But which way is the right way?

Nobody likes to be lost. We all want someone or something to point us in the right direction and so we turn to GPS, maps, the advice of others, for some even crystals, mysticism and Tarot cards and while others, God.

The Bible says that God’s children will be led by the Holy Spirit, but what does that mean? How do they know where the Spirit is leading? Some things are quite straightforward, the Bible is full of advice, encouragement and instruction as to the direction God wants to lead, particularly in issues of morality and ethics. But what about areas of life where the Bible is not clear? Especially when it comes to areas of work and vocation.

Throughout the pages of the Bible we read of men and women being specifically led by the Holy Spirit to go to places or to do various things. In Acts 10 God led Cornelius to send messengers to Peter and then led Peter to go to the home of Cornelius. An angel of the Lord sent Philip to the desert road between Jerusalem and Gaza (Acts 8:25), Ananias was led by the Spirit to visit and minister to Saul (Acts 9:10-13). Frequently Elijah moved after the ‘word of the Lord’ came to him.

But how was it that these people actually discerned God’s leading? Sometimes God used dreams and visions to speak - but this was not always the case. In Acts 16 we read that Paul intended to go to Bithynia but the Holy Spirit forbade him from going. Shortly afterwards he was told to go to Macedonia. At other times God used the prophetic words of others to give direction (Acts 21:4, 11). Many times we read of the early church going from place to place without any record of specific leading and sometimes unusual circumstances led to changes in plans. It seems that God uses a variety of means to direct us.

For the Christian, the word of God is the primary source for moral guidance. Psalm 119 is devoted almost exclusively to the value of the word of God in finding direction for life. But he uses other means as well. Perhaps the most common method of discerning God’s leading, if not the most undervalued from a ‘spiritual’ perspective is circumstances. God uses the events of life to move us along the pathway he has chosen for us. How many times can we think back through seemingly unconnected events that have almost mysteriously led us to the places we arrive? At other times God uses other people to bring specific messages. These may be what are sometimes called ‘prophetic messages’ or ‘words of knowledge’, but they may also come in general counsel and conversation.

However we receive guidance, whether by specific words, dreams, and circumstances or in some other way, it is important that it be tested. In the first place it needs to be tested by the word of God – he will never lead you in a direction that is contrary to his word. We should sometimes seek confirmation by the community of believers and also seek the confirmation of the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. Ordinarily we would want all these things to align: the message we receive, the witness of the Holy Spirit within, confirmation by others, the word of God and circumstances. However this will not always be so and sometimes God will expect us to follow his lead even when circumstance and the counsel of others seems to be against it.

One of the great encouragements from the bible is the verse that says: “He, your teacher will no longer hide himself, but your eyes will behold your teacher. And your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘this is the way, walk in it, whenever you turn to right or the left’” (Is 30:20, 21). Listen to others, read, pray and look at your circumstances, but don’t dither!  Indecisiveness is paralysing. God does not expect or want us to stand trapped in uncertainty, but to follow your passions and your dreams, confidently and purposefully moving in the direction we believe to be right, always listening to the voice that says ‘this is the way, keep going’.