Praying honestly and studying Scripture help Christians distinguish God’s will from their own motivations
PROVERBS 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Sadly, we frequently fool ourselves into believing that what we want to do is also what God wants us to do. Therefore, when we believe we have heard from the Lord, it is quite important for us to ask some serious questions.
Is it consistent with the Word of God? God will never tell you to do something that goes against His perfect, unchanging Word. If you feel called to do something contrary to Scripture, you can be certain that it is not the Lord who is urging you to do so.
Can you confidently ask God to enable you to do this? If you are feeling uneasy about requesting God’s help and empowerment, that may be a sign the direction did not originate with Him. We must never be ashamed to call upon the Lord’s power in the endeavors He sets before us.
Is it wise? The heavenly Father never calls us to act foolishly. Therefore, if there is no discernible purpose in the action, you may need to question whether the message was from Him.
Does it fit with your identity in Christ? We are God’s children, who are being conformed day by day into the likeness of Christ. If you feel led to do something that goes against the image of Jesus in your life, then you can be sure God hasn’t called you to do it.
The Lord has not left us in a void without help. He is here with us, in the presence of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to hear His voice and perceive His guidance in our life. Before rushing into action, be sure that you have heard Him correctly.
In Touch Ministries