A Note from Hixon Frank
Over that least several weeks we have talked about 6 different types of Biblical prayer models. We have been developing our “personal prayer rhythms” and have looked at prayers of Adoration, Lament, Thanksgiving, Petition, Deliverance, and Contrition.
The last of the types of prayer that we will cover are prayers for GUIDANCE. Similar to prayers for deliverance, these conversations with God allow us to acknowledge God’s sovereignty.
Several years ago, we started a Men’s Ministry called “Wingman.” We had an Air Force base in the town, so it made perfect sense. A couple hundred men gathered for a message then broke into smaller groups to build camaraderie and “get real” with one another.
Every week, after teaching, it was my habit to swing by and check on each group. One night, I was drawn to one group in particular. It was being led by a well-respected, long-term deacon in our church. So, knowing he was facilitating them gave me confidence that it would be impactful. The group was a unique mix of new believers and mature Christians. After the obligatory “locker room chatter,” one of the men, whom we all knew, sheepishly said, “I have something to share.”
With that he began. “I recommitted my life to Christ about 3 months ago. Ever since then, I have had a nagging sense that my ‘decision maker’ is broken.”
“You mean your wife?” came a snarky but clearly playful response.
Unfazed, he continued… God used Matthew 6:33 to bring me back and I really want to put Him first. But it has been a while.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
What he thought would make life easier had, in fact, turned it upside-down. “I have been constantly tense, agitated, and unsure. I haven’t been myself. How could I not know what to do? I’ve always been so sure of myself. So confident in choosing a path… but not this time. This time I was ‘stuck.’ Torn between the uneasiness of doing what I want, and the uncertainty of doing what I believed God wanted me to do, I made a “pros and cons” list, I sought counsel, I read books…. and I prayed. Man did I pray!”
“However, the more I prayed the more frustrated I became. Praying things like ‘Lord, this isn’t like me,’ and ‘I should know better,’ got me nowhere.”
“Embarrassed and defeated, I talked to my wife about it. She hates to see me struggle but really walks closely with the Lord. So, without preaching, nagging, or finger pointing, she gently read Hebrews 11:6 …”
“Y’all know what that says right?” he said, checking-in with the men playfully.
With grins of affirmation came the response, “Of course we do but why don’t you tell us anyway?”
Hebrews 11:6
“Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
My wife told me that her prayer for me was simple …that I would walk by faith and not by sight. Then she whispered a verse that I have known since his childhood…
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.”
“Being a typical man, I flinched a little at first, but knew she was on to something. I had indeed been praying with little faith, little trust, and almost completely in my own understanding.”
“So that night I started over praying for GUIDANCE. Don’t laugh, but I actually knelt by our bed and asked God to teach me how to pray for guidance. Then the words I prayed reflected a heart yielded towards God. I wanted to know what to do in order to please God, rather than further my own ambitions. The more I prayed in this fashion, the more my faith grew. The more my faith grew, the smaller the decision became. The smaller the decision became, the less I worried about it. My anxiety, frustration, and even my anger left me. I was finally at a place of trust and peace.”
What was the decision that haunted him for those many months? He never really shared. And it really doesn’t matter. What matters is, “what decision has haunted YOU?” What are the decisions for which you need a clear answer from God?
Many of us are facing difficult decisions or are uncertain about the next steps in our journey of faith. We feel like we are standing at a crossroad, unsure which path to take. Praying for GUIDANCE is a powerful way to seek God’s wisdom and direction.
In Proverbs 3:5-6, we are reminded to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding. This means letting go of our need to control and surrendering our plans to God. When we submit to Him, He promises to make our paths straight. But what does this look like in practical terms?
Praying for guidance involves coming to God with a humble and open heart, willing to listen and follow His leading. It means acknowledging that we don’t have all the answers and that God’s ways are higher than our own. It involves seeking His wisdom and direction, rather than relying solely on our own intuition or understanding.
When we pray for guidance, we can trust that God is working for our good. He desires to lead us into a place of peace and purpose, where we can fulfill our calling and bring glory to His name. But we must be willing to listen and follow, even when the path ahead is uncertain.
Take a moment to pray for guidance today. Ask God to reveal His plans for your life and to give you wisdom and discernment. Trust that He is always working for your good and that His guidance will lead you to a place of peace and purpose.
Check out these three prayers from the Bible for examples of prayers for guidance.
1 Kings 3:4-9
4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there because it was the most famous high place. He offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask. What should I give you?”6 And Solomon replied, “You have shown great and faithful love to your servant, my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, righteousness, and integrity. You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today. 7 “Lord my God, you have now made your servant king in my father David’s place. Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership. 8 Your servant is among your people you have chosen, a people too many to be numbered or counted. 9 So give your servant a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?”
Psalm 25:4-5
4 “Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths. 5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; I wait for you all day long.”
Jeremiah 10:23-24
23 I know, Lord, that a person’s way of life is not his own; no one who walks determines his own steps. 24 Discipline me, Lord, but with justice—not in your anger, or you will reduce me to nothing.
Beloved, God sent His Holy Spirit to live in your heart when you asked Jesus into your life. He promises that if we ask for wisdom and guidance, He will give it generously (James 1:5). Where do you need guidance in your life today? Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you, give you the knowledge and wisdom you need, and provide you with direction that honors and glorifies God.
You have been prayed for today!
Hixon