Do you want to be wise and discerning? Do you want to be victorious? You need guidance.
Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance. (Prov. 1:5)
For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure. (Prov. 11:14)
Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance. (Prov. 20:18)
For waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers. (Prov. 24:6)
In a previous post we saw why it only makes sense to turn to God first for guidance. That, however, doesn’t mean we can never look elsewhere for guidance. What we must learn, however, is that they must be God-established means.
Commandments in God’s Word:
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (Ps. 119:105)
Do you need guidance? Begin by taking heed to what God has already made clear in His Word.
Integrity in Your Heart:
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. (Prov. 11:3)
Do you need guidance? Focus on who you should be in Christ and you will tend to do what you should do.
Advice of Other People:
According to verses at the beginning of this post, there are times it might be helpful to look to other people for advice. A respected church leader might be someone to look to for counsel if they understand their role as a leader is to guide and not to play God in your life.
Be cautioned that not everyone will prove to be a good source of guidance. You could be led astray. According to Jesus, some people are “blind guides.” Some do not practice what they teach others to do (Rom. 2:19-21). Some have worse problems than you yet act like they have it altogether so you should trust them (Matt. 23:24). Listen to Jesus when He says, “Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” (Matt. 15:14)
Do you need guidance? Seek God first and if you are still unsure of what to do, ask people who are wise and filled with integrity for help sorting it out. However, always weigh what they say against God and His Word.