Making wise decisions for direction in
life requires us to consult with God.
Life is constantly filled with choices! As Christians we should be depending on God
and seeking our directives from Him. God
always desires what is best for us and wants us to listen to Him and follow His
directions. Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward
you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and
a hope.
But how can we know when we are hearing the voice of
God? There are other voices clamouring
to get our attentions as well. Are we
hearing God, Self or Satan? Our own self
voice screams loudly within. Satan’s
voice is ever so deceptive. Jesus said, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and
they follow Me.
So how can we hear God’s voice? First and foremost God gives us direction
through His Word as recorded in the Bible.
2 Timothy 3:16 (CEV) Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word.
All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and
showing them how to live. God’s word shows us how to live! As we read it ; God will impress a particular
verse upon us. It may be that a larger
biblical account or story will give us the direction we need. However this is not the only way that God
gives us direction. His toolbox is
filled with a variety of tools that He can use to get our attention and to help
us hear Him.
Here are a few other tools that God uses to get our
attention:
1. A word from
others. If several people begin to tell
you the same thing; take it to the Lord and ask Him if He’s trying to speak to
you through them. Often trusted
Christian friends will confirm what has been on your mind.
2.
Disappointment. This is another
way that God uses to get our attention.
When our plans don’t work out to our liking; ask God if you have been
charting your own course? So often we
make decisions and then later ask God to bless it and we don’t understand why
it’s not working out. It may however
just be that His answer is “no” and He has something else in store for us.
3. A restless
spirit. There may be times when we
become restless and agitated. We are
unable to put our finger on what is going on.
This is a good time to take it to the Lord in prayer and ask the Lord if
He’s trying to tell you something. (see
Esther 6:1ff)
4. Money
problems. My experience has shown me
that for many Christians, money is the last thing they give over to the Lord’s
control! In the time of the Judges it is
said that everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 17:6
(NKJV) In managing their lives and especially their money; many still do what
they see as right in their own eyes and neglect God’s teachings. It is not surprising then that God at times
will get our attention through money problems.
Having money problems gets
our attention quite quickly! We then
need to come to the Lord and ask Him how we can be better stewards of His
resources. It doesn’t mean that our problems
will just disappear; but it does mean that we have begun to give Him control of
this area in our lives. God is not just
our Saviour but He also wants to be our Lord.
God knows exactly where you
are in your journey with Him and He also knows how to get your attention in
order to give you direction. Ask Him to
help you hear and discern when He’s talking to you!
Jeremiah 29:12-13 (NKJV) Then you will
call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek
Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
I have come to understand that big decisions require
much prayer and little decisions require some prayer. But in all decisions pray and ask God for
direction.
Read: John 10:1-5; 22-30
