Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV –
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Romans 12:2 NIV – Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. And then you will prove what God’s will is—His good, pleasing perfect will.
Psalm 143:10 ESV – Teach me to do Your will; for you are my God. May Your Spirit lead me on level ground.
Ephesians 5:17 ESV – Don’t be foolish. Understand what the Lord’s will is.
A Promise: You can trust in the Lord with all your heart
Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV –
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
- God does not promise to tell you exactly where you are going
James 4:14,15 ESV – …you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
- God does not promise you will have no responsibility—He promises to give direction.
- God does not promise that His way will always be easy to discover
Acts 16:6-10 ESV – [Paul and his companions] went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And [then] they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Hebrews 10:36 NIV –You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised
Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV –
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
A Caution: Do not lean on your own understanding
- It is natural to want to lean on our own understanding
“[Incline] your heart to understanding” (Proverbs 2:2).
“Raise your voice for understanding” (Proverbs 2:3).
“Understanding will guard you” (Proverbs 2:11).
“Blessed is the one who . . . gets understanding” (Proverbs 3:13).
“Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding” (Proverbs 14:33).
“The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge” (Proverbs 15:14)
“To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver” (Proverbs 16:16).
“Buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23).
- It’s natural to lean on our own instincts
Ephesians 5:17 NIV – Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Proverbs 3:5 ESV – Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart…In all your ways acknowledge [submit] to Him, and He will direct your path.
A Process—Hearing God’s Voice
- Hearing God’s voice begins with readiness to obey
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart…
5 Questions
- Do my options agree with Jesus’ clear teaching?
Matthew 24:35 ESV – Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Matthew 5:32 ESV – Jesus says, I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
- Are doors opening, or am I forcing them?
John 10:2-4 NLT – But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.
- Does this decision make me more like Christ?
Philippians 2:5 ESV – Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus
2 Corinthians 10:5, NLT – We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
James 3:13-17 NIV – Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts,…. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
It’s not God’s voice if it is motivated by bitterness or selfish ambition
God’s Voice makes us like Jesus
Pure
Peace-loving
Considerate
Submissive
Merciful
Fruitful
Impartial
Sincere
- Am I rushing?
- What do my wise Christian friends advise?
Proverbs 15:22 ESV –
Without counsel plans fail,
but with many advisers they succeed.
Psalm 1:1 ESV – Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked
5 Questions for Discerning God’s Voice
- Does this agree or disagree with the teaching of Jesus?
- Are doors opening, or am I forcing them?
- Does this make me more like Jesus?
- Do I feel rushed?
- What do wise, Christian friends advise?
