×

A Prayer When Uncertain about God’s Leading

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16:6-10

Heavenly Father, many of us, and/or our friends, are in a season of uncertainty and change. Our callings and giftings, our longings and dreams, our pains and our joys, your providence and our predicaments—at times are hard to read.  Knowing you, boasting in Jesus and doing your will are preeminent, but we don’t know which doors to open, which doors to knock on, which doors to stay away from, or which doors to go through next. Please make it clear.

You must lead us, just as certainly as you kept Paul from Asia and Mysia, and sent him to Macedonia. Open doors we cannot shut and shut doors we cannot open. We will continue to plan, but give us confidence and joy that you are ordering our steps. We want to walk by the Light of the World, not by the flames of our own torches. We want your heavenly wisdom to guide us, not more of our earthly spin to confuse us.

Father, in the meantime, give us great peace, faithfulness and fruitfulness where you have placed us—whatever the plough you have put in our hands and whatever the field into which you have placed us. We choose to live by the Spirit of Jesus and not by the seat of our pants. Don’t let our antsy-ness for what’s next rob us of our calling to love well in this moment. May your still small voice be much louder than the jammer of challenging circumstances and difficult people. May a passion for your glory be much more compelling than our desire for something new or something other.

For those of us facing difficult financial situations, feed us with ravens if you must, but keep us from stealing from others. For those of us dealing with family and relational heartaches, give us your peace as a guard for our hearts, lest in our restlessness, we take matters into our own hands.

Father, thank you for giving Jesus to us as both Lamb of God and Good Shepherd. We need his perfect righteousness and his active shepherding. Indeed, Jesus is presently working all things together after the counsel of your will, and he is working in all things for your glory and our good—no exceptions or contingencies. Hallelujah, what a Savior! Hallelujah, what a salvation. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ merciful and mighty name.

LOAD MORE
Loading