“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” Psalm 32:8
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I really struggle with knowing what I should do. I can be guilty of analysis paralysis.
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:6
Let’s get practical with how to apply this verse. As we go about our days, we need to make a routine of pausing to acknowledge God. Dallas Willard suggests beginning each day with this phrase, “God is here.” I find that simple phrase so powerful.
I’ll be the first to admit, at times, I have felt lost; felt like my prayers asking God for direction went unanswered. As a matter of fact, right this moment, one area of my life comes to mind that I have been seeking God for direction in for quite some time and I’m still not clear on what my next right step is. So I am coming to you as by far not an expert. However, I know God’s Word is true and I love knowing and reminding myself of His promises along these lines.
Here are more verses where He promises to lead us.
Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17
Isn’t that verse such a reassurance! I know for me, even with the current situation in mind, I can look back on my life and acknowledge that God has been leading in ways that I didn’t necessarily notice at the time. There were times when I noticed I was at a crossroads and needed to make a decision, but there have been many other times when I didn’t even know the choice I was about to make was going to be significant in my journey. That’s why it is so wonderful to know that my Redeemer is the very one who is leading me. On the other hand, there have been times when I have known of my need for wisdom and I have called out to God asking for insight.
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and [a]without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-6
Another way I have known God to provide me with insight is directly through His word.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
This next verse is one that I have clung to since my teenage years, which is when I first learned of it, I believe. Did you realize one of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to lead us into all Truth. Sometimes I pray, Lord, guide me into what is true here.
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. John 16:13
Sometimes His leading is something we consciously pray for, and that is good. However, other times it starts with us simply committing what we are doing to Him. Have you stopped to consider that? We really all serving someone each day. That someone can be the Lord, it can be ourselves, it can be others, as in people-pleasing, or it can be a number of other things. I encourage you to begin your day by simply saying, God, I commit this day (this work, this trip, etc) to you.
Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. Psalm 37:5
Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3
There are things we do not know. It may seem obvious, but it is just a fact of life. However, we do have access to an all-knowing God. Jeremiah has a wonderful exhortation for us to call out to God and He will answer. He’s going to show us things we do not know. That has to be one of the things I’ve actually struggled with at times. Simply the fact that He shows me something I did not expect or that was not on my radar screen so to speak. This should not surprise me, but somehow sometimes it still does. So may I encourage you when you see something that is unexpected, don’t always quickly dismiss it. Take it before the Lord, and ask Him if it is something He is showing.
‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ Jeremiah 33:3
The last scripture I’m going to share is also such a reassuring one for me and it speaks to relationship. After all, if we are looking for guidance, don’t we want to be reassured that we are known by the one doing the guiding!
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. John 10:27-28
