How does God guide his people?

Scripture promises guidance. "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye" (Psalm 32:8). "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake" (23:3).¹ "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14).

The Bible uses "the will of God" in two senses. One is his sovereign plan, which always comes to pass (Ephesians 1:11) and is largely hidden: "The secret things belong unto the LORD our God" (Deuteronomy 29:29). The other is what he commands, which is plainly revealed: "this is the will of God, even your sanctification" (1 Thessalonians 4:3); "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (5:18). Most of what a believer needs to know about God's will is already written.

The chief means of guidance is therefore Scripture. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105). Alongside it God gives wisdom: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5). He uses counsel: "in the multitude of counsellors there is safety" (Proverbs 11:14). And he orders circumstances, opening and closing doors, as when Paul was prevented from entering Asia and Bithynia and then called to Macedonia (Acts 16:6-10).

Guidance has moral conditions. "The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way" (Psalm 25:9). "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine" (John 7:17). A renewed mind is able to "prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2). George Muller described his own practice: "I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter."² Most of the difficulty, he said, lies there.

Christians differ on how far to expect direct inward leading. F. B. Meyer taught: "God's impressions within and His word without are always corroborated by His Providence around, and we should quietly wait until these three focus into one point."³ Others argue that outside the moral commands of Scripture God gives freedom to choose wisely, and that searching for a hidden individual blueprint is a mistake.

All agree on the promise in Proverbs: "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:6). Guidance is less a technique than the fruit of walking with the Shepherd whose sheep hear his voice (John 10:27).