Specific Guidance is Biblical

I like pondering about how God led specifically and that we can see that in scripture. Many times when we share parts of our stories with other people, we will get looks of doubt that God has actually led us specifically…even from other Christians.  Shortly, after the initial moment of getting that you’re-crazy-look, it’s easy for me to feel discouraged.  But I know our stories on how God has led us, and the impossibility of it all. He is amazing and He’s done it all!  And it’s even in scripture for all to see that He works this way at times. Not all the time, but he absolutely does do it. 

As I read through Genesis again, I continue to see a pattern throughout Abraham’s life and now Isaac too!  That pattern is of God leading His people specifically. I was thinking about all the things that are required to hear God’s voice in order to be led specifically.

1. To not be in any willful sin –  We can only hear God’s voice when we don’t have sin separating us from God.  Usually when you have willful sin in our lives, you can’t see clearly because you are under the control of that sin.  When we are under the control of sin, it will have a hold over you and cloud your judgment. 
2. To Put The Word of God into practice – When we put His Word into practice, we see God honor our faith to actually do what He says.  Also, putting His word into practice is sometimes what guides you to the specific place He has for you. And even if His word might not guide you specifically, it will always give a general guidance, and then from there sometimes He will guide you specifically!!
3. To Have faith that He can lead you to a specific place/job/house/ etc. – If you don’t have faith for this, then I don’t think you will see Him work. Lack of faith can sometimes blind us from seeing what He’s doing.  If you lack faith, then you need to pray for His help to have it.  It’s faith that pleases God. (Matt 13:58; Heb. 11:6)
4. To Walk circumspectly and wisely – To your specific situation, apply the word wisely. Sometimes God may use scripture to speak to us. Sometimes that’s by a stand-alone scripture, but sometimes it’s by reading a scripture in context and understanding the general principle of the passage.  
5. To Listen to the Spirt of God and prayer – God has control of all things, so we shouldn’t think of anything as a coincidence.  Pray about everything and then be alert and expectant that He will speak to you. Take the time to be still and ponder on what you read. 
6. Don’t be impatient – If you haven’t taken the time to be still and content with where you are currently, then I would lean on the side of doubt that God is leading. God has rarely led us into anything where we feel pressured by a person or by a circumstance.  If you can’t take even the smallest step by faith, then you might be being impatient.

   For example, you don’t like your living situation. It’s a safe place, but you you just don’t like your roommate.  You’ve prayed about it, but don’t feel you have heard anything from God. For me, I wouldn’t start looking at a new house just because I don’t like my situation. God might be using that situation to sharpen me and that might be just the place He has for me. However, if I feel God has led me in some small  way, to think that I should move (maybe a scripture), I might take the smallest step of faith to look on Zillow. In that small step you took to look, how did it feel? Did you feel at peace doing so? Did God bless that small step with more encouragement? Be willing to pray and wait some more. 

Scriptures