Silas
Beloved of All
Your desire to follow God's leading rather than only your own personal goals is a good and humble desire, and it honors the Lord. The verse you mentioned is often understood as speaking about personal dreams or ambitions, but in its context it speaks of God's revealed Word. Where there is no prophetic revelation, no clear Word from God, the people cast off restraint. The vision there is not a plan we make for ourselves, but the light God gives to show us His way.
In Scripture a vision is insight into the spiritual realm that God Himself opens to human eyes. We cannot see that realm naturally, but God is able to open our eyes when He chooses. When John was on Patmos he was in the Spirit and received a revelation of things to come. Daniel alone saw the vision given to him while others with him only felt its power and fled. Peter was given a vision three times until he understood that God was showing him not to call unclean what God had cleansed. In each case God took the initiative. Those men were not seeking an experience for its own sake, God revealed Himself to them to accomplish His purpose.
That helps us understand how to pray about guidance. God's will for your life is the very best thing that could happen to you, far better than any goal you could set for yourself. The purpose of prayer is not to get God to accomplish our will, but to bring our hearts into alignment with His will so that His will is done. He is the Father of lights with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, and every good and perfect gift comes down from Him. What He reveals, He is faithful to fulfill, because He does not change.
For that reason the surest way God gives vision today is through His Word. It is a tragedy that so many, even in the church, rarely hear the Bible truly taught, yet it is God's authoritative Word and it is always true. It tells us of His love that reaches to all people, that endures forever, of His grace by which we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ and not by our own works, and of His purpose to conform us to the image of Christ so that we love as He loves and forgive as He forgave. As you give yourself to reading and obeying Scripture, the Holy Spirit who is at work within you is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that you ask or think, and He will make God's path clear.
It is also good to examine the heart's motive. Scripture says people often seek not God Himself but a sense of peace or tranquility for themselves. God invites us to seek Him first, not simply an experience or a feeling of direction. When we seek Him, He gives understanding of His way.
So my prayer for you is that God will give you a clear revelation of His Word and will open the eyes of your heart to understand it, that you will not be led by personal ambition but by His Spirit, and that you will be conformed more and more to Christ. May He keep you in His Word, teach you to trust His unchanging character, and fulfill in your life the good purpose He has planned. In Jesus' name, amen.
In Scripture a vision is insight into the spiritual realm that God Himself opens to human eyes. We cannot see that realm naturally, but God is able to open our eyes when He chooses. When John was on Patmos he was in the Spirit and received a revelation of things to come. Daniel alone saw the vision given to him while others with him only felt its power and fled. Peter was given a vision three times until he understood that God was showing him not to call unclean what God had cleansed. In each case God took the initiative. Those men were not seeking an experience for its own sake, God revealed Himself to them to accomplish His purpose.
That helps us understand how to pray about guidance. God's will for your life is the very best thing that could happen to you, far better than any goal you could set for yourself. The purpose of prayer is not to get God to accomplish our will, but to bring our hearts into alignment with His will so that His will is done. He is the Father of lights with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, and every good and perfect gift comes down from Him. What He reveals, He is faithful to fulfill, because He does not change.
For that reason the surest way God gives vision today is through His Word. It is a tragedy that so many, even in the church, rarely hear the Bible truly taught, yet it is God's authoritative Word and it is always true. It tells us of His love that reaches to all people, that endures forever, of His grace by which we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ and not by our own works, and of His purpose to conform us to the image of Christ so that we love as He loves and forgive as He forgave. As you give yourself to reading and obeying Scripture, the Holy Spirit who is at work within you is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that you ask or think, and He will make God's path clear.
It is also good to examine the heart's motive. Scripture says people often seek not God Himself but a sense of peace or tranquility for themselves. God invites us to seek Him first, not simply an experience or a feeling of direction. When we seek Him, He gives understanding of His way.
So my prayer for you is that God will give you a clear revelation of His Word and will open the eyes of your heart to understand it, that you will not be led by personal ambition but by His Spirit, and that you will be conformed more and more to Christ. May He keep you in His Word, teach you to trust His unchanging character, and fulfill in your life the good purpose He has planned. In Jesus' name, amen.
We thank you for giving us the privilege to pray on your behalf and for sharing your heart to receive visions from God according to Prov 29:18 so that you may follow His direction and not simply your own personal goals. We are glad that you asked us to stand in agreement with you in prayer and we have continued to lift you up before the Father of lights with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning as it is written in Jas 1:17. We pray that the Lord who does not change like shifting shadows will pour out clear vision upon you and fulfill the vision He gives you and lead you in His perfect way in Jesus name. If your request was answered please post a praise report and let us all know so we may rejoice with you. If your request does not seem to have been answered please post it again as a new request and allow us to continue with you in prayer. May God bless you as you continue to seek him through his son, Jesus Christ.
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A Tempted Saviour-Our Best Succour
Whatever you are carrying today, this message from Charles Spurgeon is for you.
