Conference yukon::christian_v7

    Wow.  This can be quite a question.  A few things come to my mind:
    
    1) Pray, pray, pray.
    
    2) God speaks through His word.  Listen for His direction as you read,
    meditate on it, hear it spoken.  Be still before Him.  Although a verse
    may not speak specifically to your situation, God can use it in very
    clear ways.  For example, when I was seriously considering buying a
    house, it was a great matter of prayer (after all, it's not a trivial
    decision).  One morning, when things were about to the point of whether
    to make an offer or not, my chapter that day was Jer. 32, and I read
    (among other pertinent things) "For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the
    God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again
    in this land." (Jer 32:15).  For me, it was a confirmation of His
    direction.  Another personal example (and even more important decision)
    came when I was considering asking a sister in Christ to be my wife. 
    At the time, I was meditating on God's word for ministry preparation
    (on a totally different subject) when God flooded my thoughts with my
    life verse: "The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy,
    O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands."
    (Ps. 138:8) As He did, He spoke to my heart that the one I was
    considering was part of "that which concerneth me", and that He was
    encompassing her/us with my life verse.
    
    3) Don't make an important decision on your own.  Seek counsel/advice
    from godly companions.  (This was something I had previously done in
    both the examples cited above.)  Though I believe that the final
    decision is up to the individual,  "Where no counsel is, the people
    fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. (Prov.
    11:14) and "Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the
    multitude of counsellors they are established." (Prov. 15:22).
    
    4) If you don't have peace, wait.  I believe that God will give us
    peace concerning His will.  Either He will give assurance (and thereby
    peace), or He will show that He doesn't want something (again, peace to
    not take a particual step).
    
    Mark L.

One thing that I have read in a book by Brother Andrew, which I have not been
able to fully verify in my own life, but which makes sense to me:

If the choice is between two options that are both within God's will, then He
will always give you an answer.  But God will not answer you with specific 
guidance if He has already answered. His "already" answers are mostly given in 
the Word.

For example, if someone wants God's guidance as to whether or not to leave their
spouse and marry another person, God won't give them that guidance.  He has
already made that abundantly clear in His Word.

Before you even ask for guidance directly, see if the Word has already given you
the answer.

Paul

    .1 and .2 are very good.
    
    I also recommend keeping a spiritual journal; it has helped me to see
    a number of common elements that have come through prayer and through
    it I have gained a better understanding of the Lord's desires for me.
    
    Pray, pray, pray....that must be a sound foundation. Personally, most
    of the 'words' which I have received have come either during times
    of prayer or after having received the Eucharist when I am also in
    prayer, praise and worship. 
    
    Occasionally I have asked the Lord for a scripture or have been led to
    one. Sometimes the Lord will give me a confirmation through another 
    person.
    
    The key is to have a solid daily prayer life, follow his Word and 
    commandments, and be open to Him.
    
    Also, if it is of God then it is in His timing. There should be no
    pressures on you if His will is still not clear (given that it does
    not go against His Will, as .2 pointed out). Sometimes we wish to
    know 'what is out there' for us, but it is not God's timing to reveal
    it. He will never be late in His plan!
    
    Peace,
    
    Mary
     

    If the decision is an option between two things which do not go 
    against God's Word, the confirmations can come in a few ways :
    
    *  You will have peace
    *  Barriers will be moved - things will fall into place
    *  Others will say something confirming it
    *  It will satisfy a legitimate desire of the heart
    *  Scripture may be given to confirm
                      
    A Recent Example :
    
    Recently I was going to buy a printer for my newly purchased PC.
    I spec'ed out a few dot matrix models; I did not consider anything
    else because of the costs. I had bought the PC primarily for ministry
    work that I do and I have consecrated the PC to this.
    
    After I had decided on a Panasonic, but before I could buy it, I 
    heard God tell me to 'wait' and to 'trust in His provision'. I thought
    that meant to try to get my old LA50 to work with the new PC and so
    I tried to find a printer driver that would work. Nothing worked.
    After one weekend I felt it was time to get the printer and so that
    Monday morning I went looking for the spec sheets which had just been
    at hand.
    
    They were no where to be found, but I thought I could find the model
    anyway. On the way to work I was praying and 'laser printer' was inter-
    jected into my prayer and with that decisive statement came the 
    understanding that it would be on sale and that the salesperson would
    be friendly. The whole idea delighted me because I had dismissed it
    outright due to cost. I decided that I'd check them out when I went
    shopping that night.
    
    I stopped at Staples and there were about 4 Laser printers; two were on
    sale, but they were all sold out. The salesperson was 'standard
    friendly', but I already knew that was not the place. I then went to
    Lechmere.
    
    They had 3 laser printers, two of them were over $1,000 and the third
    was several hundered dollars less, and on sale. It took me a while to
    get a salesperson, but he was very friendly and, in fact, I never felt
    more relaxed with a salesman. The shopping experience became a real
    PLEASURE. The laser printer did not have the Font capabilities that
    I needed and the salesperson steered me to the Panasonic I'd spec'ed
    out earlier. I agreed that it was less money, and it WAS the one I'd
    selected earlier.....
    
    All of a sudden, I began asking the salesman about the laser printer
    again and he told me there was a font cartridge that would solve the
    problem. I made up my mind for the laser printer in a flash and it
    was like everything clicked into place as being 'right'. 
    
    At the cash register, the salesman mentioned that he liked this job
    so much more than his last one, "Because I meet such nice people here."
    Our experience had been exceptional, a sign from God.
    
    Mary
    

    There are several ways whereby God communicates with us. His words are
    always the commonly used method of communicating to me as other ways 
    would required that I discern the source. 
   
    A few months ago I was nagged by my wife to sell my flat as everyone
    believed that the property market was at its peak. I prayed about it
    but there was no reply from Him. Since I have asked and there was no 
    indication, I rather delayed the decision to sell. After 3 months, I have a
    dream that my flat was tumbling down and police cordoned off the area.  
    At a cell meeting, while praying for me,someone whom I met for the first
    time saw a vision of me and my wife in a house like a cage trying to get
    out.One of the reason why we wanted to move was because we did not like
    staying on the ground floor. For security sake we had the windows and
    doors installed with iron grill just like a cage. Two weeks later my wife
    too had a dream about our kitchen cabinet tumbling down. All these add up
    to a confirmation from God that we should sell our flat now. When I finally
    got it sold, the property market was even more booming than few months
    ago and obviously I got a good price for it. 
    
    Regards, Jeff    
    
    

Hi Fran,

Good replies....  I'd just like to add that where you are seeking His will,
consistent with prayerfully submitting it to Him, examining the Word,etc,
He won't let you drift off to a mistaken path.  He is faithful, and His
dealings with each person are individual and personal.  He knows what will
reach your heart to touch it with an awareness of His perfect way. 

Luke 11:9-13 reminds us of that.
 "...if you then, though you are evil know how to give good gifts to your
  children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit 
  to those who ask Him"

 - which I apply to all we ask Him for, as the Holy Spirit reveals the 
   way.

Nevertheless, it can be hard to be *sure* of the right way, because we are 
humans, living in a material world, and used to receiving much of our 
decision-making material through a tangible route.  In the spiritual 
dimension this has to be set apart, to listen for His choice.  Speaking 
personally, sometimes the guidance can come gradually, as over time I 
realise that I have peace over one route above another, and gently testing 
them confirms it.  We expect an outright "Yes" or "No", but often He is 
more concerned with moulding our hearts to the point at which we can accept 
His "Yes" or "No".

For instance, suppose I *very much* want to follow a certain path, which is 
acceptable from Biblical values, my perception is likely to be clouded by 
my desire.

If His answer is "No", I am likely to fight against it with my will, unless 
I have been prepared by Him bringing related things to my awareness, until
I am willing to release it.

If His answer is "Yes", when I'm so anxious for it, I find it hardest to be
sure of His way - to be sure that the affirmation is truly from Him, and
not just from 'me'!  I have to let it go, as much as possible, to be sure
that I have truly received it from Him.  If we take a "Yes" that we want
too readily (ie from our desire), it never reaches the potential that he 
can give in what He bestows.

Sometimes, on a serious matter, He will speak into our hearts, a direct
awareness of the path in a situation.  More often, there is a quiet peace
about the correct way.  Sometimes practical events give an indication, but 
these should be examined before the LORD, because sometimes when He has
given us a path, the enemy is allowed to put temporary hindrances which
test our faith.  Overcoming these deeper establishes our knowing His voice 
(John 10:4).

						God bless
								Andrew

    Good thoughts.  I could repeat much of it, but won't.  I do have a
    technique to add.  It is that I start by asking God about things that I
    know He answers "yes" to.  Basic things, like does He love me, is
    Jesus the Christ and so forth.  These are a good check to make sure I'm
    "in tune."  If I'm not in tune, it's probably time for an increase in
    soul searching, Scripture reading, repenting, increasing humility and 
    so forth.  
    
    If I confirm that I'm in tune, then I focus on questions that He can 
    answer "yes" to.  That often requires breaking complex decisions down into 
    basic elements that I can work on bit by bit.  I'm often surprised by the 
    directions I wind up in.  Typically, when focused on my own problems the 
    solution ends up being to help someone else and my pain is eased.  That 
    type of thing.  
    
    I agree with the assertion to seek His will.  It may conflict with your
    own preconceptions.  Finally, gain experience in how He answers "yes."  
    Hard to describe.  But, if you start with the basics, you can learn.
    Like a lot of things, you have to work with it over time.  Like oil for
    a lamp or insurance for your car, when you really need it is not the 
    time to plan on taking steps to get it.
    
    Steve