HOW GOD LEADS HIS CHILDREN

Introduction

How God Leads His Children

; ; ; ; ; The desire for direction and divine guidance is universal. In every culture, the wise and learned are revered and their answers sought by those struggling with decisions. Unfortunately, this wisdom is often the manmade variety and can lead to catastrophe, since every human being is fallible and our wisdom often questionable (). When man seeks supernatural wisdom, he often turns to the spirit world by consulting mediums, witches, or other avenues forbidden by God (; ; ). However, says, Why should we consult the dead on behalf of the living? So how do we receive answers from God? says, “You shall seek me and find me when you me seek me with all your heart.” So, God promises that those who seek His counsel with all their hearts will find it. However, there are several factors that must be in place before we can claim this promise:

1. We Must Seek To Know God’s Will

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The Lord God Almighty is not there just to grants wishes. But often that is the subconscious attitude of those who claim to want His guidance. Many live life as their own bosses, but, when faced with tragedy or heartache, they become temporarily interested in God. If we want direction from God, we must come to Him the only way He provides for such relationship—through His Son. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (). Our only access to the Father is when we come through the sacrificial death and resurrection of His Son. When we make Jesus the Lord of our lives, we become the children of God (; ). God’s promises in Scripture are for His children. So when we come to Him in the way He has provided, we can claim His promises for wisdom and guidance (; ).

2. We must Seek To Know And Do God’s Word.

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There is much guidance already given to us, and we need only to read it in the Bible. We do not need to seek direction about whether or not to sin. If God has already stated something in His Word, He will not contradict it. He will not instruct us to murder someone, steal, or commit adultery. Prohibitions against such things are already clearly stated in His Word, and He expects us to follow them (; ). For example, many unmarried couples try to insist that “God understands” the fact that they are sleeping together before marriage. Some even claim that they “prayed about it and feel it’s OK.” This thinking is in clear defiance of God’s stated commands against sexual immorality (). To justify sin by saying that God has made an exception to His own commands is to reveal one does not really want the guidance of God.

Spirit.

3. We must Seek To Know and Be In fellowship with the Holy

Spirit.

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God speaks not only through His Word but through the confirmations of His Spirit within us. says, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” How does He “bear witness with our spirit”? When we are born again (), the Holy Spirit moves into our hearts and changes us into “new creatures” (). Our human spirits that were once dead and under the control of our flesh are made alive with new power and a desire that come from God Himself (; ). As we give Him more control over every area of our lives, He speaks within our spirits, convicting of sin, guiding toward wisdom, and confirming His pleasure at our obedience (; ; ; ).

4. We must ask for And Obey When Guidance Is Given.

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says, “You do not have because you do not ask.” When our hearts are in right relationship to God, then assures us that we can ask for wisdom and believe that we have received it. We can ask that He guide us into all truth (; ). When we ask in faith, we can then move forward with confidence in the direction that appears wisest, asking all the time for God to shut any door that He did not open. We move ahead with eyes wide open, staying in prayer and seeking God’s answer with a heart to obey. Often, when people say they want to know God’s will, what they really mean is this: “I want to know God’s will—and then I’ll decide whether or not I’m going to do it.” God already knows the deep things of our hearts and many times will not reveal His plan to a stubborn heart who will not obey (; ; ; ). Surrender must accompany any prayer request. He does not exist to do our bidding; we exist for His pleasure and His glory. He desires to work in our lives to accomplish His purposes for us (; ). The Lord is a communicating God, and He delights in giving divine guidance to those who seek Him (). He wants to direct the heart surrendered to Him. When we come to Him in the way He has provided for us, when we seek His wisdom with a heart to obey (), then we can walk in the confidence that He is directing our paths ().