How can I get divine guidance?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Divine guidance is a gift from God to those who seek Him through faith, prayer, and obedience. Faith in God means trusting Him more than ourselves (Proverbs 3:5-6; 1 John 3:20). We can show our faith by approaching God in heartfelt prayer (James 5:16). The Bible contains many examples, such as David and Daniel, who earnestly sought God through prayer and fasting (Psalm 25; Daniel 9; Acts 13:2-3). Believers, through the Holy Spirit and Scripture, can pray to receive wisdom when they ask in faith (James 1:5-6). We must also be open to God’s guidance by trusting Him, which starts with reverentially fearing and loving Him enough to obey His commands (Psalm 111:10; Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:36-40). God has provided His Word to guide us as well (2 Timothy 3:16). God desires a relationship with His children and delights in giving guidance to those who genuinely seek Him (John 15:15; Revelation 3:20; Psalm 32:8). However, true guidance requires a heart willing to follow wherever God leads.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Old Testament teaches that divine guidance comes through seeking God wholeheartedly, obeying His commands, and listening to His prophets or messengers. Proverbs 3:5-6 urges trusting in the Lord and acknowledging Him to have your paths made straight.
• Deuteronomy 28 highlights blessings that come from obeying God’s commands, showing that following His ways leads to favorable guidance.
• Examples like King David (Psalm 25) and Daniel (Daniel 9) demonstrate seeking God through prayer and fasting to gain clarity and direction.
• God used prophets like Moses and Samuel to give His guidance (Numbers 12:6-8; 1 Samuel 3), and Proverbs emphasizes the value of wise counsel (Proverbs 11:14).
• Psalm 111:10 shows that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, which is foundational for discerning God’s guidance.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• If we ask for divine guidance, we should have the faith that God is fully good and as His children, we can receive good gifts from Him (Matthew 7:11).
• God gives us the privilege of prayer. We can come to God by learning to listen for, hear, and act according to the Holy Spirit: "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:5-6).
• God desires to communicate with us, and He can guide us, but we should seek divine guidance with a humble heart, trusting that He is all wise and all good (1 Corinthians 1:20-31).
• God says that when we ask for wisdom from Him, He will grant it. James 1:5-6 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind." Our faith in God’s divine guidance should be active. We must allow His wisdom to guide our lives (James 3:13).
• Within Scriptures’ pages are oceans of guidance and instruction: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
• When we seek divine guidance, we should come to God with an attitude of willing obedience: "Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked" (1 John 2:4-6).
• We should have faith that our good God knows everything (1 John 3:20) and as such, His guidance is worthy of our obedience.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

God's desire is to be in relationship with us (John 3:16-17; Romans 8:15), yet too often our desire when we approach God is to merely get what we can from Him (James 4:2-3). Receiving divine guidance involves faith, and that faith includes reverence for God and a heart that submits to Him (Proverbs 1:7; James 4:7). When we seek divine guidance, we must first come to God through Jesus. In Christ, God is our Father and is eager to grant us wisdom and guidance (Jeremiah 29:13; Luke 18:1-8; Matthew 7:7-11). He wants us to live our lives His way, and He will give us the wisdom to help us do so. However, once we receive divine guidance, we should be willing to follow where God leads us in obedience (Romans 12:1-2).

UNDERSTAND

• Divine guidance is available to those who seek God with faith, humility, and obedience.
• God guides His people through His Word, the Holy Spirit, prayer, and wise counsel.
• True guidance requires not just asking but a willingness to follow wherever God leads.

REFLECT

• How are you actively seeking God's guidance?
• How often do you rely on prayer, Scripture, and the Holy Spirit when making decisions in your daily life?
• When was the last time you asked God for wisdom in faith, trusting that He would answer, and what was the result?

ENGAGE

• How has God given clear guidance in Scripture and in our own lives?
• How can we encourage one another to seek God’s wisdom before making decisions?
• What does it look like to follow divine guidance when it leads somewhere unexpected or difficult?