All of us face decisions of many kinds and we need wisdom to make the right choices. God promises us the wisdom we need.
In James 1:5 (NKJV) we read, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” God is pleased when we ask Him for wisdom.
In Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) we have another wonderful promise of divine guidance. “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.”
To receive God’s guidance, we need to have a personal relationship with Him. We need to trust Him with all of our hearts. If we do our part, God will do His. When we trust Him, He may lead us on paths that don’t make much sense to us. We need to remember that God sees the whole picture. He sees the beginning from the end.
Another factor that is essential to our receiving God’s wisdom and guidance is obedience. In 1 Samuel 15 God told Samuel to tell King Saul to go against the Amalekites and to destroy all of them plus their cattle, sheep, and goats. God assured him of victory.
Saul did have a great victory, BUT he spared King Agag plus the best of the cattle, sheep, and goats. When confronted by Samuel, Saul tried to make out that he had obeyed the LORD, but Samuel asked about King Agag and the noise of the cattle, sheep, and goats. Then he informed Saul that God had removed him as the king of Israel. Samuel said to Saul in 1 Samuel 15:22-23 (NLT), “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols. So, because you have rejected the command of the Lord,
He has rejected you as king.”
In receiving Divine guidance, we must know, recognize and acknowledge God in all our ways. He has redeemed and purchased us to be His own special possessions. Therefore, we must keep Him as our focal point in the decision-making process. We must keep our ears open to His voice as we surrender our plans, priorities, dreams, and desires to Him.
I don’t know how many times over the years I needed to make decisions and had several choices in doing so. As I prayed and waited on the LORD, assuring Him that all I wanted was His will and His favor, I knew what choice to make.
In Psalm 37:4-5 (NKJV) we read, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him,
and He shall bring it to pass.” What a great promise from our Father who loves us and wants the best for us!
While Joyce and I were still pastoring in Washington State, I started getting calls from other churches asking me to come and be their pastor. God was blessing where we were, and I had absolutely no desire to move. I sincerely prayed about the different invitations and was always relieved when I sensed the LORD said no.
This went on for about two years and I had at least five churches wanting me to come. One was from a church that I dreamed of pastoring. I didn’t think I needed to pray about that. I thought I already knew the answer. I asked for a week to really seek the mind of my LORD. By the end of that week, the desire to pastor that church was totally gone. I could hardly believe it. A few weeks later I got a call from a man in the Ventura Missionary Church. They had gone through a wretched time and many people had left. As I listened to his story, I literally sensed the Holy Spirit whispering to my spirit, “This time you won’t be saying no.”
About two months later we were in Ventura and what a blessing it was to pastor that church – not once but twice (for 10 and 15 years, respectively)! It pays to wait on the LORD and give Him time to reveal step by step His plans for you.
In Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT) we read, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.’”
I hope each of you reading this meditation really wants God’s will and guidance every day of your life. He longs to reveal Himself to you and through you.
God bless you,
Pastor Leonard
