How To Discern Divine Direction Series

In life, we are constantly faced with choices—decisions that affect our relationships, careers, finances, and spiritual growth. At times, the path ahead seems unclear, and we find ourselves asking, “God, what should I do?” We long for clear direction from God, but discerning His voice amidst the noise of our own desires, the opinions of others, and the distractions of the world can feel overwhelming.

In Proverbs 3:5-6, we are given a simple yet powerful command: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” This verse teaches us that God promises to direct our paths, but it requires us to trust Him and to lean on His wisdom, not our own.

Today’s sermon is about learning how to discern divine direction. How can we recognize when God is speaking? How do we know whether the promptings we feel are from Him or from our own desires? And how can we walk in the confidence that we are following God’s perfect plan for our lives? Let’s dive into the Word of God and explore how to discern divine direction.

1. The Importance of Trusting God’s Wisdom Over Our Own

The first step in discerning divine direction is learning to trust God’s wisdom over our own. Proverbs 3:5 reminds us to “lean not unto thine own understanding.” Too often, we rely on our own reasoning, experience, or feelings to make decisions, but God’s ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). His understanding is infinite, while ours is limited by what we can see and understand in the present moment.

In the Bible, we see numerous examples of people who had to trust God’s direction, even when it didn’t make sense to them at the time. Think about Noah. God commanded him to build an ark in preparation for a flood, even though it had never rained on the earth before (Genesis 6:14-22). Noah could have relied on his own understanding and dismissed God’s command as irrational, but instead, he trusted God’s wisdom and obeyed. As a result, he and his family were saved.

Trusting God’s wisdom often means stepping out in faith, even when the direction He gives us doesn’t seem logical. In our own lives, we may face situations where God is leading us in a direction that doesn’t align with our expectations or plans. He might ask us to take a job that doesn’t seem like a perfect fit, to step into a ministry that feels outside our comfort zone, or to make a financial decision that requires sacrifice. In those moments, we must choose to trust that God sees the bigger picture and that His wisdom is greater than ours.

One of the keys to discerning divine direction is humility. We must acknowledge that we don’t have all the answers and that we need God’s guidance. James 4:6 reminds us that “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” When we humble ourselves before God, admitting our need for His direction, He gives us the grace to hear His voice and follow His leading.

2. Acknowledging God in All Our Ways

Proverbs 3:6 tells us to “acknowledge him in all thy ways, and he shall direct thy paths.” This means that discerning divine direction is not just about seeking God’s guidance in the big decisions of life—it’s about acknowledging Him in every area of our lives, from the smallest to the greatest.

Too often, we compartmentalize our lives, only seeking God’s guidance in certain areas while trying to handle other areas on our own. We might pray and seek God’s direction when it comes to major life decisions, like who to marry or what career path to take, but we neglect to ask for His guidance in our daily routines, our relationships, or our finances. But God desires to be involved in every aspect of our lives.

When we acknowledge God in all our ways, we are inviting Him to lead us in every area—our work, our family, our friendships, and even our hobbies. We are saying, “God, I want Your direction in every part of my life, not just the parts that feel important to me.”

Acknowledging God in all our ways also means living with a constant awareness of His presence. It means being mindful that God is always with us, always speaking, and always guiding us. In Psalm 139:7-10, David reflects on God’s ever-present guidance: “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”