Expert: Thurman C. Petty, Jr. - 1/21/2008

Question
Hello.  I have a question but am not sure how to phrase it, so please forgive me if I sound a bit unclear.  Right now I feel that I'm at a crossroads in my life, being torn two different directions as far as occupation-wise.  I was wondering if you could let me know what the Bible says about God's guidance in our lives and the direction he gives us.  Any passages you could point me to would be wonderful.  I feel that I am in need of some major guidance that only God can provide, but am just curious what is said on the subject.  Thanks so much!

Sincerely,

Nikki Osborn

Answer
Dear Nikki,

The experience you’re having is common to all those who have a relationship with God. We all want to “do what the Lord wants me to do.” And the Scriptures give us some guidance on this.

There are times that God personally selects an individual for a specific work.

I felt deeply about my call to ministry when still a boy of 15 or 16. I feared such work, feeling that I was unworthy of such a high calling, that I didn’t have the ability to do the work. So when I entered a Christian college, I signed up as a music major. I did well in music and even made the dean’s list—a coveted position.

But after two years, I felt uneasy, that this wasn’t what God wanted me to do. But I definitely didn’t want to enter the ministry. However, during this time I was truly converted (I was raised in a Christian home and was baptized at age 9) and accepted Jesus as my Savior more than I had every done in my life. My fiancé also grew in her relationship with Christ. We were married soon after this.

Again I felt the call to ministry, but again I turned from it. I enrolled my Junior year as a Physic’s major, but crashed in the first semester—the only D I made in college. So I changed to history, and made strait As.

Still feeling the call to ministry, I fled to another Christian college, and continued with my history major. But at the end of the first semester of my Senior year, I could run no longer—the call became too great. I switched to the ministry curriculum and took an extra year to finish. I ran for 3 ½ years (reminds you of Jonah?), but God finally brought me around.

So much for my experience. The Bible gives several examples of specific calls to ministry: John the Baptist, Elijah, Elisha, Moses, Paul, and many others.

But there are examples of specific calls to other professions as well.

Exo 31:2  "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,
Exo 31:3  and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts--
Exo 31:4  to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze,
Exo 31:5  to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.
Exo 31:6  Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. . . .

God usually doesn’t call people specifically like he did these people. He has given us the power to choose our life’s work, and most of the time he is pleased with our choices—unless we get into a line of work that is contrary to His law, the 10 commandments.

Paul gives instruction on how to know God’s will:

Rom 12:1  Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Rom 12:2  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Many people have asked me how to know God’s will. Paul tells us here:
[1] Verse 1-Offer your body as a living sacrifice as a spiritual act of worship;
[2] Verse 2-Do not conform to the pattern of this world;
[3] Verse 2-Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
[4] Verse 2: Then you will know what God's will is.

Compare also: (2 Cor 10:5 NIV)  "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." So we can also add to the list
[5] taking "captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

James also tells us what we can do:

James 1:5  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
James 1:6  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, . . .

God promises wisdom to all who will believe that He gives it to them.
  
Glen Coon once said, "When you ask for wisdom, believe that you  have received it, and then open your mouth and start talking. God's wisdom will guide you through whatever circumstance you are in." (loosely quoted)
  
The same would be true if the wisdom was involving an action, etc. Ask, believe, and then claim the promise by  moving ahead in whatever area the wisdom is needed, "and it will be given to him."

Solomon gave counsel on this too:
  
Prov 2:1  My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
Prov 2:2  turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,
Prov 2:3  and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,
Prov 2:4  and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
Prov 2:5  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
Prov 2:6  For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Nikki, you’ve come to a “Y” in the road of your life and you must make a decision. Your decision now will affect the rest of your life. What to do?

Spend time in Bible study, perhaps reading over these texts in whatever version you have (these are from NIV), and other passages as the Lord leads you. Then pray earnestly that God will give you the wisdom to make the right choice. Lay out the aspects of each choice you have. List the pros and cons of each one, believing that God is giving you the wisdom to see them objectively. Then spend time again in prayer, or better yet, continue in prayer as you are looking at the choices.

After you have done all this, choose the path that looks best to you, and you can be sure that it will be the right choice. If it is not, and you trust God to lead you, then He will shut the door in some way to indicate that He desires you to go in a different direction. Then you will need to pray again for wisdom to know what is His will for you.

God doesn’t direct our lives to the extent that He takes away our freedom of choice. There are many ways that we can serve the Lord: In fact we can serve Him faithfully in any work we do. But He has promised to guide us and give us wisdom to go in the right direction.

I invite you to visit my web site www.PettyPress.com where I’ve posted 18 of my books, 40 Bible lessons, and much more.

Always be ready for Jesus to come,
Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
Thurman@PettyPress.com