Seeking God's Guidance in Life's Decisions and Choices

Seeking God's guidance in life's decisions and choices is a recurring theme in biblical literature, emphasizing a deliberate and intentional posture toward the divine. This pursuit involves a conscious effort to align one's will with God's purposes, often through prayer, study of scripture, and reflection ^{[9, 11]}.

The Old Testament provides numerous examples and exhortations for seeking divine counsel. The Danites, for instance, asked for God's counsel to determine the prosperity of their journey ^[1]. The Psalmist expresses a deep longing for God, stating, "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God" ^[5]. This thirst implies an active search for God's presence and direction. Similarly, Psalm 139:23 records a prayer for divine scrutiny: "Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts" ^[2]. This reflects a desire for God to reveal any hidden motives or thoughts that might hinder proper decision-making. Ecclesiastes 1:13 speaks of applying one's heart "to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky," acknowledging the human struggle to comprehend life's complexities and the heavy burden it places on humanity ^[4].

The concept of "seeking God" encompasses various actions. It includes seeking His name, His word, His face, and His strength ^[9]. It also involves seeking His commandments, precepts, and kingdom, as well as His righteousness ^[9]. Matthew 6:33, for example, encourages believers to "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness" ^[9]. This pursuit is not merely intellectual but involves a commitment to obedience and a desire for justification through Christ ^[9]. John Gill, commenting on Proverbs 19:20, emphasizes the importance of hearing counsel and receiving instruction, particularly from "Wisdom, of Jesus Christ, the Wisdom of God, the wonderful Counsellor; and of his Gospel and of the Scriptures" ^[11]. This instruction is crucial for attaining wisdom in one's "latter end," ensuring a focus on eternal well-being ^[11].

The process of seeking guidance often involves a careful examination of one's own path. John Gill, in his commentary on Lamentations 3:36, suggests that instead of complaining, individuals should "search and try our ways" to find support and instruction under affliction ^[10]. This includes searching into God's love, the covenant of grace, and the Scriptures ^[10]. Similarly, Matthew Henry, commenting on Psalm 119:30, notes that serious godliness requires a "serious and deliberate choice" of the "way of truth," which he identifies as the only true path to happiness ^[12]. This choice is not made out of ignorance but from a conviction that no other way is as safe or good ^[12].

The New Testament further articulates the nature of seeking God's guidance. Jesus's teaching in Luke 12:31 to "Seek the Kingdom of God" is interpreted as adopting God's value system, pursuing His purpose in the world, and submitting to His authority ^[14]. The Apostle Paul, in Acts 17:27, describes humanity's innate drive to "seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him" ^[13]. This passage suggests that while God is not far from anyone, humanity's distance from Him is due to the "blinding effect of sin" ^[13].

The decision to follow God's guidance is presented as a fundamental aspect of serving Him. Luke 9:62 implies that those who commit to God's service must do so decisively, without looking back ^[3]. Joshua 24:14-15 exhorts individuals to choose whom they will serve, emphasizing the necessity of making a clear decision ^[3]. This commitment is characterized by "seeking God with the heart," keeping His commandments, being on His side, and following Him fully ^[3]. The blessedness of such a decision is highlighted in Joshua 1:7 ^[3]. Conversely, a lack of decision or "double-mindedness" is seen as detrimental, as described in James 1:8 and 1 Kings 18:21, which speaks of "halting between two opinions" ^[3].

While seeking guidance, it is important to acknowledge the concept of predestination, which refers to God's eternal purpose of salvation and His sovereign decree governing all events ^[6]. Easton's Bible Dictionary notes that this doctrine, while complex, belongs to the "secret things" of God, and believers are to be guided by His revealed word ^[6]. This suggests that while God has an overarching plan, human beings are still called to actively seek His will in their daily lives. The happiness of saints in this life is found in God, derived from fearing Him, trusting Him, obeying Him, and praising Him ^[7]. Prayer is also a crucial element in seeking guidance, particularly during affliction, where individuals pray for God's presence, support, comfort, and direction ^[8].

Sources

Judges “They said to him, “Please ask counsel of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.” -- Judges 18:5”
Psalms “Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. -- Psalms 139:23”
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”
Ecclesiastes “I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. -- Ecclesiastes 1:13”
Psalms “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? -- Psalms 42:2”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Predestination — This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Acts 4:28; Rom. 8:29, 30; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:5, 11; and in all of them it has the same meaning. They teach that the eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or "determinate purpose" of God governs all events. This doctrine of predestination or election is beset with many difficulties. It belongs to the "secret things" of God. But if we take the revealed word of God as our guid”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Happiness of Saints In This Life — Is in God -- Ps 73:25,26. Only found in the ways of wisdom -- Pr 3:17,18. Described by Christ in the beatitudes -- Mt 5:3-12. Is derived from Fear of God. -- Ps 128:1,2; Pr 28:14. Trust in God. -- Pr 16:20; Php 4:6,7. The words of Christ. -- Joh 17:13. Obedience to God. -- Ps 40:8; Joh 13:17. Salvation. -- De 33:29; Isa 12:2,3. Hope in the Lord. -- Ps 146:5. Hope of glory. -- Ro 5:2. God being their Lord. -- Ps 144:15. God being their help. -- Ps 146:5. Praising God. -- Ps 135:3. Their mutual love. -- Ps 133:1. Divine chastening. --”
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”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Seeking God — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7. Includes seeking His Name. -- Ps 83:16. His word. -- Isa 34:16. His face. -- Ps 27:8; 105:4. His strength. -- 1Ch 16:11; Ps 105:4. His commandments. -- 1Ch 28:8; Mal 2:7. His precepts. -- Ps 119:45,94. His kingdom. -- Mt 6:33; Lu 12:31. His righteousness. -- Mt 6:33. Christ. -- Mal 3:1; Lu 2:15,16. Honour which comes from him. -- Joh 5:44. Justification by Christ. -- Ga 2:16,17. The city which God has prepared. -- Heb 11:10,16; 13:14. By prayer -- Job 8:5; Da 9:3. In his house -- De 12:5; Ps 27:4. Should be Immediate. -- H”
Lamentations (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Lamentations 3:36: Let us search and try our ways,.... stead of murmuring and complaining, let us search for something that may support and comfort, teach and instruct, under afflictive providences; let us search into the love of God, which, though it cannot be fully searched out, it will be found to be from everlasting to everlasting; and that all afflictions spring from it; and that it continues notwithstanding them: let us search into the covenant of grace, in which provision is made for afflictions in case of disobedience, and for supports under them: let us search the Scriptu”
Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 19:20: Hear counsel, and receive instruction,.... Of parents, masters, and ministers; especially the counsel and instruction of Wisdom, of Jesus Christ, the Wisdom of God, the wonderful Counsellor; and of his Gospel and of the Scriptures, which are able to make a man wise unto salvation; that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end; in the latter end of life, at death; that then it may appear a man has been so wise as to be concerned for a future state, for the good of his soul in another world; by listening to the counsel and instruction of Christ, in his word; by lookin”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:30: Observe, I. That those who will make anything to purpose of their religion must first make it their serious and deliberate choice; so David did: I have chosen the way of truth. Note, 1. The way of serious godliness is the way of truth; the principles it is founded on are principles of eternal truth, and it is the only true way to happiness. 2. We must choose to walk in this way, not because we know no other way, but because we know no better; nay we know no other safe and good way. Let us choose that way for our way, which we will walk in, though it be narrow. I”
Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 17:27: That they should seek the Lord--That is the high end of all these arrangements of Divine Power, Wisdom, and Love. if haply they might feel after him--as men groping their way in the dark. and find him--a lively picture of the murky atmosphere of Natural Religion. though he be not far from every one of us--The difficulty of finding God outside the pale of revealed religion lies not in His distance from us, but in our distance from Him through the blinding effect of sin.”
Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 12:31: 12:31 Seek the Kingdom of God: Adopt God’s value system, pursue his purpose in the world, and submit to his authority.”

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