How does God guide us?

1. How does God guide us? We are constantly faced with many decisions in life - some small, others very important. God promises to guide those who are His and who trust in Him. “I will instruct and teach you in the way you should go” Ps.32.18 "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct (or make plain) your paths." Prov.3.6. Jesus promises to lead and guide his followers as a good shepherd leads and guides his sheep. “ He calls his own sheep by name and leads them. His concern for them is proved by the fact that He has laid down His life for them. His sheep follow Him because they know Him. God guides us when we are prepared to discover and follow His will rather than going our own way. "The Lord shall guide you continually” Isaiah 58.11 John 8.12: "I am the light of the world; he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

2. God’s will is best for us He longs for us to discover His will. Following this will be the best thing for us. Paul, the apostle, tells us that God’s will for our lives is “good, pleasing and perfect” If God is let into shattered lives, he can bring order, peace and fulfillment. We make mistakes because we fail to consult the Lord or because we break His revealed commandments. We need to trust in the Lord Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him and He will act. Ps.37.5. Our part is to commit the decision to the Lord and then trust in Him and await his action. Waiting for God We may have to wait for an answer e.g Habakkuk or for promises or visions to be realised e.g, Abraham, Joseph Guidance and peace Peace in our hearts comes from committing our way and plans to God. Conversely if we loose this peace it may be a sign that we have stepped outside God’s will.

3. In what ways does God guide us? • From the Bible. God’s general will for His people in all general circumstances is revealed in the bible. There we can see His will on a whole range of matters. We do not need special direct guidance to know that murder, theft, lying, adultery, etc are wrong. Jesus taught that even an attitude of hate to another person was sin. No other form of guidance will cause us to disobey the clear teaching of the Bible. • by the Holy Spirit. As we pray the Holy Spirit can guide us to see the way forward or to give us wisdom in a particular situation e.g. Philip • by giving us a desire to do something “God is at work within you both to will and to work for His good pleasure - Phil.2.13 • by an audible voice (e.g. Samuel), by dreams (Paul’s call to Macedonia), by visions (Peter’s vision of all types of food) and by angels (Abraham, Mary) • by words of prophecy (Agabus prophesying to Paul) • by common sense. John Wesley said that God usually guided him by presenting reasons to his mind for acting in a certain way. • by advice of other Christians “a wise man listens to advice”, Prov.12.15, “Plans fail for lack of council “ but “with many advisors they succeed” Prov.15.22 • by circumstantial signs. “In his heart a man plans his course but the Lord determines his steps”

4. Secrets of Guidance 1. Out motives must be pure We must be careful to check our motives that we seek God’s glory and not our own 2. Our will must be surrendered “My judgment is just for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” Jn 5.30 3. We must seek information for our mind We need to fill our minds with facts, with reliable information,with the results of human experience and above all with the teachings of the Word of God (the Bible). 4. We must be much in prayer for guidance “If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask of God who gives generously to all without finding fault” James 1.5 5. We must wait for the gradual unfolding of God’s plan What we feel is right and what God’s Word indicates should be corroborated by His providence (circumstances) so we sometimes must wait for them to come together.

5. Priorities "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matt. 6.25-33