Finding Clear Guidance (Psalm 25:12)
Making important decisions can often leave us feeling uncertain or afraid of choosing wrongly. This sermon offers a practical framework for seeking and receiving God's clear direction in every area of life.
This sermon outlines six biblical steps for receiving clear guidance from God in life's decisions, emphasizing a pure heart, patience, prayer, reliance on His Word, and waiting for His peace, rather than succumbing to fear or external pressures.
Overview
Life often presents major decisions that can leave us feeling frustrated, fearful, or unsure of making the right choice. The preacher acknowledges this common human experience, highlighting how the fear of making a wrong decision can even lead to procrastination.
The sermon then introduces God's desire to provide clear guidance, asserting that God would not expect us to walk in His will without direction. Psalm 25:12 serves as a foundational promise: "Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose."
To help navigate decisions, the preacher presents six practical phrases designed to lead from the initial struggle to a place of clear guidance. These steps begin with personal preparation, moving through intentional practices, and culminating in a spiritual assurance.
The process involves clearing internal hindrances like sin and strong desires, cultivating patience, being alert to various pressures, engaging in persistent prayer, drawing wisdom from God's promises, and ultimately waiting for the peace of Christ to confirm the divine path.
Key points
- The sermon addresses the common human experience of fear and uncertainty when making important life decisions.
- God desires to provide clear guidance to His children through the indwelling Holy Spirit, promising instruction for those who fear Him.
- The first step to clear guidance is to "clear the pathway" of known sin and strong personal desires, aiming for "submissive neutrality."
- Exercising patience means refusing to rush ahead of God, waiting until clear direction is received and His choice is evident.
- Being alert to pressure is crucial, recognizing external influences (people, circumstances) and internal drives (fears, anxieties, 'shoulds').
- Persistence in prayer is emphasized, as God uses this process to sift requests, reveal hidden attitudes, and gradually clarify His will.
- Resting in God's promises, found in His Word, provides the ultimate, infallible resource for understanding His thoughts, ways, and principles, often revealing similar situations and guidance.
In Charles Stanley's words
“Time never runs out on God.”
“Prayer is the heart and the core.”
“God's peace is God's umpire in our life when we're seeking clear direction.”
Outline
- Introduction: The Challenge of Decision Making
- A. Facing frustration, fear, and uncertainty in major life decisions.
- B. God's desire and capacity to give clear guidance.
- C. Foundational promise: Psalm 25:12 - "He will instruct him in the way he should choose."
- Six Steps for Finding Clear Guidance
- I. Clear the Pathway
- A. Clear it of sin: Dealing with known, willful sin through repentance.
- B. Clear it of strong desires: Bringing personal desires to "submissive neutrality."
- II. Exercise Patience
- A. Refuse to rush ahead of God until clear direction is given.
- III. Be Alert to Pressure
- A. External pressure: From people or circumstances (e.g., time running out).
- B. Internal pressure: From fears, anxieties, or exaggerated expectations ('shoulds, oughts, musts').
- IV. Persistence in Prayer
- A. Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5).
- B. God sifts requests, desires, and alternatives, revealing hidden hindrances.
- V. Rest in God's Promises
- A. The Bible is the ultimate, infallible resource for God's will and ways.
- B. Meditating on God's Word fills the mind with truth, brought to mind by the Spirit.
- VI. Wait for the Peace
- A. Peace means harmony, oneness, and being bound together, not disharmony or unrest.
- B. Colossians 3:15: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts."
- C. God's peace acts as an umpire, signifying clear direction and an undeniable certainty.
Scripture references
12 What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Insights
Clear guidance begins with a heart prepared to listen.
True wisdom often asks us to surrender our strongest desires.
God's timing is never constrained by human urgency.
Questions & answers
What is the main problem the sermon addresses?
The sermon addresses the common human experience of facing major life decisions with feelings of frustration, fear, and uncertainty about making the right choice.
What does it mean to "clear the pathway" for guidance?
Clearing the pathway involves dealing with any known willful sin in one's life through repentance and bringing strong personal desires to a place of "submissive neutrality," where one prioritizes God's will above their own.
What kind of pressures should we be alert to when seeking guidance?
We should be alert to external pressures from other people and circumstances (like perceived time constraints), as well as internal pressures stemming from fears, anxieties, or self-imposed expectations of what we 'should,' 'ought,' or 'must' do.
How does persistence in prayer contribute to finding clear guidance?
Persistent prayer allows God to work in our lives by sifting our requests and desires, revealing hidden attitudes or prejudices. This process helps to clarify alternatives and ultimately leads to His clear direction.
What is the role of God's promises in decision-making?
God's promises, found in His Word, serve as an awesome and infallible resource for clear direction. Meditating on scripture fills our minds with truth, and the Holy Spirit can bring relevant verses to mind precisely when guidance is needed.
What does it mean to "wait for the peace" as a final step?
To "wait for the peace" means to expect God's peace to rule in your heart, acting as an umpire to confirm His will. This peace signifies harmony and oneness with God's mind, bringing a sense of certainty and contentment in the decision.
Flashcards
Turn your pastor's sermon into notes like this
Record at church or paste a YouTube link. Sermon Notes gives you summaries, scriptures, flashcards, and a daily devotional from your own sermons.
More from Charles Stanley
Related on similar themes
Source
Unofficial AI summary for study purposes. Watch the full sermon on In Touch Ministries. Sermon Insights is not affiliated with or endorsed by the pastor or church.