By Joyce Dunaway @DunawayJoyce

The Lord will guide you always (Isaiah 58:11 NIV).

I entered the address of my destination into my car’s GPS system. I knew where I wanted to go, but didn’t know how to get there.

The female voice directed me at every turn and warned me of approaching speed limits and school zones. A couple of times she directed me to turn when I thought she was wrong, but because I trusted her knowledge I followed the directions.

On life’s journey we need directions. It’s so important to have a source of wisdom as we make small and large decisions. Some include choosing the right mate, when to start a family, how to train our children so they will become responsible adults, how to cope with the death of a loved one, or how to adapt to an empty nest.

Where or to whom do you turn to for guidance? We’re often tempted to go our own way thinking we know better. When I’ve disregarded God’s direction, I’ve ended up where I didn’t want to be—a place of tension and strife.

Following are some ways God guides us:

PRAYER 

Prayer is communication with God. It’s a two-way conversation. When we pray, we often only tell God our needs. If we don’t take the time to listen to God, we’ll miss his directions. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,” plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” (Jeremiah 29:11-12 NIV). God listens to us so our responsibility is to listen to Him so we’ll know the plans He has for us.

SCRIPTURE

God’s word speaks to us. Have you ever read a familiar verse and something new is revealed to you? Sometimes when I’m troubled about something, I’ll open my Bible and a verse of reassurance seems to leap off the page into my heart. All Scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16 NLT).

HOLY SPIRIT

Sometimes I’ve felt a prompting in my heart to do something or say something to someone. When I follow this leading of the Holy Spirit, I receive a blessing and am often a blessing to another person. When we accept Christ as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit indwells us. He has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts (2 Corinthians 1; 22 NLT).

Through prayer, God’s word, and the prompting of the Holy Spirit, God will show us the path where we should walk. The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8 NLT).

I would love to hear how you follow God’s guidance in your life and how you’ve been blessed.   Please share your thoughts in the section below.