How can I get divine guidance?
God says that when you ask for wisdom from Him, He will grant it. We read in James 1:5–6: "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 ability to receive wisdom from God is reliant upon our faith. First, the faith that God has our best interests at heart and will give us wisdom if we ask (Matthew 7:11). Second, the faith that His wisdom is true and right and worth receiving (1 John 3:20). Third, the active faith that intends to allow His wisdom to guide our lives (James 3:13). This faith requires a measure of fear—respect for God and a heart that submits to Him (Proverbs 1:7).
Too often our desire when we approach God is to get what we can from Him (James 4:2–3). But God's desire is to be in relationship with us (John 3:16–17). God is not a genie who grants our wishes. He is our Creator who desires a relationship with us. He provided a way to restore our broken relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. So when we seek divine guidance, we must first come to God through Jesus. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). It is those who are saved by Jesus, who are children of God (John 1:12), who can truly receive divine guidance.
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 will give us the wisdom to help us do so.
God has already given us much divine guidance in the Bible. In His Word we find 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).
God also 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).
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).
God desires to communicate with us and will guide us. We should seek divine guidance with a humble heart, trusting that God is all wise and all good, and be willing to follow where He leads (1 Corinthians 1:20–31; Romans 8:28).
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Truth about the Christian Life
