SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1097

“Shall I Go?”

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps; I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. – Proverbs 16:9; Psalm 32:8

High card deals. Lowest roll of dice goes first. Heads I win, Tails you lose. These are some common decision-making tools we use. However, when it comes to major decisions we are faced with at the various crossroads of life we desire a more precise method of making choices. This is when we need to inquire of the Lord.

In the Old Testament we see how David inquired of the Lord using the Urim and Thummim, a form of casting lots, coupled with a prophetic word.

… Abiathar brought the ephod to David. And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.” – 1 Samuel 30-8

The use of lots to know God’s will and direction was predominately a pre-Pentecost practice. So what is the New Testament equivalent of inquiring of the Lord? How are we to seek specific guidance today? How does God speak to us when we inquire of Him?

To inquire and hear from the Lord we must first be aligned and attuned to His will. We need to have a heart after God’s own heart as was David’s and walk by the Spirit and not after the flesh.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do;…we haven’t stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. – Galatians 5:16 -17 (ESV); Colossians 1:9-12 (The Message)

Our primary means of inquiring of the Lord is through His Word and by His Holy Spirit.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. – Psalm 119:105

When we are quiet before the Lord His direction is often spiritually discerned. A ‘yes’ can be a sense of peace or a nudge in a direction. A ‘no’ leaves us with an uncomfortable feeling and a sense that that particular direction does not feel right. Sometimes the Lord opens a door to a new opportunity while closing another one as a means of directing our steps.

…the Father…will give you another Helper, to be with you forever; And the Lord will guide you continually…; And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. – John 14:16; Isaiah 58:11; Isaiah 30:21

The Lord will sometimes send someone with the gift of prophecy to speak a word of direction to you. Always take a prophetic Word to the Lord in prayer to test its validity.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.  – 1 John 4:1

May the Lord give you clear direction as you inquire of Him.