It is very important that we pray when we need guidance on specific cases. Ask God to show you what is His will in the issue. Why should you go to someone else to show you God’s will before you go to God himself?
God has promised to answer when we pray.
‘This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it-the Lord is his name.” Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know ” (Jer. 33:2-3).
Jesus encouraged us to pray and promised us that we shall receive exactly what we pray for from our loving and caring heavenly Father,
“Ask and it will be given to you…for everyone who asks receives…” (Matt. 7:7).
Jesus stressed God’s willingness to answer our prayer by comparing him with our biological fathers. “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?” (Matt.7:9-10).
The answer to those questions is emphatically NONE. Even the evilest of fathers will never do that. Then Jesus naturally concludes the analogy with the extremely sympathetic and absolutely just nature of God: “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matt. 7:11, emphasis mine).
Do you remember the famous song, what a friend we have in Jesus? It says the following concerning prayer:
Oh what peace we often forfeit
Oh what needless pain we bear!
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.
Instead of doing what is most obvious when we are faced with a difficult decision, to make-fear the possible negative consequences of missing the point -we should pray. The Bible says that when we pray something special will take place. God will send his peace to guard our hearts and mind.
“And the peace of God which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil.4:7, Amplified Bible).
So, pray. Give God a chance to guide you.
As you pray consider the alternatives you have, then pray about them. Be patient. Pray until you get inner peace regarding the issue you are seeking God about. If he does, then you know he wants it that way. He is leading you in that direction.
At other times, however, you will experience doubts. Tension builds as you continue to pray. If that happens then you better watch out-or at least wait and pray some more-God might be having other plans for you.
Therefore, pray until you get inner assurance that God wants it that way. When He is leading, you will enjoy His peace and that is a sure way of telling you that He is with you in your decision. When there are doubts, don’t proceed. Find out why?
Patience
To accurately discern God’s will you will need to be patient. Don’t be like the boy who knocks at the door and goes to play with the other boys before receiving an answer. Wait for the answer! Do not be in a hurry.
Normally the best way of differentiating between a passing feeling and a lasting impression is time. When you patiently wait a lot of things will sort themselves out.
As you wait God may in answer to your prayer, do one of the following things:
a). Provide alternatives.
As you pray be open to God’s leading. Consider what information is at your disposal. Often God opens a door you did not see before. Do not miss His alternatives!
Paul, for example, had been trying to preach in various places – Asia, Bithynia and Mysia. Having been prevented from entering all these places by the Holy Spirit he settled at Troas for a while, “At night the Lord appeared to him in a vision and guided him to Macedonia”. (Acts 16).
- Assure you heart that you are in His will.
It is possible to experience times of despair and doubts as to what God’s will for you is in the circumstances, especially when you are going through hard times. At such times, you begin doubting even what you used to believe was God’s will for you and you begin praying, “What is your will Lord?”
Do you remember Paul’s “thorn”? Paul says that he asked the Lord, three times, to remove “the thorn in the flesh” but He didn’t. Instead, He assured Paul that it was His will and plan for bringing him into subjection (2 Cor. 12:7-11).
- Answer, But at His Own Chosen Time.
For some reason, we want quick and immediate answers to our prayers. When this does not happen, we tend to give up. Jesus taught that we should be persistent in our prayers and that we should “always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). So, pray and be patient. The example of Peter in jail is appropriate, (Acts 12:1). God did answer the prayers of the church but He did so at the last minute! Remember God’s time is the best! He knows what time is right. So, as you pray do not give up. God will give you peace in decision making as you stay in prayer.
When you finally have peace and assurance, believe that is the direction God wants you to take and move forward. Don’t pray forever about your decision-what use will your decision be if you will lose the opportunity?
