By Sandy Ditoro
This article is dedicated to our daughter, Nina, and to everyone who is pondering the question, "How can I know what is God’s purpose for my life?"
It is dedicated to all those who are searching for answers to important life questions such as :Where should I live? Where should I work? Who should I date? Who should I marry? etc..........
The answers to such questions have the potential to make great differences in so many aspects of our lives. Our choices could effect our eternal destination. They can limit or expand our influence for good. Such choices will determine with whom we will spend our time on earth, who will influence us, who will influence our children and even who our children will marry, who our grandchildren will marry and on and on.
So important are the answers to these questions, those who are godly are motivated to spend much time petitioning God for guidance in making all decisions concerning them. The thought surely must come to anyone with such a quandary that it would be so helpful if God would just speak from Heaven and tell me what to do.
God is not going to speak to us from Heaven but He has assured us in His Word that He will guide us. He will help us with our decisions. But how?
Knowing His Word gives us the wisdom we need for most of our choices. Sometimes though the choices seem equal and those are the times we wish God would just speak to us. God will not guide us in a miraculous way today.
Here is a consoling thought though. If He was powerful enough and wise enough to make us, He certainly has the knowledge to guide our lives even without using miracles.
He works His ways by opening doors, while closing others. We meet people or read books that influence our thinking. They give us ideas or tell us about opportunities.
He reassures us in His Word that He has a purpose for each of our lives. He can and will guide us if we allow Him to. It is our job to trust and to follow Him. It is His to find a way to fulfil His purpose in our lives.
Here are some verses that reassure me that this is so:
May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose. (Ps.20:4)Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. (Pro. 3:5-6)
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. (Ps 37:23-24)
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. (Ps.32:8)
The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He look on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. (Ps. 33:13-15)
Does He not see my ways, and count all my steps? (Job 31:4)
You enlarged my path under me, so my feet did not slip. (Ps.18:36)
A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps. (Pro.16:9)
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in YOUR book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are YOUR thoughts to me, O GOD! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with YOU. (Ps.139:16-18)
May the LORD bless you with answers that delight your heart and give you a wondrous life to His glory!
Write down this passage and put it in a visible place where you can see it every day:
Trust
in the LORD, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His
faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your
heart.
Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
(Psalm 37:3-5)
ISBS
Ladies Daily Devotional
01/06/05