Opening question

How do you feel about letting God guide your life? What are some ways you think he does that?

God guides us with love

Have you completely forgotten this word of hope? It speaks to you as a father to his children. It says, “My son, think of the Lord’s training as important. Do not lose hope when he corrects you. [6] The Lord trains the one he loves. He corrects everyone he accepts as his son.

Hebrews 12:5-6 NIrV

God loves us and he guides us through discipline and training, just like a father who cares deeply for his children.

“He is the God who made the world. He also made everything in it. He is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn’t live in temples built by human hands. [25] He is not served by human hands. He doesn’t need anything. Instead, he himself gives life and breath to all people. He also gives them everything else they have.

[26] From one man he made all the people of the world. Now they live all over the earth. He decided exactly when they should live. And he decided exactly where they should live. [27] God did this so that people would seek him. And perhaps they would reach out for him and find him. They would find him even though he is not far from any of us.

[28] ‘In him we live and move and exist.’ As some of your own poets have also said, ‘We are his children.’

Acts 17:24-28 NIrV

God choose when we should live and where we should live so we could have an opportunity to build a relationship with him.

He wants to be close to us so badly that he has done everything in his power to make that happen, so that all we have to do is reach out for him and we will find him.

We become who we are meant to when we are close to him. Our destiny is found through our relationship with God.

  • How has God arranged your life to be close to him?
  • How is God showing his love to you now?

God guides us through people

“When Israel was a child, I loved him,and out of Egypt I called my son. [2] But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. [3] It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them.

[4] I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them

Hoseah 11:1-4 NIV

God has spoken and worked through people since the beginning. And he places people in our lives to guide us, help train us and love us, but we often don’t see that he is the one behind it.

How well we respond to people around us depends on our ability to be aware of how God is trying to guide us.

  • What spiritual people has God put in your life to help guide you?
  • How are you responding to that help, with humility and gratitude or with pride and anger?

God guides us to a good purpose

Put up with hard times. God uses them to train you. He is treating you as his children. What children are not trained by their parents? [8] God trains all his children. But what if he doesn’t train you? Then you are not really his children. You are not God’s true sons and daughters at all.

[9] Besides, we have all had human fathers who trained us. We respected them for it. How much more should we be trained by the Father of spirits and live! [10] Our parents trained us for a little while. They did what they thought was best. But God trains us for our good. He does this so we may share in his holiness.

[11] No training seems pleasant at the time. In fact, it seems painful. But later on it produces a harvest of godliness and peace. It does this for those who have been trained by it.

[12] So put your hands to work. Strengthen your legs for the journey. [13] “Make level paths for your feet to walk on.” Then those who have trouble walking won’t be disabled. Instead, they will be healed.

Hebrews 12:7-11 NIrV

God loves us and disciplines us like a father. The difference is he is without sin and perfect, so his discipline is completely for our good all of the time. He disciplines us to help us grow stronger, change and become who we are meant to be.

We are not only meant to become stronger for our own sake, but so we can help others be healed, change and have a close relationship with God.

  • In what ways is God training you now and how will this produce righteousness and peace in your life?
  • How can you embrace this training and “strengthen” your weaknesses?
  • Who has God placed in your life to help, heal and encourage?
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This article was created by a member of the Deep Spirituality editorial team.

Deep Spirituality logo

This article was created by a member of the Deep Spirituality editorial team.

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