Divine Guidance

by G. Prasher, Manchester, England | Category: Christian Living | Jul 1991

Teach me Thy way, 0 LORD; and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies (Ps. 27:11).

This prayer of David expressed a need which we Christians all share we long to be assured of guidance in the Lord's way, in His will for our lives. We are conscious of our own weaknesses and of the power of our great adversary, so we too need to be led in a plain path because of our spiritual enemies.

Looking to the vastness of God's creation, we see His perfect control of sun, moon and stars. He is the God of design and order. Scripture assures us that He also works all things after the counsel of His will (Eph. 1:11) - His great spiritual purposes are moving forward according to plan. But will One who is so great take notice of the tiny world of my personal affairs? Can I know His guidance in the details of my life? We remind one another of that remarkable text in Paul's letter to the Romans:

And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to His purpose (8:28).

Let us rest thankfully in faith on that word of the Lord, believing it even though our immediate situation may seem extremely difficult. The Lord Jesus gave a similar assurance of our heavenly Father's intimate care for us:

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and not one them shall fall on the ground without your Father: but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore; ye are of more value than many sparrows (Mat. 10:29-31).

Certainly there is no doubt about the willingness of our heavenly Father to guide us. But on our part there must be a readiness to seek His leading, a willingness to accept His direction and a daily realization that we cannot safely lead ourselves.

You will remember the failure of God's people in this respect in the time of Joshua. They had been led to great victories at Jericho and Ai, and were preparing for further conquests. Then a deputation arrived from a people who wanted an agreement of peace with Israel. The men said they had come from a far-off nation; their supplies of food were mouldy, their shoes worn, and their clothes torn, apparently through the rigours of a long journey. The princes of Israel accepted the men's story at face value, and Scripture states that the "asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD" (Josh. 9:14). Over-confidence had caused them to forget that they could never relax their dependence on God for fresh direction. The truth was that the deputation had deceived Israel's leaders; they had come from Gibeon, a mere twenty miles distant. Israel had failed to use the means of divine guidance God had provided.

Are we ourselves not all too prone to try and order our own affairs without reference to God? Solomon gives wise counsel about this:

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding: in all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths (Prov. 3:5,6).

The instruction specifies all our ways - not just the spiritual aspects of our lives but also the everyday affairs of family and business. You have probably heart of Christian businessmen who begin each day with an office prayer meeting, committing the affairs of the day to the Lord for His help; a lovely reflection of the attitude described in Colossians:

Whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (3:17).

It was David who wrote:

Guide me in Thy truth, and teach me; for Thou art the God of my salvation ... The meek will He guide in judgement: and the meek will He teach His way (Ps. 25:5,9).

How vital then that we should show this attitude before the Lord if we are to know the guidance we long for. Yielding ourselves under the mighty hand of God we recognize Him as the Potter and ourselves as but clay. He knows the future as the past, He is in a position to know how best He will be glorified in our lives. As children of God we can look confidently to Him for direction day by day, and then accept the way things turn out as being the will of the Lord for us. This may not always be as we would ourselves have thought best.

David's lovely shepherd psalm expresses a delightful trust:

The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul:

He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake (Ps. 23:1-3).

David found God's leading to be very personal and real, yet at times he had been led through extremely difficult paths. Divine guidance does not mean exemption from rough roads and stormy conditions. Let us take note of the emphasis on "paths of righteousness". Here is a basic condition of God's leading. Are we prepared to walk righteously with Him?

G. Prasher, Manchester, England | Jul 1991
Christian Living