Which job should you take?
Should you buy this car or that truck? Should you move? Is it time to open your business? Should you move into full-time ministry? Is it time to step away from something? All of us face decisions on a regular basis—some big, some small. But we all want to make the right decisions! And we can. However, we must guard against trying to find the answers we need through natural means. This often leads to overthinking, which comes from fear—fear of making a wrong decision. That’s why some decisions seem to torment people—fear is tormentor. But 1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV) tells us that “God is not the author of confusion.” God has given us everything we need to make decisions with confidence. Here, we’re sharing how to know the answer to any question. 1. Seek the Wisdom of God “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” –Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) Some people say a prayer about their situation and then immediately jump on the internet looking for natural, logical answers to their question or problem. They allow fear of making a wrong decision get in the way of receiving the wisdom of God. This may seem obvious, but when you put yourself into a position where the wisdom of the world is competing with the wisdom of God, you’ll end up in a state of confusion. There are several ways to seek the wisdom of God. One is praying in the spirit, which is God’s way of getting inside information to you. It is an important tool you can use to pray out mysteries and receive divine revelation. Another is reading the Word of God and expecting the Holy Spirit to illuminate scripture relative to your situation. Finally, Proverbs 15:22 (NIV) says, “Plans fail for lack of counsel” and Proverbs 20:18 (NCB) says, “Plans will succeed when good advice is accepted.” God can and will speak through others. It is wise to seek counsel from those who operate in faith and wisdom, and who are not intimately connected with the decision you need to make. 2. Take Time To Fast “Then [when you have fasted] your light will break out like the dawn, and you will be healed quickly.” –Isaiah 58:8 (CEB) Fasting subdues your flesh and clears away the natural thoughts and fears that can cloud your judgment. It opens your spiritual ears to receive. When you fast, expect to hear from God—expect revelation from Him. As you do this, remember that fasting is laying things aside just to be with God. 3. Seek in the Right Places “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”—Jeremiah 29:13 Sometimes, Christians expect an answer to come a certain way—so they wait and wait. They want the exact words to drop down into their spirits, like it did the last time, or a door to open in just the same way. But God doesn’t deal with us the same way over and over. That’s why it is so important that we are tuned in to His still, small voice and quick to yield to the inward witness. Bill Johnson once described the way God deals with us in an easily relatable illustration. He recalled how, when it came to Easter-egg hunts, when his children were young, he would hide the eggs in very obvious places—right out in the open so they could find them. But as they got older, he made it much more challenging. He met them at their level of maturity and capability. He expected more. If you’re a mature believer and you’re looking for the answer to your question in the open, you’re missing it. You’ve outgrown the easy answers. Your seeking may need to mature, and the answers may not come as expected, but God isn’t hiding anything from you. You just need to learn to seek in the right places. Our limited thinking when seeking an answer from God can also be likened to the story of the man trapped on a roof during a flood. He had prayed and asked God to rescue him. Soon, a rowboat came by and offered him a ride. But he said, “No, I’m waiting for God to save me.” Then, the Coast Guard came and offered to rescue him. Again, he said, “No, God will save me.” Finally, a helicopter came and lowered a rope to bring him to safety, and again, he declined as he waited for God to show up with his answer. As the story goes, the floodwaters overtook him, and he met God in heaven where he asked, “God, why didn’t You save me?” And God said, “I sent you a rowboat, a rescue boat and a helicopter.” Don’t be so convinced about how God will send the answer that you miss it altogether. 4. Listen To Your Inward Witness “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” –Romans 8:14 (KJV) Your inward witness is one of the most powerful tools you have to find the answer to any question. If you spend regular time in the Word and in prayer, you will hear from God regarding your situation when you are intentional about listening. That’s why Kenneth E. Hagin said, “The No. 1 way that God guides and directs His children is through the inward witness.” The inward witness is what gives you peace in your spirit regarding your decision. It will pull you in one direction or another according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. And it will sometimes go against what you thought, with your natural mind, the answer would be—which is why listening is so important! This is a truth that a man from Texas knew well. Though he had only a fifth grade education and had come from a life of poverty, his ability to listen to the inward witness led him to become a multimillionaire through investments. Here is how he described the process of seeking God for the answer to any question: “When someone comes along with an idea for an investment, I don’t allow myself to think about it mentally. Instead, I go into my closet and pray. I wait as long as it takes until I hear something. Sometimes, it can take as long as three days. I come out for some meals and a little sleep, but mainly, I remain quiet and alone with the Lord until I know by an inward witness what I am to do.” God wants us to be led by His Spirit and know the answer to any question. And, as Kenneth Hagin said, “God has a better way than a hit-and-miss system.” When you learn how to know the answer to any question, you will never fear making the wrong decision again! Whatever answer you need today, God is waiting to get the answer to you. There is an answer for every situation—now go find it! Watch Kenneth Copeland and Greg Stephens talk about how divine direction comes from your covenant connection!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
January 2024
Categories |
|
We're Social. |