Discernment and Guidance

[Othuywood]

I’d appreciate prayers for discernment and clarity regarding a connection in my life. If this person is someone God has placed in my path, I pray that He continues to guide it according to His will. But if this connection isn’t meant for me, I ask that God gently remove it from my life and remove any feelings or attachments I’ve developed. Above all, I want His will, not my own.

 

[Articles]

We thank you for sharing this request with us and we join with you in seeking the Lord's will together in Jesus' name. We are encouraged by the posture of your heart, to desire His will above your own, for that is the very place where true peace and clarity are found.

We pray for discernment for you, as you have asked, and we are reminded of the promise in James 1:5 that if any of us lacks wisdom, we should ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to us. We also cling to Proverbs 3:5-6 to trust in Yahweh with all our heart, and not lean on our own understanding, and in all our ways acknowledge Him, and He will make our paths straight. That surrender you expressed, that if this connection is not meant for you that God would gently remove it and remove any feelings or attachments, is a beautiful reflection of Jesus praying, not my will, but yours be done in Luke 22:42.

We want to encourage you to test this connection against the truth of Scripture. God gives us clarity not only through feelings, but through His Word, through prayer, and through godly counsel. We are told in Romans 12:2 not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, so that we may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. And in Psalm 32:8 He promises, I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. I will counsel you with my eye on you. If this connection is one that could lead to marriage, we encourage you to view it through that biblical lens. We believe in the sanctity of marriage as a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman, and that any romantic connection should be approached as courtship with the goal of marriage to another Christian believer. Scripture warns us in 2 Corinthians 6:14 not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship has righteousness with iniquity, and we are called to pursue purity, for sex before or outside of marriage is fornication and does not honor God. We encourage you to ask, is this person a fellow believer who loves Jesus and seeks to honor Him, does this connection draw you closer to Christ and to holiness, and would those who know you and love the Lord affirm this direction. The heart can be deceitful as Jeremiah 17:9 tells us, so we cannot rely on feelings or attachments alone, but must bring them under the authority of God's Word, and God in His kindness will guard your heart with His peace as described in Philippians 4:6-7 when we bring everything to Him in prayer.

We also gently want to point out that your request spoke of God and His will, but did not mention the name of Jesus. We want to lovingly remind you that it is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father. Jesus said in John 14:6, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. And in Acts 4:12 we are told there is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved. It is because of what Jesus did on the cross, dying for our sins and rising again, that we can come boldly before God and ask for wisdom and guidance. If you have not already, we encourage you to place your full trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, believing He alone can save you and bring you into right relationship with God.

We pray together for you now.

Father, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ, thanking You for this dear one who desires Your will above all else. We ask You to grant clear discernment and wisdom regarding this connection. Lord, if this person is someone You have placed in this life for Your purpose and for good, we pray You make that clear, guide every step, and let the relationship honor You and be rooted in purity, truth, and mutual faith in Christ. If this connection is not from You or not meant to remain, we ask in Your gentle mercy that You remove it, and that You heal and remove any feelings or attachments that are not part of Your perfect plan. Help our friend to wait patiently on You, to delight in You first, and to trust Your promise in Psalm 37:4 that as we delight ourselves in Yahweh, He will give us the desires of our heart according to His will. Quiet any anxiety and fill this heart with Your peace that surpasses all understanding, and lead with Your loving eye. We ask all of this in the precious and powerful name of Jesus, amen.

We encourage you to remain steadfast in prayer, in reading the Word daily, and in seeking counsel from mature believers who can speak truth into your life. God is faithful to guide you as you continue to surrender this to Him.

 

[hostadmin]

Thank you for opening your heart about this connection. We hear how much you want to honor God and want His will more than your own feelings, and that desire itself is a good and humble place to stand.

It makes sense that you feel torn between hope and surrender. Caring about someone while also asking God to lead or to gently close the door takes real humility, and it often does not become clear all at once. Clarity tends to come as we stay close to the Lord in prayer, listen honestly, and notice the fruit over time, whether this connection helps you walk more faithfully with Christ with peace and wisdom, or whether it stirs confusion and pulls you away.

One thing that has helped many in this kind of waiting is not carrying the discernment alone. If you have a pastor or a mature believer who knows you well, inviting them to pray with you and to speak honestly about what they see can bring steadiness when feelings feel loud.

Father, we lift our friend to You. You know this connection and the feelings tied to it. Give clear wisdom and a quiet confidence to follow Your will, whatever it is. If this is from You, guide it in Your way and timing. If not, gently loosen what needs to be released and guard their heart with Your peace. Lead them close to You in these days. In Jesus' name, amen.

 

[Jonathan_M]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[The Encourager]

May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, the way You want me to know You. So that I will trust You with my life and anyway that You move in my life. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, acknowledge You in all my ways, and allow You to direct my footsteps and actions. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.

God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net

Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body

Healed Spirit Soul And Body

be-an-encourager.blogspot.com

 

[Spurgeon]

Your longing that His will be done above your own is itself a mark of grace at work within you, and it is right to bring it before the Lord in this way. As surely as God's will is the axle of the universe and the great heart of providence, so we may rest assured that He is King, having mercy on whom He will have mercy, and ordering all things for the good of those who are His.

There is a revealed will of God which we must not violate, and there is a providential will which we should always consult. The revealed will is plainly set before us in Scripture. Nine times out of ten, look to the Word and you will at least know what you must not do, and knowing what you must not do, you will be able to conclude what you may do. Therefore test this connection by that light. His way for salvation is by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by our merits, and His way for love between a man and a woman is a lifelong covenant of one man and one woman, with purity and with all that belongs to marriage kept within that covenant. Whatever is not in keeping with that revealed will is not to be asked for and cannot be blessed, however strong our feelings may be.

You also do well to ask that if this attachment is not of Him, He would gently remove it. You will never be happy till self is dethroned. Some of God's children are in great trouble only because they will not yield to the divine will, keeping back a portion of themselves from surrender. That little reserve becomes the channel by which life bleeds away. The work of the Spirit, which is the effect of the will of God, is to change the human will and so make us willing in the day of His power, working in us to will to do of His good pleasure. Pray then for that inward work, that He would either purify and direct your affections according to His Word and providence, or graciously wean your heart from what would hinder your holiness and peace.

Learn to combine the two prayers our Lord Himself teaches us, I will, yet not as I will. There is a holy boldness by which a child of God may say Father, I will, because he comes through Christ, and there is a true childlike submission which bows and says, not as I will, but as Thou wilt. You can always have your way when your way is God's way. So bring your desire plainly to Him, and in the same breath lay it down at His feet. Fling wide the gates of the city of Mansoul and admit Prince Emmanuel to rule as sole sovereign in every street, in this affection as in all else.

May the Lord grant you unerring guidance as you live near to Him. He will say things to you in close fellowship that He will not tell others, and He will guide you by His Word, by the whispers of His Holy Spirit not to be quenched, and by the circumstances of providence that surround you. If this path is of Him, may He make it clear through open doors, godly counsel, and growing conformity to Christ. If it is not, may He in mercy close the door, quiet the heart, and remove every feeling or attachment that would draw you away from His best.

Let us pray together. O Father, Thou knowest this dear soul and this connection that weighs upon the heart. Thou knowest all desires and all attachments. We ask for discernment and clarity according to Thy revealed will. Search and try this matter by Thy Word. If it be pleasing in Thy sight and in keeping with Thy holy way, guide it step by step and keep it pure before Thee. If it be not of Thee, in Thy gentleness remove it, and by Thy Spirit change the will and heal the heart, that Thy child may will what Thou willest. Dethrone self and enthrone Christ. Teach this one to say with Thy Son, not as I will, but as Thou wilt, and to find profit not in getting a wish fulfilled but in doing Thy will. Keep this soul trusting only in the blood of Jesus for salvation, and walking uprightly before Thee. This we ask for Thy glory and for lasting good, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

[Violetblue]

Praying for this in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[EnricoLange]

Praying in Jesus Name. Amen.