God has given us the freedom of choice but we need His wisdom to make the right decision, big or small. A single decision can make or break us. Thus, we have to be careful with every step we take in life, whether it’s a decision about our finances, relationships, work, or well-being.

In 1 Samuel 30:1-31, the Bible tells us the story of David, who faced a difficult decision when his city, Ziklag, was attacked and his family taken captive. David, who had been anointed by God to become the next king of Israel, could have easily sought revenge, but instead, he chose the Lord’s guidance over all else. David prayed, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” (1 Samuel 30:8, NIV). God answered, “Pursue them, for you will certainly overtake them and rescue your captives” (1 Samuel 30:8, NIV). David followed God’s guidance and was able to rescue his family. He also defeated the enemy.

God is very significant in our decision-making. Sometimes, it feels like we know it all, but one small detail we miss could make that decision turn out badly. This is why we need God to guide our discernment in whatever we are up to. And most importantly, our decision should always be His will.

Prayer for Making the Right Decision

What is that thing that troubles you? Visualize it as we will pray, and lift it onto God, as we call Him to guide our judgments in anything we do in life.

A Prayer for Guidance in Decision Making

Dear God,

We pray for your guidance and wisdom in making good decisions. David sought your counsel in the Bible, and waited for your voice before taking a step. Lord, we acknowledge that our ways are not your ways, and our thoughts are not your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). We often lean on our own understanding and try to tackle our challenges on our own. Forgive us for our self-reliance and pride, and be there with us.

We are at the crossroads of decision, and ask that you let Your light shine on our path. Give us the wisdom of discernment so that we may make decisions that align with your Will. Grant us the courage to follow it, even when it goes against our own desires or the opinions of other people

Help us, oh Lord, to seek first your kingdom and your righteousness because, as Matthew 6:33 says, all else will be added unto us. Our decisions should reflect our love for You. Lord, we pray for the spirit of discernment, that we may tell good from evil, and truth from falsehood. Help us to test every thought and intention, and to hold fast to what is good. When the way ahead seems uncertain, we pray that you will give us peace. May your peace guard our hearts and minds, and may we rest in the assurance that you are always with us.

Our prayer is for the grace of humility as our decisions affect not only our own lives but also the lives of those around us. Help us to seek counsel from your Word, from wise mentors, and from the community of faith. May we rest in the knowledge that your thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and your ways are higher than our ways.

In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Prayer to Have Regard for God’s Word to Lead

Dear Heavenly Father,

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105). We know that your Word is the greatest resource we have to understand your desires for us. As we face important decisions, help us to check your Word first, and seek guidance and wisdom. May we be diligent to find out principles and teachings that will shed light on the things we choose. When your Word speaks clearly on a matter, Father, give us the courage to obey.

For the times when the way ahead is not clear, Dear God, guide us to passages that will instruct us on what to do according to Your will. Let your Word be a sword that divides truth from error, and may we be transformed by its power.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

We thank you that all Scripture is inspired by you and is useful to teach us what is true, to make us realize what is wrong in our lives, to correct us when we are wrong, and to teach us to do what is right. May your Word prepare us to do every good work, to your glory and honor.

Help us to treasure your Word, to meditate on it day and night, and to apply it to our lives. Your Word shall be our delight, our comfort, and our guide.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayer for the Spirit to Lead Our Decision Making

Our Father,

Today, we desire to pray in the Spirit. We believe that our prayers will be guided by your will. As we pray, whether in tongues or not, we know that we are speaking directly to you, by the power of the Spirit. It is confirmed in 1 Corinthians 14:2 that “For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.”

Dear Father, Help us to yield our minds and our understanding, that our spirits may commune with you. Make our prayer a mystery to others, but it should be a direct communication with you.

We are faced with decisions to make, and we pray that the Spirit will lead us. Let the Spirit guide our thoughts and intentions. May we be filled with the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control – that we may make decisions that align with your will as it is in Galatians 5:22-23.

Lord, our prayers in the Spirit should be a powerful weapon in our decision, a way to tap into Your wisdom and heavenly sense of discernment. Help us to trust that you are always working in our favor, even when we don’t understand your ways.

Thank you, Lord. Help us to continue to pray in the Spirit. May your sovereignty and guidance be with us all of our lives.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayer for God to Send an Adviser

Dear Father in Heaven,

Even if it means sending someone to us, please do. Let this person be filled with Your divine wisdom to input knowledge into us that will guide us to make the right decisions. If one thing we know, it is that you place people in our lives to help and guide us. Your Word also says, “Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God” (Hebrews 13:17, NLT). Father, We ask that you send in an adviser, a spiritual leader who will be Your representative to share wisdom with us in our decision-making. Help us to be obedient to their counsel. May we give them a reason to watch over our souls with joy and not with sorrow.

As we have to make big decisions, please provide us with wise counsel. May we seek out advice and instruction from those you have placed in our lives. Help us to be wise for the rest of our lives.

We also pray for the humility to seek guidance from others. Help us to outline our decisions, and to hear their advice with an open heart. May our meetings with our pastors, prayer partners, or spiritual leaders be fruitful, and may we be willing to follow their counsel. Thank you for the gift of spiritual leadership. May we honor you when seeking wisdom from those whom you have put into our lives.

We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayer for the Holy Spirit to Guide and Bring Us Peace

Our Dear Father,

Please, send down your Holy Spirit. Let us be clothed in the peace of the Holy Spirit when making decisions. As we consider options before us, we ask that you will fill our hearts with the peace that comes from Christ. Your Word encourages us to: “Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15, NLT).

God, we confess that anxiety and uncertainty often creep in when we face difficult decisions. But we know that your peace is not based on our circumstances, but on your presence and guidance. Help us to discern the leading of the Holy Spirit so that we may know we are on the right path.

As we seek Your will, we pray that the Holy Spirit will calm our fears and quiet our doubts. May we experience the deep peace that only you can give, a peace that surpasses all understanding. Even in the midst of overwhelming circumstances, help us to trust in your sovereignty.

We thank you that the Holy Spirit is our Counselor, our Comforter, and our Guide. May we rely on his wisdom and direction, trusting that he will lead us into all truth. As we wait on you, oh Lord, your peace should be our guide and our assurance. May we know that we know that we are in your will, and that your peace rules in our hearts.

Amen!

How Do You Know When the Spirit of God is Leading Your Decision?

God’s Voice is Like a Quiet Whisper

God often speaks in quiet and intimate ways. He prefers a gentle whisper over a loud proclamation. While God can use nature in spectacular ways, as we see with Elijah, the Bible does not provide examples of God screaming or yelling at His people.

Let’s reflect on the biblical account of Jesus calming the storm (John 6, Mark 6). The disciples were exhausted and terrified as they faced a violent wind and roaring waves. Amid the chaos, Jesus simply declared, “It is I,” and His calming presence quelled the storm. God’s authority and power manifest through a serene and confident voice.

Learn the Language of the Holy Spirit

The Bible is the Spirit-inspired vocabulary God uses to speak to us. In 2 Timothy 3:16, all Scripture is “breathed out by God,” and according to 2 Peter 1:21, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Get fluent with the Scripture, and you’ll be learning a new language. Just as fluency in any language, it takes time and practice to understand the language of the Holy Spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit, who is our Helper, to be your translator as you continue growing with God’s Word. The more familiar you become with Scripture, the easier it will be to know the Holy Spirit’s voice.

The Holy Spirit Will Never Contradict God’s Word

The Holy Spirit’s guidance will always align with the truth of God’s Word. For instance, a friend’s reminder that “the eventual outcome is not your responsibility; it is God’s” can be a moment of the Holy Spirit shining light on an important truth. The Holy Spirit reassures us of God’s sovereignty and invites us to trust Him.

You can begin by measuring the guidance you receive in the Ten Commandments. Any suggestion or thought that involves actions like cheating, stealing, lying, jealousy, adultery, or harm to others is clearly not from God. For example, the idea of taking something that doesn’t belong to you, such as a bookmark in a store, is contrary to the guidance of the Spirit.

Know the Sound of God’s Voice

Jesus uses the metaphor of sheep knowing their shepherd’s voice to describe how believers should know God’s voice. In John 10:10-11 and John 10:27, we see that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, knows His sheep, and they follow Him because they know His voice.  If you regularly interact and have a conversation with someone, you’ll immediately know their voice. Spend enough time in prayer, worship, and reading Scripture to become more attuned to God’s voice. Ask the Holy Spirit to sharpen your spiritual hearing so you can differentiate His voice from others.

Verify the Holy Spirit’s Voice

Every day, we are exposed to many influences from the devil, the world, and our flesh. Jesus identifies the devil as the father of lies (John 8:44), meaning anything from him is deceptive and contrary to God. The world’s voices often reflect secular values and norms that may conflict with God’s will. Our flesh represents our own desires, which might not align with God’s purposes. Always seek confirmation through Scripture, prayer, or spiritual counsel to know when God is making a decision for you.

Practice Discernment

Discernment is a spiritual skill that grows with practice and maturity. Always seek help from the Holy Spirit’s help to connect your decisions with God’s will. Engage with Scripture, prayer, and the Christian community to help you develop a better sense of discernment.

Pay attention to the peace and clarity that accompany the Holy Spirit’s guidance. God’s voice usually brings a sense of peace, even in tough times, whereas unease or confusion may indicate that it’s not His voice.

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