Get help when you need to pray for God’s guidance. Praying for God’s guidance and waiting for answers can be a frustrating process. Be encouraged with five truths about God’s guidance from Psalm 25 to help you pray with a trusting heart. Develop confidence that God care’s about your concerns as you discover He is worth the wait. Don’t miss the free printable prayer and Scripture in this popular post from Ginger Harrington.
“Should I sign up for this class?”
“Will I really have time to invest in it?”
I really want to take the class.
I’m praying about an opportunity for next fall. With a couple of unknowns about the fall, I’m hesitant to commit time and money. Time is approaching for an answer, and I’m asking God to show me what’s best. I’m seeking God’s guidance. His answer.
Seeking guidance and waiting for answers can be frustrating.
Should we buy this house? Take that job? Homeschool or public school? We often need God’s guidance, yet sometimes His responses don’t seem clear. Seeking God’s guidance can sometimes feel like groping in the dark. Fumbling, you try to find the way by feeling with hands outstretched.
The following verses, meanings, and truths have been on my heart, in my prayers, and they are sinking into my spirit.
O my God, in You I [have unwavering] trust [and I rely on You with steadfast confidence],
Do not let me be ashamed or my hope in You be disappointed...–Psalm 25:2 AMP
Trusting God is the foundation for recognizing God’s guidance.
So often I worry about getting things right.
- Knowing the right answers, and making the right decisions.
- I worry about knowing the right answers so I can do the right things.
- I long to make the right decision. The best choice.
Do you sense the problem here? In my fear of getting it wrong, I’m paralyzed by making a wrong decision. Truth is, I’m missing the blessing. God is showing me a different way.
[tweetthis twitter_handles=”via@GingHarrington” hidden_hashtags=”#Godguides #Godleads #WaitonGod”]God’s guidance is always about more than the answer.[/tweetthis]
Five things you need to know about God when you need guidance.
Psalm 25:4-5 is a powerful and encouraging Bible verse to seek God’s guidance that I’ve used as an inspiration for prayer. Consider what we can learn about God’s guidance in this short passage of Scripture.
1. God helps us to learn.
Make me know Your ways.
This is a request of faith, an admission of need. Make me know–the doing is on God. He’s the One who causes us to know. He has the answers, and He is the answer.
We participate when we seek, but the knowing is His work in our soul.
Know: To perceive. To know by experience. To cause to know.
Your ways: Direction. Manner. Habit. Character.
2. God gives more than answers; he teaches us how to live.
Teach me Your paths.
Teach: To be taught. To be trained.
Path: Road. Way of living. Way.
So often this is what I want:
- a solution to a problem
- a fix for an issue
- a supply for a need
God teaches us His ways–His guidance, His manner, and His character. Shimmering beneath the surface of these simple words is the heart of God–that we would seek to know Him more than constantly coming for the blessing, the answer, the fix, or the formula.
My way of living has been built on doing the right things and making the right decisions…so I won’t fail. So I won’t get it wrong, do it wrong…
So I’ll be accepted, approved, and valued. God’s way helps me let go of the striving of self-rightness.
3. God’s guidance is about a relationship.
Lead me in Your truth.
God’s way of leading is relational.
Lead: To cause to go, lead, march, tread.
So often, what we seek is too small. Too narrow–answers squeezed tight in all our trying to get it right on our own. Give me the wisdom and I’ll work hard to do it well. Sound familiar?
A relational word, to lead someone is to come along side. To go with and show the way, step by step. This one concept can refresh your heart as you seek guidance.
If you’re going on a trip to a new place, which would you choose?
- Take a map and find your way on your own.
- Take a guide who knows the way and will be a companion for the journey.
4. Salvation happens every day.
For You are the God of my salvation.
Salvation: yesha`
- Deliverance, salvation, rescue.
- Safety, welfare, prosperity.
- Victory.
Salvation means much more than getting into heaven.
- Deliverance from the power of sin.
- Saving from death to life.
- Rescuing us from the ideas, habits, and situations that hold us in captive.
- Safety of knowing security as a child of God.
- Welfare–our well-being comes through the provision and blessing of God. Our being OK both now and eternally.
- Prosperity–We can fully live and enjoy true life.
- Victory over sin, death, lies, behaviors, feelings, beliefs, failures, and ungodly habits.
Salvation is for this minute. For an hour from now. For tomorrow.
And for every day until time fades into the light of eternity. Salvation is a gift for living and enjoying every day. When God saves us from our selves, we experience a fresh start every day.
5. God is worth the wait.
For You I wait all the day.
Wait: To wait, look for, hope, expect. To look eagerly for. To linger for.
We often think of waiting on God in hard situations that hang heavy on our hearts. Waiting isn’t all bad, and it doesn’t have to always be hard.
Sometimes waiting is anticipation. Waiting for the bride to arrive, a baby to be born, or new growth to blossom.
God is guiding and the answer will come–but in the process–this is what I’m learning about God’s guidance:
- I come for a plan; He shows me His ways.
- I ask for a specific; He teaches me a way of living.
- I want to make a decision; He reveals His heart.
- I want to do right: He saves me to be right.
- I wait for an answer; He says wait on Me.
Is He worth the wait?
You bet!
A prayer for God’s Guidance
Lord,
You are my source of guidance. Help me to know Your ways and understand Your truth today. Show me Your way of living in this situation. You are the best source for every decision and all my needs. Help me to know more of You in the process of waiting for answers. Thank You for leading me, even when I am not aware of Your guidance. You haven’t left me to figure it out on my own–You are with me in the process. Your guidance is about so much more than the answer I seek. By faith, I receive Your guidance as I take my next step.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
What have you learned about God’s guidance? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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I totally love this, Ginger! I especially liked that you pointed out salvation is more than just getting into heaven.
“When God saves us from our selves, we experience a fresh start every day.”
I am totally a lover of fresh starts!
Me too! I’m so very grateful God gives us fresh starts, second chances, and do-overs. His mercies are new every day and grace abounds. Jerralea, so happy to cross paths with you today!
What a fresh look at God’s guidance. This really encourages me. I’ve been memorizing those verses in Psalm 25. It’s so true that we’re seeking for the RIGHT answers, to be RIGHT, do the RIGHT thing. We look for simple answers, God wants to give more of himself.
Yay for you as you memorize verses from Psalm 25. Great verses to commit to memory. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, Betsy! May God give you wonderful guidance, drawing you closer with each step.
You are so right!!! I want narrow specific answers, but He wants to show me how to live in every aspect of my life! His ways are so much higher than mine. Lead me O Lord. XO
Yes, Liz, his ways are higher. I’ve also been thinking about Proverbs 3:5-6–trusting God rather than leaning on my own understanding!
Great word, Ginger! Love the parts about the Lord teaching us HOW to live and the relationship piece. I think we are so caught up in the destination sometimes we miss the journey!
So easy to miss the journey, isn’t it? Thanks for joining in the conversation, Kori!
Visiting from Coffee for your Heart. I want the Guide. Sometimes we choose the map and take the hard way. I love this illustration. I am so glad that I stopped by to read this. I have some decisions I need help with as well, and this is just what I needed. May your soul be refreshed in the One who goes before you, He will show you the way.
Yes, I’ll take the guide as well. I loved this illustration, and it fit so well with this post. May God give you confidence and wisdom in making your decisions! Blessings, Cheryl.
this is exactly what I need right now! We also need to remember that every mis-step or detour isn’t necessarily “lack of conformity to or transgression of the law of God,” because in life’s messiness we can’t helps straying off the path at times, but God redirects us and redeems it all. I’m visiting from Porch Stories where I’m in 25, and you can find me here: http://www.desertspiritsfire.com/2017/04/porch-stories-shared-stories-matter.html Thanks for the lovely prayer and the ebook; resurrection hope and glory to you!
You’re welcome. Enjoy the prayer and the ebook. I love the way you point out that God redeems our missteps. Thanks for adding your thoughts to the conversation today
I love His Word and His promise to guide us.
Answers may call us to action, but sometimes it’s the silence stretching our faith and sowing deeper trust.
Thank-you for going over this Psalm and reminding me to keep waiting patiently with hope! He is a faithful shepherd!
Grace to you Ginger.
Blessings, Jessica! Thanks for joining us with fresh faith as we seek God’s guidance. Love the way you put this: “Answers may call us to action, but sometimes it’s the silence stretching our faith and sowing deeper trust.” Grace to you as well.