How does God guide and direct us? In Proverbs 3:5-6 we are told that we should trust him with all our heart, not our understanding and we should acknowledge him, or give him thanks, in all things or at all times, and he will direct our paths. We must hear from God.

He primarily talks to us by the Holy Spirit (John 14 16-18). As we read the Bible the Holy Spirit can open our spiritual eyes to see and understand God’s word (John 14:26; John 16:13-15). In our times of reading and mediating the word God can bring direction to our lives.

The Holy Spirit can also communicate directly to our spirit with a scripture verse, thought, words, conviction or an idea. Elijah fled from the evil Queen Jezebel, who threatened to kill him. God found Elijah hiding in a cave and had him stand on the mountain. God passed by and there was a there was wind, earthquake and fire but God did not speak in any of these but in a still small voice (1 Kings 19:12). It is through this inner witness or still small voice of the Holy Spirit that God will primarily speak to us. We will know it is God as God’s wisdom comes with a real sense of peace and assurance (James 3:17).

We could say well I know that. However, when we come to God, do we come with open hearts or for him to simply agree with our agenda? Perhaps we need to come with an open mind and no preconceived agendas, so God can truly guide and direct us in his ways and according to his plans; me thinks the that would be good.

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"A man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps " (Prov 16:9; KJV). We read similar words in Proverbs 20:24 and Psalm 37:23-24, where we are told that our steps are directed by the Lord.

The most well-known scripture on guidance is Proverbs 3:5-6, which tells us to trust in the Lord and not depend on our own ability and to "acknowledge" him; if we do that, God will direct our way. The meaning of the word "direct" is to make straight and the meaning of "acknowledge" is to have close fellowship with God.

So, according to these verses, we have a part to play. We have to make sure we trust God and not just depend on ourselves and also have a close relationship with God. Jesus confirmed this in John 10:27 where he told us that the sheep (that's you) follow him (Jesus) because they know his voice. We won't be able to know his voice unless we spend time with him every day. We also understand that God does not often speak to us in a loud audible voice but in a: "still small voice" (1 Kings 19:12); a gentle prompting on the inside of us with a real sense of peace and assurance. If we step out and respond to those: "promptings", they will become easier to recognize.

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I love the story of the Samaritan woman in her encounter with Jesus at the well in Sychar (John 4:1-42). Jesus cut across social barriers (V 9), in love, to reach this woman. The Holy Spirit in Jesus revealed details of the woman’s background to him and so that he was able to get her attention (V17-18). This allowed him to show her the route to salvation (V26; Rom 10:9).

There is also a great contrast in these verses as well. The contrast of the natural mind of the non-Christian (the Samaritan woman) versus Jesus and the born-again Christian (v10-18). The woman only saw natural water but Jesus spoke of living water (v10 and 13-14) or the spiritual power of the word of God (Heb 4:12) to satisfy our spiritual thirst and transform us as children of God (v10 and 13-14).

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1Cor 2:14; KJV). The bible tells us we are “spirit, soul and body” (1Thess 5:23). It is our spirit that is born again or saved when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior ().  The Holy Spirit reveals God’s word to us, to our born-again spirit (our spiritual heart or conscience; John 14:25-26; 16:13). We call this revelation; its not just head knowledge but the word comes alive to us; it jumps off the page at us, we see its spiritual meaning.

We are told that God’s word: “is truth” and that: “the truth shall make you free” (John 17:17; 8:32). Free from what? Well, anything that holds you back from walking in the abundant life God has for you (John 10:10).

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Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.

We can sometimes listen to awe inspiring music or see an amazing painting and be deeply moved emotionally. However, we should not limit ourselves by only just listening with our ears and seeing with our eyes. As Christians, God wants to speak to our spirits.

So often we listen but we do not hear; we look but we do not see. Why is this? It is because we only hear with our physical ears and see with our physical eyes (Isa 6:9-10). We need to see and hear as God himself does, with our spirits, our hearts (1Sam 16:7; Luke 24:32). This is when God can speak to us Spirit to spirit (Pr 20:27) directly or through his word (John 14:26; Rom 2:15), through people (Pr 11:14), his creation (Rom 1:20) and music and art that he inspires. This is when we can be truly changed.

How often we do not change even when we hear and see so much of his magnificence, so much of God’s word and see and hear so much of him but only with our ears and eyes.

For a few moments, in our busyness, let’s try to focus on God, on heaven, and leave our souls to rest. Allow God to arrest you, envelope you in his peace and love you, speak to your heart and change you from glory to glory, holiness to holiness. I encourage you to close your eyes, listen to some favorite music and meditate on the goodness of God; allow him to truly change you.

My how the church needs truly changed Christians.

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A BLOG by Norman and Jean Rawlings, authors of the book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”. Check out our web site for information on our book and more encouraging Bible based blogs. Fill out the: “contact us page” on our website and in the comments section REQUEST A FREE COPY OF A CHAPTER FROM OUR BOOK, click here: www.onthewayinlove.com