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NASB | Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]. |
Bible Question:
How do we know God is speaking to us through the Holy Spirit for sure and it's not our own ideas. For instance, right now I'm applying for 2 full-time jobs. One is perfect as far as hours go the other is not perfect for me as to the hours. Yet I feel the one that isn't perfect for me is the one I should only apply to. Why because I only found out about the not perfect job by accident. I had to swerve to miss hitting a buck acouple of weeks ago. Last Saturday I was introduced to a woman and during our conversations I mentioned that I swerved to miss hitting the buck in front of such and such a place and she said she worked at that place. One thing led to another and she can definetly get me a full-time job at this place as she has the authority to do so. I do believe God places people in our lives at the right opportune time and believe I should apply for this job only because of it. I've been praying and praying on what to do next in my life to help out with my financial circumstances and constantly asking God to show me waht to do next in my life according to His will. Do you all have some comments as to how we can be sure this is a push from the Holy Spirit to apply for this job. I do believe it is the Holy Spirit guiding me but all the same, as a new Christian, I'm still learning and maybe my thinking is all wrong. Mouse |
Bible Answer: Dear Mouse, It is commendable that you are seeking the perfect will of God. The Scripture does, indeed, assure us that God will give us direction. Note, however, that this kind of direction is predicated on the condition that we are living with Him in mind on a continual basis. We must be live out the clear commands of Scripture above all else. In other words, a person who is habitually sinning is living for themselves, rather than for God (1 John 3:9-10). They've set their own course (Proverbs 21:27). The evidence of a Gospel transformed life will be growth in righteousness. God has provided us with a clear picture of what constitutes righteousness. We demonstrate God's right to command us by our willing submission to His commands. I recall a Christian young lady who told me she was seeking God's permission to marry a Muhammadan. I showed her 2 Corinthians 6:14, and explained its application to her situation. She assured me that she was aware of that passage, but that she would prefer that God would show her more explicitly that her intended marriage was wrong. I hope that her error is clear to everyone. Now, assuming that you are walking as closely to the Lord as possible, let me render part two of this discussion. Remember that God has graciously provided your abilities, experience, skills, and opportunities. Acknowledging Him means we recognize all that He has graciously given us. God has also given you a mind. Your understanding of Scripture is such that you must certainly know whether or not this job is one that a believer could honorably perform. When all of that sort of thing lines up, I think you're free to choose to take this job if it is something you'd like to do. Sometimes God uses His Spirit to impress us to take one course of action or another. In the end, though, as you walk close to Him, and prayerfully acknowledge your dependence on Him, assume that He is, indeed, providing guidance. Just keep asking Him to close the doors if He chooses. In Him, Doc |