The Answer Is in His Word

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

“As you read, pause frequently to meditate on the meaning of what you are reading. Absorb the Word into your system by dwelling on it, pondering it, going over it again and again in your mind, considering it from many different angles, until it becomes part of you.” Nancy Wolgemuth DeMoss

 

  • It’s time to meet with Jesus! Search your heart to see if anything is hindering you from hearing His voice. Confess it now; lay everything at the feet of Jesus. Choose to submit to Him and believe that He will fill you with unspeakable joy and peace.
  • Read Psalm 119:169-172 (NASB). If you can, read all the way to verse 176. Say out loud, several times, the second half of verse 169: “Give me understanding according to Your Word.”

The Answer Is in His Word

A few years ago, I was seeking the Lord’s direction. Based on an innocent comment by my daughter, I was challenged to consider making drastic changes to her current schooling situation. I could have ignored her statement, as she was by no means asking me for a change; it was just a comment about something she didn’t like. Though it was an innocent comment, something in me didn’t want to let it pass. I told my husband, “Let’s pray about it for one week.” I even mentioned it to a friend and at the end of the conversation, I said, “I’m sure we won’t change anything.”

Then I read Mark 16:3. If you’ve been a Christian for even a few years, you have probably read and heard the resurrection story many times. Because God’s Word is the Living Word, even the most familiarof verses can speak to you as if it’s brand new. On this particular occasion, this verse stood out to me: “And they asked each other, ‘Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?’” (Mark 16:3).

Remember, when you read the Bible, it’s best to first look at the intended meaning for the original audience before seeing how it applies to you. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went to anoint Jesus’ body, but his body was in a tomb that was blocked by a heavy stone. Many imagine the stone as a giant boulder, but even if it was only a couple feet in diameter, it would have been too heavy for the women to move. Nevertheless, they brought the spices. They had no assurance that someone would move the stone for them, yet to their surprise, the stone was rolled away. Moreover, no mere human moved it, an angel rolled the stone away (Matthew 28:2).

I saw the faith of these women despite their impossible task. At this point, I knew without a doubt that the schooling choice I made, if I trusted God, was possible. Jesus would make a way.

Practically speaking, how can we discern the will of God?

  1. Read God’s Word. This is one Christian discipline where you don’t talk; you listen. If you don’t see an answer, keep reading. Come back the next day and the day after that. Wait. His answer will come. “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry” (Psalm 40:1). Do not look for a verse only with the intention of how it will apply to your situation. Simply read, look at the original meaning, then ask how it can bring you closer to Jesus. In the Lord’s timing, His Word will extend to your situation.
  2. Put your trust in the Lord through prayer. Continually ask, “Lord, I want to see Your will, so I will keep praying and keep committing my Bible reading to You.”
  3. Don’t trust feelings or logic. I know this is difficult to do, no matter what your personality. The statement “I just have a peace about it” is great. I don’t want to knock that sentiment, but please don’t use this as your only determining factor. “I’ve looked at all the pros and cons” works too, but you can easily miss the spiritual component that does not fit into a list. Even when your feelings and logic match, strive to read God’s Word until you receive a final confirmation.
  4. It’s okay to seek godly wisdom from others, but remember, we are all human, so someone else’s advice should not replace hearing from the Lord. I cannot emphasize enough to follow #1 and #2 first.
  5. Do not look for a verse to support your decision. You may be in danger of reading without learning the original meaning or worse, twisting the Bible to cater to your needs. Read it openly, not focused on the answer, but waiting to see how God will answer. He may surprise you!

Thank God that we have the Holy Spirit because He will always agree with Scripture. If we don’t know the Scripture, then we can’t confirm if what we hear is truly from the Holy Spirit. So, keep reading, my sister in Christ. You can trust that Jesus will reveal His will and when He does, it will be glorious!

Blessings and Love,

Daphne

Questions to Ponder

  • Are you struggling to hear God’s will? Will you commit to practicing #1 and #2 on a daily basis?

Faith-Filled Ideas

When—not if—God speaks to you through the Bible, highlight the verse(s). Date your entry, describe the situation, and keep it as a testimony of how He reveals His will through Scripture. These reminders will be a treasure trove of answered prayers!

Daphne Close
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