Seeking God's Guidance Through Prayer and Discerning His Will

Seeking God's guidance and discerning His will often involves prayer, which is understood as direct communication with God ^[3]. This spiritual discipline is not merely contemplation but an active address to the divine, encompassing both oral and mental forms ^[3]. Scripture commands believers to seek God ^[4], and prayer is a primary means of doing so ^[4].

The Bible describes prayer in various ways, including "beseeching the Lord" (Exodus 32:11), "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:15), and "drawing near to God" (Psalm 73:28) ^[3]. It is also characterized as "bowing the knees" (Ephesians 3:14), "lifting up the soul" (Psalm 25:1), and "crying to God" (Psalm 27:7) ^[5]. These descriptions highlight the earnestness and intimacy involved in communicating with God. The act of seeking God through prayer presupposes a belief in God's personality and His willingness to engage with humanity ^[3].

Discerning God's will is closely linked to this seeking. Jeremiah 42:3 records a plea: "Pray that the LORD your God will tell us the way we should walk and the thing we should do" ^[7]. This verse illustrates the desire for divine direction in practical matters. Similarly, Ephesians 5:10 encourages believers to be "trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord" ^[8]. This pursuit of God's pleasure implies an active effort to understand and align with His purposes.

The Psalms frequently express this longing for divine instruction. Psalm 139:23 states, "Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts" ^[1]. This reflects a desire for God to reveal any hidden aspects of the self that might hinder understanding His will. Psalm 16:7 (Geneva 1599) notes, "I wil prayse the Lord, who hath giuen me counsell: my reines also teach me in the nightes," suggesting that divine guidance can come through inner conviction or intuition ^[2]. Keil & Delitzsch, in their commentary on Psalms, emphasize that while God's will is revealed in His written word, God Himself is the necessary expounder for its right understanding. They note that prayer for knowledge requires both enlightening and guiding grace ^[13].

Seeking God's will is not limited to specific moments of crisis but is a continuous endeavor. Psalm 105:4 exhorts, "Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually" ^[6]. This continuous seeking implies an ongoing relationship and dependence on God for direction in all aspects of life. John Gill, commenting on Jeremiah 29:13, states that those who seek the Lord "aright" will always find Him, receiving His presence, communion, and supplies of grace ^[14]. This seeking involves approaching God through Christ, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, with faith and fervency ^[14].

Prayer for guidance is particularly emphasized during times of affliction. James 5:13 encourages prayer in suffering ^[9]. Such prayers often include requests for God to consider one's troubles, for His presence and support, for divine comfort, for mitigation of difficulties, and for deliverance ^[9]. Importantly, these prayers also seek divine teaching and direction, as seen in Job 34:32 and Psalm 143:10 ^[9].

The "Lord's Prayer," as taught by Jesus, serves as a model for prayer, emphasizing simplicity over vain repetition ^[10]. It includes petitions for God's will to be done, reflecting a desire for alignment with divine purposes ^[10]. The practice of calling on the Lord is a consistent theme throughout Scripture, indicating a reliance on God for all needs, including guidance ^[11]. Paul's prayers, such as those found in 2 Thessalonians 3:16, often invoke the "Lord of peace" to grant peace "always" and "in every way," suggesting a desire for comprehensive divine ordering in the lives of believers ^[12]. This reflects a trust that God's peace can stabilize believers regardless of external circumstances ^[12].

Sources

Psalms “Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. -- Psalms 139:23”
Psalms “Psalms 16:7 (Geneva1599) — I wil prayse the Lord, who hath giuen me counsell: my reines also teach me in the nightes.”
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”
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”
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”
Psalms “Psalms 105:4 (NASB) — Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually.”
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.””
Ephesians “Ephesians 5:10 (NASB) — trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”
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).”
2 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Timothy 2:22: 2:22 those who call on the Lord: Cp. Ps 99:6; Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; 9:14, 21; 22:16; Rom 10:12-13; 1 Cor 1:2. • with pure hearts: Cp. 1 Tim 1:5.”
2 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Thessalonians 3:16: Lord of peace--Jesus Christ. The same title is given to Him as to the Father, "the GOD of peace" (Rom 15:33; Rom 16:20; Co2 13:11). An appropriate title in the prayer here, where the harmony of the Christian community was liable to interruption from the "disorderly." The Greek article requires the translation, "Give you the peace" which it is "His to give." "Peace" outward and inward, here and hereafter (Rom 14:17). always--unbroken, not changing with outward circumstances. by all means--Greek, "in every way." Most of the oldest manuscript”
Psalms (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Psalms 25:4: Recognising the infamy of such black ingratitude, he prays for instruction as to the ways which he must take according to the precepts of God (Psa 18:22). The will of God, it is true, lies before us in God's written word, but the expounder required for the right understanding of that word is God Himself. He prays Him for knowledge; but in order to make what he knows a perfect and living reality, he still further needs the grace of God, viz., both His enlightening and also His guiding grace.”
Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 29:13: And ye shall seek me, and find me,.... When persons seek the Lord aright, they always find him; a God hearing prayer; a God in Christ; bestowing favours upon them; granting them his presence; indulging them in communion with him; and favouring them with fresh supplies of his grace, and everything needful for them; every mercy, temporal and spiritual; that is, when they seek him in Christ, who is the only way to the Father, under the guidance and influence of the blessed Spirit; in the exercise of faith upon him and his promises; with fervency of spirit and ardour o”

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