For those who believe in God, there are many different teachings about communicating with a higher power. For some religious individuals, praying for wisdom in making decisions is a great idea, but understanding how God replies can be confusing, even for people who firmly believe in a God who answers prayer.
The tradition of asking God for help in making a decision has its roots in Biblical tradition. The following practices have been helpful to a variety of believers.
Be Open to God's Plan Leading to New, Unexpected Possibilities
Many Christians — and non-Christians — like to be in control. It can be frightening when one's life is in the control of another. Yet, that is exactly what Jesus asks believers to do, trust and let the Holy Spirit do the leading.
When Daniel and his friends were taken as captives to Babylon by the army of Nebuchadnezzar, all of their life plans were suddenly and dramatically changed. Even though they were young and not with their parents, they continued to look to God for direction in their lives. For the whole story, read the first chapter in Daniel.
Mark, a recent college graduate was looking for a job. He put out more than a hundred resumes, answered several ads and had friends praying for him as he went on his dream job interview, but he didn’t get the job. Then he ran into a friend who had been teaching English in Asia and loved it. Mark looked on the Internet and found a school that needed teachers so he put in an application. Three weeks later he was teaching in Thailand.
Mark and Daniel both found themselves in new countries, learning to adjust to new cultures, new languages and new communities. Christians believe that God can use the circumstances of a relocation to enhance a believer's faith as he or she learns to trust God when life takes an unexpected turn.
When Following God, Circumstances are an Important Consideration
The Bible tells believers that making plans doesn't determine or guarantee that something will occur in the future. "We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it," according to Proverbs 16:9, (The Message). Whether the circumstances lead to a new country or the town where someone has lived his or her entire life, the Bible states that God is in control and many religious individuals subscribe to this belief.
Like most couples, Ruth and her husband probably wanted children, but when he died, it seemed like the circumstances were not cooperating. She vowed to stay with her monther-in-law, Naomi, and together they traveled to Naomi's home in another country. There Ruth met a distant relative of her husband and they became married. Their great-grandson was King David. This story is detailed in the Bible's book of Ruth.
The Bible is filled with twists and turns in the lives of those who followed God, like Moses, Abraham, Peter and Paul. Accepting what happens in life is important for believers, because Christians believe that the divine is directing the individual through life. The path may not always be fun or easy, but many Christians believe that they are always accompanied by a divine presence.
Christians‚ like everyone else — will be faced with life-changing decisions. And religious individuals often find comfort in their faith; Christians believe that God is willing and able to guide believers if they ask for wisdom and then look for the answers. Couple Prayers – At a Crossroads in Life includes a sample prayer for making decisions.
Mistie Shaw - Writing for nearly half a century, Shaw's interests and education meander from music to the military, and from faith to fun.
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