God’s guidance

June 7, 2006

By Dan Turpin

The stiff and wooden quality about our religious lives is a result of our lack of holy desire.

— A.W. Tozer

One of the big problems we create for ourselves is attempting to plan God around our lives instead of planning our lives around God. So how do we avoid that pitfall? Guidance. We need guidance.

E. Stanley Jones said, “If we do not have guidance, then it is probably withheld for one of two reasons: we are untrained, or we are unwilling. Guidance doesn’t just happen. It is a result of placing oneself in the way of being guided. A radio doesn’t just happen to pick up messages; it is tuned in by deliberate intention, and then it receives. Receptivity is necessary to perceptivity — you perceive only as you receive.”

You will not hear the Lord if you try to work Him into your plans. Self-interest crowds God out.

Guidance comes as a result of our fellowship with the Lord. Philippians 4:5-7 (NIV) says, “The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

As we spend time with the Lord His peace prevails in our hearts, putting us in a position to hear His voice. I experienced this lesson in a dramatic way many years ago. I was at the church praying about a financial need in my life. I poured out my heart to the Lord in prayer. The presence of the Holy Spirit fell on me as I prayed in tongues, and suddenly these words came into my heart: To be led by your Spirit is what I pray; to be led by your Spirit every moment of every day; to be led by your Spirit in all I do and say; to be led by your Spirit is what I pray.

The Holy Spirit intervened in this urgent situation with His wisdom. He let me know that I should focus on my relationship with Him. As we learn to walk with the Lord and fellowship with Him, He will take care of our needs.

Thomas Brooks said, “It is not the mere touching of the flower by the bee that gathers honey, but her abiding for a time on the flower that draws out the sweet.” It is important that we spend time with the Lord and abide in His presence. As we draw near the Lord, showing an interest in Him, He will guide our lives through the Holy Spirit who abides in our hearts.

Guidance does not happen through the brief prayers we utter before drifting off to sleep. We are to live our lives in prayer. Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray continually.” We are to include God in everything we do, and talk to Him throughout the day.

Set aside a time for uninterrupted prayer. “You have nothing to do in life except to live in union with Christ” (Rufus Mosely). Learn to trust the Lord with your life and depend on Him for guidance — and you will get it.

Dan Turpin is senior pastor of West Coast Church (AG) in Englewood, Fla.