Direction from God

[NewCreation435]

I am most likely going to have to make a decision in the next week or two and there may be several options (all of them pretty good ones). I want to do God's will in this decision and have been spending time in prayer daily about it. I'm just afraid that I will do what I want instead of what God wants (I am assuming they might not be the same). Sometimes I have in the past jumped into something and then regretted it later and don't want to do that this time. I want to do what God wants me to do and be faithful about it. Any guidance on how to know the difference between your own will and God's. And how to tell when it is God speaking to you and not your own wishful thinking

 

[Lamb]

I don't know the answer, but I pray that it works out the way it should. Sometimes it's really hard to know God's will when it's not so obvious.

 

[NewCreation435]

I don't know the answer, but I pray that it works out the way it should. Sometimes it's really hard to know God's will when it's not so obvious.

I have clearly shared with God what I want, but we will see if He feels the same. I will keep you posted

 

[tango]

This sort of thing can vary from fairly easy to particularly difficult depending on the circumstance.

Sometimes it can be pretty obvious what we're supposed to do. If there's an option that doesn't make a lot of sense, that you wouldn't normally choose, but more and more things seem to be pointing towards it being a good idea, it may be God pointing you in that direction. If doors seem to just keep opening if you push them, that might be a good sign. If doors seem to constantly close if you so much as look that way it's probably not a good sign.

I'd urge caution if the decision is a major one, especially if there's little or no chance of backing up and trying one of the other options. In simplistic terms if you're debating where to eat after church and feel like you got it wrong you can always eat somewhere else after church next week, while if you're thinking about selling everything and moving to Azerbaijan to live by faith it's not such a simple process to unravel it if everything goes sideways.

If it's a major decision there's nothing wrong with moving slowly and trying a few doors to see what happens.

It's also inherently possible that there is no one particular option that represents "God's will" in the sense that you would be outside of God's will if you ended up choosing a different one. I think if God particularly wants you to choose one of the options he's quite capable of making it clear.

 

[Lees]

I am most likely going to have to make a decision in the next week or two and there may be several options (all of them pretty good ones). I want to do God's will in this decision and have been spending time in prayer daily about it. I'm just afraid that I will do what I want instead of what God wants (I am assuming they might not be the same). Sometimes I have in the past jumped into something and then regretted it later and don't want to do that this time. I want to do what God wants me to do and be faithful about it. Any guidance on how to know the difference between your own will and God's. And how to tell when it is God speaking to you and not your own wishful thinking

We often assume that our will is never the will of God. I have heard missionaries testify that they told God they never wanted to go to a certain place, and that is exactly where God sent them. As though it was a punishment. I never liked that. The true missionaries heart and will is to go to a certain place, and he is going to get there come hell or high water. God puts it in his heart to will and to do.

(Philippians 2:13) "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."

So, would it not be safe to ask yourself, 'what do I want to do'? You have committed it to prayer. Trust God and go with the decision you make. For if God is opposed to your decision, He will reveal it.

(Philippians 3:15) "Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you."

And Paul had first hand experience not only in his conversion, but in taking the Gospel to Europe when he wanted to go to Asia. (Acts 9:1-5) (Acts 16:6-7)

When we come to a 'fork in the road' we assume one leads us to God and the other away from God. But the truth is, which ever one we take, God goes with us. Either decision we make will most likely have ups and downs later. Which will cause us, in our human nature, to say it was a good decision when we go through the up times. Then cause us to say it was a bad decision when going through the down times.

So, pray. Seek counsel. Make the decision. And go with it.

My opinion.

Lees

 

[Albion]

I have clearly shared with God what I want, but we will see if He feels the same.

That is a good way to begin approaching the matter, but it is a mistake to expect God to make a reply that's divorced from all that he's given mankind for guidance already.

Do not trust a human emotion or wishful thinking to be the voice of God, but instead consult Holy Scripture for your answer, as the saints of the past did. It's not for nothing that the "word of God" is considered by believers to be eternal, all-embracing, and trustworthy.

Having prayed to him as you did, it may be the case that God will answer your prayer by directing your thinking towards the Bible verses that provide you with the guidance you need. To that extent he would be giving you a personal response, but it will not come as some sort of brainstorm that stands alone.

 

[NewCreation435]

Over the next two weeks I have five job interviews set up with different agencies. A few doors have closed, but most remain open.
The advantage of two of the agencies is that they have been around a long time and are local agencies that are well known (for better or for worse). The down side to them is that they don't pay as well as the other two agencies I have talked with that don't have established brick and mortar buildings in the area but are online agencies where I would be working from home. I have been working from home for the last three years. I have mixed feelings about going back to an office.
I decided today to cancel one job interview that had been set up for tomorrow due to it being too far of a drive away (45 minutes one way).

 

[Lamb]

Over the next two weeks I have five job interviews set up with different agencies. A few doors have closed, but most remain open.
The advantage of two of the agencies is that they have been around a long time and are local agencies that are well known (for better or for worse). The down side to them is that they don't pay as well as the other two agencies I have talked with that don't have established brick and mortar buildings in the area but are online agencies where I would be working from home. I have been working from home for the last three years. I have mixed feelings about going back to an office.
I decided today to cancel one job interview that had been set up for tomorrow due to it being too far of a drive away (45 minutes one way).

That was a wise choice. When I was younger, I didn't mind a long commute, but I hate doing that drive even to go to church on Sundays, so I don't blame you.

 

[Planet1246]

I am most likely going to have to make a decision in the next week or two and there may be several options (all of them pretty good ones). I want to do God's will in this decision and have been spending time in prayer daily about it. I'm just afraid that I will do what I want instead of what God wants (I am assuming they might not be the same). Sometimes I have in the past jumped into something and then regretted it later and don't want to do that this time. I want to do what God wants me to do and be faithful about it. Any guidance on how to know the difference between your own will and God's. And how to tell when it is God speaking to you and not your own wishful thinking

We all have a life plan god assigned us, well beyond birth. The god I know want's diversity in all things. Unfortunately our plan doesn't always align with our hopes and dreams. We are god's orchestra, where everyone has a part to play and were god nudges us. I truly believe the holy spirit embedded in us, unconsciously nudges us in the direction according to god's plan. Another unfortunate circumstance of god's plan is, some must draw the short straw because god want's strong, weak, healthy, sick, rich, poor, fool, etc.

The question you must ask yourself, what part in the play do you want to play?