think a certain thing is of God but it is completely against His character and nature, so cannot be true. But praise the Lord the truth and light of His Word directs us. It is our safeguard.
by Janice Sullivan
Submitted November 30, 2007
Used with permission
* All scripture references taken from The Holy Bible King James Version
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