How to trust God’s guidance
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Who's Advising You?
When we face important decisions, we may seek advice from friends, read self-help books, or simply consider how we feel about the choices we need to make. But how can we know what God wants us to do? That’s where prayer comes in. Before making important decisions, it is essential to take time to pray for wisdom and discernment.
How to Prayerfully Trust God
Trusting God's Timing
God will faithfully guide us, but he will do so in his own timing, which may be different from the timing we prefer.
Exercising Patience & Self-Control
If we’ve prayed but haven’t yet heard from God, we need to wait on him rather than rushing ahead in our own strength.
Being Led by the Spirit of God
When we pray, we invite the Holy Spirit to lead us.
Abiding by God's Word
Then, we hold what we sense or hear up to the Bible.
If the message agrees with God’s Word, honors Jesus, and produces the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – then we can move forward with confidence. If not, we should wait and continue to pray until the Holy Spirit clarifies what choice to make. Discernment takes practice. Just like musicians learn to tune their ears to the right notes, believers learn to recognize the voice of God by spending time with him.
Discerning the Voice of God
The more we read the Bible, pray, and walk with Jesus, the more we can tell the difference between his leading and counterfeit guidance. We need to stay alert in this fallen world because not everything that sounds good or feels right is truly from God. But we can trust God to guide us after we ask for his help.
Have a prayer request?
Would you like Friendship ATL to join you in prayer for a specific need or concern?
