Strong spirits: how do you decide?

How do you decide what you are going to do in a day?  How do you make large and small decisions about home, work, relationships, life?  Is God a part of those decisions at all?  He can be!  And that can make things a whole lot easier and better.

I'm talking about guidance.  Throughout the Bible we are told that God can and will guide the path of our life if we will let him.  Of course, that begins with believing there is a God and that he is interested in us and our lives.  Once those are in place, the question is, how does he guide us?  What do we need to do?

We need to read his word, the Bible.  We need to listen to the still small voice of the Spirit within.  We need to consider circumstances,  We need to seek the advice of trusted, Godly friends.  Mostly, we need to trust him and submit to him. There is more.  But these will get us on the right track.

The apostle Paul writes: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will."  (Romans 12:1)

King Solom0n writes: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and to not depend on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5,6)

So, who is directing your paths?  You?  Or God?  Try him!  Trust him!

Gary Schwerin serves as pastor at Caledonia Congregational Church. He is also the Spiritual Development Minister for the YMCA of the Rock River Valley and Executive Director of Bridge Ministries of Rockford. Prior to launching Bridge Ministries, Gary spent many years in leadership with Young Life. His columns appear here every Sunday - to see them all, subscribe to our daily email.