How God guides¶

God leads us along the path He has chosen for our lives. He does this through the following:

Commands¶

In order to live under God's direction, we must live within the commands and boundaries He has given in Scripture (Deut 11) and society (Rom 13).

Circumstance¶

God ordains our circumstances (Isa 45; 1 Thess 5). We are driven on by them, and our lives are built by a collection of them. God sometimes gives signs in our circumstances.

Conscience¶

God speaks to us in our conscience. If we restrict ourselves to what we think right, then we will not be led wrong (Rom 2; Rom 9; Rom 14).

Choices¶

Sometimes God gives us only good choices. Sometimes He gives only bad ones. Sometimes we get a mix. Either way, the set of choices we get determine our lives. We make our plans, but God decides our steps (Prov 16:9). We learn from the choices we have made in partnership with God.

Spirituality¶

The Holy Spirit lives inside us and leads us (Luke 4; Acts 8; Acts 20; Rom 8). Sometimes our thoughts and feelings are from the Spirit, sometimes they turn out not to be. We have to be wise and self-doubting. We have to be prayerful and careful. It is important to keep praying for guidance, and wait expectantly for God's response. God answers every prayer, but not always immediately, and not always in the affirmative.

Those around us, who God has put in our lives are often His best way of guiding us. If we listen to wise counsel, our lives will be built upon a sure foundation (Prov 11:14; Prov 24:6; Matt 7).