Navigating Life's Choices: Embracing God's Guidance
Summary
In our exploration of Proverbs and the subject of wisdom, we delve into the profound concept of guidance. Life is a series of choices, and wisdom is the ability to make the right ones. The Bible, particularly Proverbs, offers insights into how God guides us through these choices. The Hebrew word for guidance, often linked to ropes used in navigation, illustrates how God steers us through life's storms. The question is, how do we receive God's guidance? We find answers by examining the guidance God does, gives, and purchases for us.
God's guidance is paradoxical and non-obvious. Paradoxically, we are both free and determined. Our choices are ours, yet God determines the outcomes. This duality is challenging to grasp, but it is essential for living a balanced life. If we believe everything is fixed, we become passive; if we believe everything is open, we become anxious. The biblical view offers a middle ground where we are responsible for our choices, yet we can trust God's sovereignty.
Non-obviously, God works through both good and bad events. Even wicked deeds are woven into His plan for ultimate good. The story of Joseph exemplifies this, where years of suffering led to greatness and salvation for many. This teaches us that God's guidance is more about what He does than what He gives. We are often in the midst of His guidance without realizing it.
To receive God's guidance, we must pay the price and develop wisdom. This involves unconditionally trusting God, committing our deeds to Him, and becoming the kind of person who makes wise plans. This commitment requires radical trust, where we obey and accept God's will, even when we don't understand it. Over time, this trust transforms us into wise individuals.
Ultimately, Jesus Christ exemplifies the ultimate guidance. He faced the storm of God's wrath without navigation so that we can have Him at the helm of our lives. By understanding His sacrifice, we can commit everything to Him and make wise decisions.
Key Takeaways:
1. Paradoxical Guidance: We are both free and determined. Our choices matter, yet God determines the outcomes. This duality challenges human understanding but offers a balanced approach to life. We are responsible for our actions, yet we can trust God's sovereignty. [07:14]
2. Non-Obvious Guidance: God works through both good and bad events. Even wicked deeds are part of His plan for ultimate good. The story of Joseph illustrates how suffering can lead to greatness and salvation. God's guidance is more about what He does than what He gives. [15:27]
3. Paying the Price for Guidance: To receive God's guidance, we must unconditionally trust Him. This involves committing our deeds to Him and becoming wise individuals. Radical trust transforms us over time, enabling us to make wise plans. [23:01]
4. Jesus as the Ultimate Guide: Jesus faced the storm of God's wrath without navigation so that we can have Him at the helm of our lives. By understanding His sacrifice, we can commit everything to Him and make wise decisions. [39:36]
5. Practical Wisdom: God's guidance is about becoming the kind of person who makes wise choices. This involves radical commitment, humility, and boldness. By saturating ourselves in His word and seeking counsel, we develop the wisdom to navigate life's storms. [29:51]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:19] - Understanding God's Guidance
- [04:08] - Paradoxical Guidance
- [05:10] - Human Freedom and Divine Sovereignty
- [07:14] - The Balance of Freedom and Determination
- [09:28] - Cultural Perspectives on Destiny
- [10:54] - Personal Reflections on Choices
- [12:36] - The Practicality of Biblical Guidance
- [14:02] - Non-Obvious Guidance
- [15:27] - The Story of Joseph
- [16:30] - God's Plan in Adversity
- [20:25] - Paying the Price for Guidance
- [23:01] - Unconditional Trust in God
- [29:51] - Developing Practical Wisdom
- [39:36] - Jesus as the Ultimate Guide
- [40:58] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Proverbs 16:3 - "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
2. Proverbs 16:9 - "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps."
3. Genesis 50:20 - "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Proverbs 16:3 suggest about the relationship between our actions and God's guidance? How does this relate to the concept of committing our deeds to the Lord? [20:25]
2. In Proverbs 16:9, how is the balance between human planning and divine sovereignty described? What does this imply about our responsibility in decision-making? [07:14]
3. How does the story of Joseph in Genesis 50:20 illustrate the idea of God working through both good and bad events? [15:27]
4. What are some examples given in the sermon of how God’s guidance is paradoxical and non-obvious? [14:02]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the paradox of being both free and determined challenge our understanding of God's guidance? What practical implications does this have for our daily decision-making? [09:28]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's guidance is more about what He does than what He gives? How can this perspective change our approach to seeking guidance? [16:30]
3. How does the concept of "paying the price" for guidance relate to the idea of unconditional trust in God? What does this mean for someone seeking to develop wisdom? [23:01]
4. How does Jesus' experience in the storm, as described in the sermon, serve as an example of ultimate guidance? What does this teach us about trusting God in our own storms? [39:36]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent decision you made. How did you balance your own planning with trusting in God's sovereignty? What might you do differently next time? [07:14]
2. Think of a situation where you felt God's guidance was not obvious. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? How can you apply this lesson to future challenges? [16:30]
3. Consider an area of your life where you struggle to trust God unconditionally. What steps can you take to commit this area to Him more fully? [23:01]
4. How can the story of Joseph encourage you when facing difficult circumstances? What practical steps can you take to trust that God is working for good, even when it’s not immediately apparent? [15:27]
5. Identify a specific storm or challenge you are currently facing. How can Jesus' example of facing the ultimate storm without navigation inspire you to trust Him more deeply? [39:36]
6. What practical actions can you take to develop wisdom and become the kind of person who makes wise choices? Consider how you can incorporate prayer, scripture, and counsel into your decision-making process. [29:51]
7. Reflect on a time when you felt abandoned by God. How did that experience shape your understanding of His love and guidance? How can you use this understanding to support others in similar situations? [26:34]
Devotional
Day 1: The Balance of Freedom and Determination
In the journey of life, we are presented with the paradox of being both free and determined. Our choices are significant, yet God orchestrates the outcomes. This duality can be difficult to comprehend, but it offers a balanced approach to life. If we view everything as predetermined, we risk becoming passive; if we see everything as open, we may become anxious. The biblical perspective provides a middle ground where we are accountable for our actions, yet we can trust in God's sovereignty. This understanding encourages us to live responsibly while resting in the assurance that God is in control. [07:14]
"For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with feeling either too passive or too anxious? How can you invite God into these areas to find a balance between your freedom and His sovereignty?
Day 2: God's Plan in Adversity
God's guidance often manifests in non-obvious ways, working through both good and bad events. Even wicked deeds are woven into His plan for ultimate good. The story of Joseph is a powerful example, where years of suffering led to greatness and salvation for many. This teaches us that God's guidance is more about what He does than what He gives. We may not always recognize His hand in our lives, but He is constantly at work, turning even our adversities into opportunities for growth and fulfillment. [15:27]
"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." (Genesis 50:20, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a challenging situation you are currently facing. How might God be using this adversity for a greater purpose in your life or the lives of others?
Day 3: Radical Trust in God
To receive God's guidance, we must be willing to pay the price by developing wisdom and unconditionally trusting Him. This involves committing our deeds to Him and becoming the kind of person who makes wise plans. Radical trust requires us to obey and accept God's will, even when we don't understand it. Over time, this trust transforms us into wise individuals who can navigate life's complexities with confidence and peace. [23:01]
"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find it difficult to trust God completely? What steps can you take today to begin surrendering this area to Him?
Day 4: Jesus as the Ultimate Guide
Jesus Christ exemplifies the ultimate guidance by facing the storm of God's wrath without navigation, allowing us to have Him at the helm of our lives. By understanding His sacrifice, we can commit everything to Him and make wise decisions. Jesus' life and teachings provide a model for us to follow, offering direction and purpose in our daily lives. Embracing His guidance means allowing Him to lead us through both calm and stormy seas, trusting in His wisdom and love. [39:36]
"For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps." (1 Peter 2:21, ESV)
Reflection: How can you allow Jesus to take the helm in a specific area of your life where you feel lost or uncertain?
Day 5: Developing Practical Wisdom
God's guidance is about becoming the kind of person who makes wise choices. This involves a radical commitment to His teachings, humility to learn, and boldness to act. By immersing ourselves in His word and seeking wise counsel, we develop the wisdom needed to navigate life's storms. Practical wisdom is not just about knowing what to do but becoming someone who naturally makes decisions aligned with God's will. [29:51]
"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." (Proverbs 13:20, ESV)
Reflection: What practical steps can you take this week to immerse yourself more deeply in God's word and seek wise counsel in your decision-making process?
Quotes
"Now, we do not know as human beings how to hold those together. Human categories of thought cannot hold those two things together. Okay? We feel like either our choices matter and they're significant and they have consequences, and that means our destiny is not fixed. Its history is open. Or we believe everything is fixed, and therefore, if everything is fixed, who cares how you live? It doesn't really matter what you do." [00:05:36]
"In the Bible, we're told, and you can see it, that we are absolutely free and we're absolutely determined at the same time. That's even the words it uses. In fact, even though as we're going to see, there's many other places narratively where this is spelled out. This is where the Bible shows us in actual accounts of people's lives how this works out." [00:06:27]
"Your plans are yours. Your choices are yours. You are responsible for them. No one's forcing. God's not forcing you in any direction on that, see? It's yours. If you do something stupid, if you do something wicked, if you do something selfish, if you do something cruel, there's gonna be bad consequences, and people are gonna hold you accountable, and they should." [00:06:58]
"And God will hold you accountable, and he should. Your plans are yours, but what actually happens as a result of those plans, what actually happens in history, whether it's words, in verse 3, or actual deeds, in verse 9, those are absolutely controlled and totally fixed and set by God. Nothing happens that's not according to his plan." [00:07:14]
"Now, it may be true that intellectually it's almost impossible to hold together this biblical concept, that we're absolutely free and absolutely determined. We either believe we're determined or we believe we're free. But if you believe either of those, you're cooked. It's impossible to live a decent life that way." [00:09:33]
"But what happens is, as time goes on, you become the kind of person whose plans become better and better and wiser and wiser. And there's only no, that's the only way to do it. You become a wiser person from this radical commitment. And look at all the other verses which tell you, look at the third verse, the way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice." [00:29:14]
"Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors, they succeed. Here's how you make your decisions. Here's how you get God's guidance. You commit yourself to him utterly. That slowly turns you into a person of wisdom. Because of the humility you get, you turn to everybody else. And so you generate lots of options. You're not a fool. You don't think you know everything." [00:29:51]
"And because of the love that you feel from him, at the same time, you're bold, you're diligent, and you make plans. And that's how God shows you what you should be doing. Now, this isn't necessarily, however, what most Americans want to hear. When most people have come to me over the years, as a pastor, they come to me and they say, I have decisions to make, and I want God's guidance. I want to discern the will of God." [00:30:25]
"Guidance is as much something God does as something God gives. And therefore, I knew by selling my house and coming on up here and getting started and signing a three-year lease, oh, my gosh, that if I failed to plant a church, God was preparing me for something I couldn't envision. You see?" [00:35:22]
"When they said, Master, you're not really navigating us through this storm, here's what Jesus is saying. There is a real storm coming, a cosmic storm, a storm of God's wrath, a storm of eternal justice, a storm of the justice that we deserve for everything that we've done as human beings. And he says, I am going to bow my head before that storm and I'm going to take it for you." [00:39:36]
"He's going to abandon me. But don't you see, I am going through the ultimate storm without navigation so you can be sure that in spite of the fact you don't deserve it, you will always have me at the helm. I will be the only righteous person in history, I'm going through the ultimate storm without navigation. I didn't abandon you to that storm, and therefore I will not abandon you in this storm." [00:40:20]
"And to the degree you know that, to that degree you will be able to commit everything to him and become the kind of person who makes wise decisions. You know, there's a man who is very prone to clinical depression who wrote a wonderful hymn. This is how he got through it. His purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour. The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower." [00:40:47]
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