Day 5: The #1 Principle for Seeking God’s Guidance—Communication

There’s no step-by-step formula to discerning God’s will. But there are some guiding principles we can follow.

Today, we will look at the first and primary principle: communication with God.

If we’re truly concerned about knowing God’s will, we will spend time asking Him for His wisdom and direction—and listening for His answer.

Prayer should envelop the process of guidance. We should also seek His guidance through His written Word, the Bible.

What Do the Scriptures Say?

Communication with God involves regular reading of the Bible with an open heart and mind to hear God’s Word for our lives. The Bible is the central revelation for all believers, and its precepts and principles give us the answers to most questions about the will of God in decision-making situations.

The Scriptures teach more than the way of salvation. They also guide us in how to live after becoming God’s children. As Psalm 119 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path” (v. 105).

God designed His Word to equip us to accomplish “every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17), that is, to fulfill His purposes for our lives. God reveals His moral will in the positive and negative commands of the Bible. These precepts can guide us through the majority of decisions we will face.

In addition, the Bible offers a multitude of general principles applicable to specific circumstances.

There is no need to seek guidance on things expressly commanded or forbidden in Scripture. For example, a Christian does not need to wrestle with whether to marry an unbeliever; the answer is already in the Bible (see 2 Corinthians 6:14). God will never lead us to do anything contrary to His Word.

Since the Bible is our primary source of guidance, we owe it to ourselves to become so familiar with its contents that its precepts and principles become ingrained in our thought patterns. This process of renewing our minds with the Word takes time and effort. However, there is no other way to “prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

If we do not regularly train or “program” our minds with the truths of Scripture, we will find our minds programmed by default with the temporal value system of the world. Our lives will soon reflect those values as well. Inner renewal is the prerequisite to outer transformation.

Go Beyond Reading and Studying—Obey!

As we renew our minds with the commandments and counsel of God’s revealed Word, we must approach it with a resolve to obey what it says—even if it goes against our wishes.

Content without conviction will do us little good.

It is always possible to distort the Scriptures to match our selfish desires. We avoid self-deception only to the extent that we are willing and open to respond to God’s light.

Although the Bible is our primary guide, the Lord supplements the Scriptures in various personal ways to guide us into His will for our lives. We will look at these supplemental sources of guidance starting tomorrow.

Day 5 Scripture Readings:

Psalm 119:105

2 Timothy 3:16–17

James 1:22