Seeking Divine Guidance in Decision Making through Prayer

Seeking divine guidance in decision-making through prayer is a fundamental aspect of Christian faith, rooted in the belief that God actively engages with humanity and offers direction for life's choices. Prayer, in this context, is understood as direct address to God, an "intercourse of the soul with God" ^[1]. It can take various forms, including oral or mental, constant or occasional, and ranges from beseeching the Lord to pouring out one's soul before Him ^[1].

The biblical narrative frequently illustrates individuals and communities seeking God's direction through prayer. For instance, the prophet Jeremiah records a plea from the people: "Pray that the LORD your God will tell us the way we should walk and the thing we should do" ^[2]. This highlights a desire for specific instruction from God regarding actions and paths. Similarly, the Psalmist declares, "I wil prayse the Lord, who hath giuen me counsell: my reines also teach me in the nightes" ^[3], suggesting an expectation of divine counsel, even in moments of quiet reflection. The book of Daniel also shows a clear example of seeking God's will through prayer and petition, accompanied by fasting and other acts of devotion ^[7].

Prayer for guidance is not merely a general request for wisdom but often involves specific appeals for direction in particular circumstances. The Torrey's Topical Textbook lists "divine teaching and direction" as a common subject of prayer, especially during times of affliction ^[9]. This aligns with the understanding that God hears and answers prayers ^[4]. The New Testament further emphasizes this, with Paul requesting prayers for an "open unto us a door of speech to speak the mystery of Christ" ^[5], indicating a desire for divine enablement and guidance in ministry.

The nature of prayer itself implies a belief in God's personality and His willingness to interact with humanity ^[1]. It is an act of drawing near to God ^[1], and it is commanded in scripture, as seen in passages like Isaiah 55:6, Matthew 7:7, and Philippians 4:6 ^[4]. Christians are encouraged to pray to God, to Christ, and even to the Holy Spirit, always through Christ ^[4].

Jesus himself exemplified seeking divine guidance through prayer before significant decisions. Luke's Gospel records that Jesus "prayed to God all night" before choosing the twelve apostles, who would carry on his ministry ^[13]. This demonstrates the importance Jesus placed on prayer for discernment in critical moments. Adam Clarke, commenting on Genesis 24:12, notes the piety and rationality of Abraham's servant who prayed for a sign before selecting a wife for Isaac, acknowledging God as the "great superintendent and director of the universe" ^[14]. This act of seeking a "natural sign" that betokened desirable qualities was seen as a proper example for those who would not "tempt the providence of God" ^[14].

The concept of decision-making in service to God is also emphasized in scripture. Luke 9:62 suggests that those who look back after putting their hand to the plow are not fit for the kingdom of God, implying a need for firm resolve ^[6]. Exhortations to make decisions are found in passages like Joshua 24:14-15, urging people to choose whom they will serve ^[6]. Such decisions are characterized by seeking God with the heart, keeping His commandments, and following Him fully ^[6]. This commitment to God's will stands in contrast to "double-mindedness" or "halting between two opinions" ^[6].

While the Bible does not offer a theoretical explanation for the "mystery which attaches to prayer," it consistently presents prayer as efficacious ^[8]. The difficulty in understanding prayer's efficacy often stems from the tension between belief in unalterable general laws and the idea that humans are masters of their own destiny ^[8]. However, the scriptural emphasis remains on the power of prayer and God's responsiveness.

The practice of seeking divine guidance through prayer is not limited to major life decisions but extends to daily conduct. Matthew Henry, in his commentary on Psalm 119:133, highlights David's prayer for direction in daily duties: "Order my steps in thy word; having led me into the right way, let every step I take in that way be under the guidance of thy grace" ^[12]. This suggests a continuous reliance on God's word and grace for every action.

The act of prayer can be performed in any place, as demonstrated by Nehemiah, who prayed mentally to God before presenting his request to the king ^[11]. This underscores the accessibility of prayer and the belief that God is present everywhere. The Lord's Prayer, given by Jesus, serves as a model for prayer, emphasizing simplicity and addressing God as Father ^[10]. It is a succinct expression of faith and a guide for how believers should communicate with God ^[10].

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14). Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold inter”
Jeremiah “Jeremiah 42:3 (BSB) — Pray that the LORD your God will tell us the way we should walk and the thing we should do.””
Psalms “Psalms 16:7 (Geneva1599) — I wil prayse the Lord, who hath giuen me counsell: my reines also teach me in the nightes.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7; Php 4:6. To be offered To God. -- Ps 5:2; Mt 4:10. To Christ. -- Lu 23:42; Ac 7:59. To the Holy Spirit. -- 2Th 3:5. Through Christ. -- Eph 2:18; Heb 10:19. God hears -- Ps 10:17; 65:2. God answers -- Ps 99:6; Isa 58:9. Is described as Bowing the knees. -- Eph 3:14. Looking up. -- Ps 5:3. Lifting up the soul. -- Ps 25:1. Lifting up the heart. -- La 3:41. Pouring out the heart. -- Ps 62:8. Pouring out the soul. -- 1Sa 1:15. Calling upon the name of the Lord. -- Ge 12:8; Ps 116:4; Ac 22:16. Crying to God. -- Ps 27:7; 34:6. Drawing”
Colossians “Colossians 4:3 (DRC) — Praying withal for us also, that God may open unto us a door of speech to speak the mystery of Christ (for which also I am bound):”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Decision — Necessary to the service of God -- Lu 9:62. Exhortations to -- Jos 24:14,15. Exhibited in Seeking God with the heart. -- 2Ch 15:12. Keeping the commandments of God. -- Ne 10:29. Being on the Lord's side. -- Ex 32:26. Following God fully. -- Nu 14:24; 32:12; Jos 14:8. Serving God. -- Isa 56:6. Loving God perfectly. -- De 6:5. Blessedness of. -- Jos 1:7. Opposed to A divided service. -- Mt 6:24. Double-mindedness. -- Jas 1:8. Halting between two opinions. -- 1Ki 18:21. Turning to the right or left. -- De 5:32. Not setting the heart aright. -- Ps 78:8,37. Exe”
Daniel “I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. -- Daniel 9:3”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — The object of this article will be to touch briefly on-- + The doctrine of Scripture as to the nature and efficacy of prayer; + Its directions as to time, place and manner of prayer; + Its types and examples of prayer. + Scripture does not give any theoretical explanation of the mystery which attaches to prayer. The difficulty of understanding real efficacy arises chiefly from two sources: from the belief that man lives under general laws, which in all cases must be fulfilled unalterably; and the opposing belief that he is master of his own destiny, and need ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:9: 6:9-13 The Lord’s Prayer is similar in form to a common Jewish prayer (the qaddish). Jesus gave this prayer to his followers as a succinct expression of their new faith. 6:9 Pray like this: In contrast to the vain repetition of pagan prayers (6:7-8), “the Lord’s Prayer” is a model of simplicity. • Jews rarely addressed God as Father, but Jesus did so in every prayer but one (Mark 15:34). • may your name be kept holy: God’s name is profaned by the sin of his people (Isa 29:22-24; Jer 34:15-16; Ezek 39:7; Amos 2:7).”
Nehemiah (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Nehemiah 2:4: So I prayed to the God of heaven - Before he dared to prefer his request to the king, he made his prayer to God, that his suit might be acceptable: and this he does by mental prayer. To the spirit of prayer every place is a praying place.”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:133: Here David prays for two great spiritual blessings, and is, in this verse, as earnest for the good work of God in him as, in the verse before, for the good-will of God towards him. He prays, 1. For direction in the paths of duty: "Order my steps in thy word; having led me into the right way, let every step I take in that way be under the guidance of thy grace." We ought to walk by rule; all the motions of the soul must not only be kept within the bounds prescribed by the word, so as not to transgress them, but carried out in the paths prescribed by the word, so”
Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 6:12: 6:12 he prayed to God all night: See study note on 3:21. Jesus prayed before important events and decisions such as choosing the Twelve, who would carry on his ministry after him.”
Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 24:12: And he said, O Lord God, etc. - "The conduct of this servant," says Dr. Dodd, "appears no less pious than rational. By supplicating for a sign, he acknowledges God to be the great superintendent and director of the universe, and of that event in particular; and at the same time, by asking a natural sign, such as betokened humanity, condescension, and other qualities which promised a discreet and virtuous wife, he puts his prayer upon such a discreet, rational footing, as to be a proper example for all to imitate who would not tempt the providence of God, by expect”

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