Sometimes I wish God would whack me over the head with a two by four to bring clarity into my life. But that’s not how He works. Rather, God likes to be pursued.
He says, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field” (Matthew 13:44).
God wants us to be active participants in our pursuit of Him—that’s when He reveals Himself. But if you’ve ever wondered whether you’re following God’s plan or even going in the right direction, you know it’s not always easy to differentiate between the voice of God and the voice of others.
To help you do just that, here are 4 clues that will help you determine if you’re making choices that line up with God or if you’re being swayed by the people around you:
Clue #1 – You feel at peace
When something is from God it brings a sense of peace, regardless of the difficulty. If you are suffering from double-mindedness or confusion, whatever you are doing or contemplating is NOT coming from God. Take a few steps back and find that place of peace before you take any steps forward.
Clue #2 – It stands the test of time
If something is from God, you will receive confirmation—whether from reading scripture, hearing a message, or from someone else whom God is using to speak to you—but your understanding and faith also grows over time. I like to think of the things that come from God as a growing knowing. Rarely does it whack us over the head, but becomes increasingly bolder over time.
Clue #3 – It makes you depend on him
Is what your hoping or striving for beyond what you are capable of doing? Good. You’re on the right track. Often times God’s plans don’t involve us using all of our strengths. They frequently leave us feeling inadequate and unprepared, much like Moses must have felt. But if we limit ourselves to operate only in our areas of strength, we are likely to take the glory instead of giving it to Him.
Clue #4 – It lines up with God’s Word
God will never lead you in a direction that is contrary to His word. Never. There are no exceptions here. You can save yourself a lot of pain and counseling if you line up your wants, desires, and plans with His word. If it lines up, you can keep it and it’s a clue you’re on the right track. But if it’s not, no amount of prayer or any other clues will make it right.
Don’t live your life in fear of moving forward. God has amazing plans for you (Jeremiah 29:11).
Look for these 4 clues along your journey and you will be able to step out into all that He has planned for you.
