Sometimes I wish God would whack me over the head with a two by four to bring clarity into my life. But that’s not how He works. Rather, God likes to be pursued.
He says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13); and, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy, went and sold all he had and bought that field.” (Matthew 13:44).
God wants us to be active participants in our pursuit of Him—that’s when he reveals Himself. But if you’ve ever wondered whether you’re following God’s plan or even going in the right direction, you know it’s not always easy to differentiate between the voice of God and that of others.
To do just that, here are four clues that will help you determine if you’re making choices that line up with God’s will, or if you’re being swayed by others:
Clue number 1: You feel at peace. When something is from God it brings a sense of peace, regardless of the difficulty. If you are suffering from double-mindedness or confusion, whatever you are doing or contemplating is NOT coming from God. Take a few steps back and find that place of peace before you take any steps forward.
Clue number 2: It stands the test of time. If something is from God, you will receive confirmation—whether from reading scripture, hearing a message, or from someone else whom God is using to speak to you—but, your understanding and faith also grows over time. I like to think of the things that come from God as a “growing knowing.” Rarely does it whack us over the head, but it grows increasingly bolder over time.
Clue number 3: It makes you depend on Him. Is what you’re hoping or striving for beyond what you are capable of doing? Good! You’re on the right track. Oftentimes, God’s plans don’t involve us using all of our strengths. They frequently leave us feeling inadequate and unprepared, much like Moses must have felt. But, if we limit ourselves to operate only in our areas of strength, we are likely to take the glory instead of giving it to Him.
Clue number 4: It lines up with God’s Word. God will never lead you in a direction that is contrary to His Word. Never. There are no exceptions here. You can save yourself a lot of pain and counseling if you line up your wants, desires, and plans with His Word. If it lines up, you can keep it and it’s a clue you’re on the right track. But, if it’s not, no amount of prayer or any other clues will make it right.
As said in Jeremiah 29:11, “Don’t live your life in fear of moving forward. God has amazing plans for you.”
Look for these four clues along your journey and you will be able to step out into all that He has planned for you.
Author: Kris Reece
Kris Reece is passionate about helping others pick up the broken pieces of their lives, and becoming all that God created them to be. She is a shining example of God taking the brokenness in our lives to build something beautiful to be used for our good and His glory.
Kris is a Licensed Christian Counselor, Personal Growth Coach, author and speaker. Her award-winning and best-selling books (Build a Beautiful Life Out of Broken Pieces and The Sacred Seven, respectively) are available for purchase from her website (click her name above).
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