We are destined for disappointment if we expect God to direct us routinely through signs, assurances, and coincidences.
This expectation creates the risk of mistaking everyday occurrences for his overt guidance, leading to poor choices that produce adverse outcomes he never intended.
God guides us through the Bible and the Holy Spirit, our mind and conscience, our noble desires and righteous interests, and the knowledge and wisdom of others.
He rarely directs us through mystical experiences.
Sound Judgement
God expects us to blend logic and faith when making important decisions. He wants us to:
- Tell him about our situation.
- Detail the outcomes we prefer.
- Thank him for his trustworthiness.
- Submit our preferences to his will.
- Ask him for guidance, direction, and discernment.
- Search the Bible for pertinent insights.
- Gather all relevant knowledge from both supportive and critical secular sources.
- Evaluate this information in light of our experience and the advice of wise counsel.
- Identify all possible courses of action, including the option of doing nothing, and evaluate the risks and rewards of each.
- Use sound judgment to select what appears to be the prudent alternative at the time. If several options are equally good, we should choose the most appealing one.
- Let our selection simmer before moving forward.
- Implement our selection to the best of our ability under the circumstances.
- Permit God to adjust our plans as he sees fit along the way.
- Trust him to produce a good outcome in due time.
Special Messages
In the Bible, God sometimes communicated directly with people at critical junctures through dreams, visions, visitations, and other unusual events.
He still uses these methodologies on rare occasions today to help us navigate unique situations we currently face or will soon encounter.
However, God sovereignly chooses the topics, times, places, and recipients of these atypical messages, independent of our preferences.
We are not entitled to them, cannot qualify for them, and can never bargain for them. Therefore, we should neither seek nor expect them.
Determine Authenticity
If we do receive a special message we believe is from God, the Bible instructs us to verify its authenticity before acting on it.
Not every mystical message is divine. Some are diabolical, and others are delusional or contrived.
We should ask the following questions to assess the divine authenticity of a special message.
- Does the message align with Biblical principles and priorities?
- Is it positive and affirming?
- Does it coincide with our broader mission?
- Is it consistent with our noble desires and righteous interests?
- Does it leverage our current competencies or unlock our potential?
- Does it appeal more to our humility than to our hubris?
- Will relying on it lead to a virtuous outcome?
- Are we at peace with the risks and uncertainties it entails?
- Does the message become more detailed and more robust over time?
- Are we emotionally detached enough to evaluate it objectively?
- Do wise believers agree with our answers to the previous questions?
If we can answer these questions affirmatively, we should also, as applicable, complete the sound judgment steps outlined above before moving forward.
