A Simple Key to Being Guided by God

A blog from Grace House Church in Florence, Alabama, by Pastor Eddie Lawrence. Discover how to stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit and unlock divine direction for your life.

The following blog is a summary of a message preached by Pastor Eddie Lawrence.

Watch the Sermon HERE!

Have you ever found yourself wondering, "Is that you, Lord?" Sometimes it's most difficult to know if it's God speaking when it's something you actually want to do, because you convince yourself that maybe God wants you to do it because you desire it so badly. In contrast, when it's something you don't want to do, you might wonder if the enemy is trying to deceive you.

The good news is that as believers, we can hear from God. Jesus said in John 10:27, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." Notice that He not only says His sheep hear His voice, but that He knows them. This means He knows how to communicate with each of us in a way we'll recognize it's Him.

The Foundation: Trust and Acknowledge

Proverbs 3:5-6 provides our roadmap: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

This passage contains three key actions: trusting, not leaning on our own understanding, and acknowledging God. The word "acknowledge" in Hebrew is "yada," which speaks of intimate, relational knowledge - not just intellectual awareness, but a deep consciousness that God is with you, in you, and for you.

How Can I Listen to God Instead of Following Formulas?

In our Western culture, we love formulas - do steps 1, 2, 3 and get the desired outcome. But being guided by God isn't about following a formula; it's about being led by a Father.

When you became a believer, the Holy Spirit began whispering "Abba" (Papa, Daddy) in your spirit. God wants you to think relationally, not religiously. You are a child of the Most High God. Most of the time when the Father speaks, it sounds like your own voice, but you learn to identify it in your spirit.

What Does It Mean to Acknowledge God's Presence?

Like Jacob, who woke up and said, "Surely God was in this place and I didn't know it," we can be unaware of God's presence even though He's always there. As believers, we have the special promise of His presence through the Holy Spirit.

You need to acknowledge His presence even when you don't feel it. Don't let your feelings, emotions, or circumstances rob you of the eternal truth that He will never leave you nor forsake you. Acknowledge Him in the good times, the bad times, and the ugly times.

How Do I Avoid Presumption When Seeking God's Will?

Don't let presumption interfere with God's revelation. The Israelites made this mistake with the Gibeonites in Joshua 9. The situation seemed obvious - these people appeared to be travelers from a distant land based on their worn clothes and moldy bread. But Joshua 9:14 tells us the problem: "But they did not ask counsel of the Lord."

Presumption often relies on familiarity and past memories instead of intimate relationship with God. Just because God did something one way before doesn't mean He'll do it the same way again. It doesn't take long to acknowledge Him and ask, "Lord, is this you?"

How Can I Discern Where God Is Moving?

Jesus provides our model in John 5:19 - He only did what He saw the Father doing. Learn to discern when and where God is moving, then join Him in what He's doing.

When someone unexpectedly asks you to pray for them, that's the Holy Spirit moving. When you sense God working in a situation, ask, "Father, what do you want me to do here that will glorify your Son? How can I manifest Jesus in this situation?"

What Does Conversational Companionship with the Holy Spirit Look Like?

Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to "pray without ceasing." This doesn't mean constantly talking, but maintaining a conscious awareness that God is with you. It's like keeping the phone line open throughout the day.

Prayer is communion with God - sharing your heart with Him and listening as He shares His heart with you. When you maintain this conscious awareness, you're acknowledging Him, and He will direct you.

Think of it like radio waves that fill the room right now. The radio doesn't create the signal; it tunes into the frequency to reveal communication that's already taking place. Similarly, the Holy Spirit inside you is tuned into God's station, revealing what the Father is saying.

How Do I Recognize God's Voice?

Just as you learn to recognize the voice of someone you love, you can learn to recognize God's voice. When you start hearing His voice and know it's Him, your faith explodes because you realize He is alive, real, and actively communicating with you.

Peace is one of the strongest ways to be led by the Lord. If you're losing peace about something, even when everything looks great, you're probably not seeing something the Lord sees. It might not be wrong - it just might not be right for you.

Life Application

This week, commit to consciously acknowledging God's presence throughout your day. Take regular breaks to check in with Him, saying, "Lord, I know you're with me. Anything you have for me? Anything you need me to do?"

Practice conversational companionship with the Holy Spirit by maintaining that conscious awareness that He's with you. When you sense Him "buzzing" or "ringing" - that gentle prompting in your spirit - answer the call by faith and obey what He's leading you to do.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Am I approaching God relationally as my Father, or am I trying to follow religious formulas?
• Do I acknowledge God's presence even when I don't feel Him?
• Am I presuming I know what God wants, or am I actually seeking His counsel?
• Where do I see God moving around me, and how can I join Him in what He's doing?
• Am I maintaining a conversational companionship with the Holy Spirit throughout my day?

Remember, God wants to guide you even more than you want to be guided. He knows you better than you know yourself, and He knows His plan for you. Trust Him with all your heart, don't lean on your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will direct your paths.

Visit Grace House Church in Florence, AL

Grace House is a Spirit-filled, non-denominational church located at 389 Seville St, Florence, AL 35630, serving Florence, Muscle Shoals, and the greater Shoals region.

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Grace House – 389 Seville St, Florence AL