Getting Guidance From God
Psalm 23:3

Stress Relief from Psalm 23

This Psalm, made up of 118 words, 27 pronouns, and 12 references to God is power-packed with truth that can assist us through the trials of life. All of us living endure stress; well this Psalm can give us stress relief.

One of the more stressful aspects of life is decision making. Which way should we go?

That great theologian, Dr. Seuss, wrote, “Did I ever tell you about that young zoad who came to two sides in the fork of the road? He looked one way and then the other way to, so the zoad had to make up his mind what to do. Well, the zoad scratched his head and his chin and his pants and he said to himself, "Now I'll be taking a chance, if I go to place one that place may be too hot, how do I know if I'll like it or not. On the other hand though, I'll feel such a fool if I go to place two and find its too cool. In that case I may catch a chill and turn blue and so place one might be the best and not place two. On the other hand though if place one is too high I might get a terrible ear ache and die, on the other hand though, if place two is too low, I might get a terrible pain in my toe. So, place one may be the best, and he started to go and he stopped and he said on the other hand though and for thirty six and one half hours that Zoad made starts and then stops at the fork in the road. Saying, no don't take a chance you might not be right then he got an idea that was wonderfully bright, play safe, cried the Zoad, I'll play safe, I'm no dunce, I'll simply start off to both places at once. And that's how the Zoad who would not take a chance got to no place at all with a split in his pants.
Is there a split in your pants? Trying to go in two directions at once? Maybe you are at the fork in the road. I implore you to decide for Christ and do something great for your life for Jesus sake.

Let us consider some important principles in Getting Guidance From God. The Good Shepherd not only provides, He guides; He not only Protects, but Directs; He not only feeds, He leads! How can He lead us?

1. ADMIT You NEED A Shepherd

It is easy to get off track and to take the wrong path. Sheep are notorious creatures of habit, and if left to themselves, they will follow the same trails until they become ruts. They will graze upon the same hills until they become like desert waste places; they will stay in the same place until the ground is full of disease and parasites. Let me put it this way: Sheep develop destructive habits if left to themselves. They need a shepherd. If left to themselves, the will all become sick, weak, and bags of bones.

All we like sheep have gone astray: we have turned every one to his own way: and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

If left to themselves, sheep will develop awful habits which will lead to their destruction.

Are we not just like sheep? We so easily form wrong habits; we so easily take the wrong path. The path and habit of drugs; the path and habit of alcohol; the path and habit of false religion; the path of adultery is a well traveled path. The paths of anger, envy and jealousy are well travelled.

Proverbs 2:13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

Proverbs 2:15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

Proverbs 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

We easily deceive ourselves. Oh, let me try this one time. Then, we think, Oh, just one more time. Before you know it, we are on the path of unrighteousness, and we cannot get off. Turn from your paths of sin that will lead to your destruction. Forsake your vain thoughts, and turn to the Lord. He will abundantly pardon.

You see, if you do not admit you need a shepherd and follow the path of righteousness, then you will be on the wrong path. Your path will lead to broken lives; broken hearts; and broken hearts; and broken homes. We have a society that is broken and fallen apart because they are not following the path of righteousness, the path which God made you to follow.

Admit you need a Shepherd. Stop doing it your way.

The question is, do you want to do it God’s way, or your way? Frank Sinatra died this past week, and it is amazing how this world covers the death of this man. They magnify him as one who did it his way. Reading about Sinatra’s death reinforced for me again that what this world thinks is important is not really important. What God says is important this world does not think is important. You can read all the newspapers, and not one will cover the most important aspect about Frank Sinatra’s death: WHAT WAS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. This is the all important issue. But here was a man who boasted and sang that he did it his way. He did not follow the path of righteousness.

Turn to Him for salvation. Be able first to say, The Lord is my Shepherd. The Lord will not be your Shepherd until the Shepherd is first your Lord.

Prov. 12:28 In the way of righteousness is life; and in the path way thereof there is no death.

2. Listen to the Shepherd for Wisdom

The Shepherd will lead in the path of righteousness; this is a path of life, this is a path of wisdom. In order to get guidance from God, you must listen to God. Listen UP, by basketball coach always told us.

Wisdom is the ability to see life from God’s perspective. Wisdom is the ability to make decisions the way God makes decisions. God never makes a bad decision. If we listen to Him, we will be following God’s path.

Psalm 25:4; Shew me thy ways, O LORD; Teach me thy paths.

Psalm 25:10; All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

God can use teachers, friends, pastors, circumstances, pain to speak to you, but most of all He uses the Word of God and the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us.

Do you want to have wisdom? Then read, meditate, and seek to obey the Bible. The Bible is the roadmap. It will help you negotiate the mazes of life. If you do not read the Bible, it is like having a phone that is not plugged in. If the phone is not plugged in, you can’t listen to anyone. You have to plug yourself into Scripture.

When you listen to God with a humble heart, He will give you wisdom and direction. We often look for a MECHANICAL FORMULA to get guidance. Others look for a MYSTICAL FEELING to find the right way. How do you find the path of righteousness? You Listen to the Shepherd for Wisdom. He is all wise, and He says, Hearken to me for wisdom.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

If you are truly His sheep, you will hear His voice, and when you hear His voice, you will follow Him.

John 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice. John 10:4 The sheep follow him: for they know his voice. John 10:16 They shall hear my voice…

Here is the path of wisdom: Proverbs 3:17; Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

Proverbs 4:11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

Do you know what will keep us from getting guidance from God? We don’t stop to listen to our Shepherd. What am I talking about? I am saying, YOU must read the Bible, for this will show you the path of righteousness.

3. Follow the Shepherd in Obedience

Now, what is the path of righteousness? It is the path of obedience.

The path of righteousness is not necessarily a path of sunshine; or a path of popularity; or a path of ease; or a path of health and wealth. It is a path of obedience to God. The path of obedience may not be a path of ease, but it is a path of blessing. The path of obedience might not be a path of popularity, but it is a path of peace. The path of obedience might not be a path of prosperity, but it is a path of true riches.

Now, here is the key to the Christian life: do not just be DOING the will of God, but be WILLING to do the Will of God. I could show you God’s will for you, but if you are not willing to do it, then it will not help you. Say to the Lord, Make me willing to do your will,

Philippians 3:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do, and the God of peace will be with you.

One of the biggest little words in the world is DO. Do what God says. Obey the Lord.

4. Ask the Shepherd for Power

You have not, because you ask not. Ask and it shall be given, seek, and you shall find, knock, and the door shall be opened unto you. If you want to follow the Shepherd, ASK HIM IN FAITH FOR DIRECTION. If you do not ask in faith, then do not expect Him to give you any answers.

Now, if you want to get guidance from God, you must ask Him for one special thing: His power. God is a God of power. He made the world with His word. He is the Creator. He is a God of power. Power belongeth to the Lord. Now here is something that boggles my mind: You can have His power in your life. You can have His power by the person of the Holy Spirit.

One of the saddest verses in the Bible is Jeremiah 2:13: For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. Have you forsaken the fountain of living waters? This is God himself. His Holy Spirit in us is the fountain of living waters.

John 7:38 says, He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit…

5. Trust the Shepherd when you do not Understand

Some of you might be thinking, I am too far off the path of righteousness. I have made too many ruts. I have too many bad habits. I cannot change. Listen to me. God can help you change.

Maybe you are thinking, my path has led to a dead end. Maybe you need to trust the Good Shepherd when you do not understand how He can lead you. Maybe the path you are on seems like a dead end.

God led Israel out of Egypt and brought them to the Red Sea. It looked like a dead end. Israel was standing there at the sea because the Egyptians were behind them, the mountains were to the sides of them, and the Red Sea was in front of them. There was no where to go! It was a dead end, but God made a pathway through the sea. What is the point. The point is that when we are at a financial, emotional, relational dead end God can make a path that we do not even know about! We have to trust God when we cannot trace Him. It is our job to keep on moving in faith. When we think it is not going to happen. It’s not going to work out, if you keep on the path of righteousness, things will get clearer and clearer, and you will grow as you go. Remember than God is sovereign. He rules over this universe.

Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

You don’t understand everything now. You have to do what Proverbs 3:5,6 says,

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Never judge the path God leads me on until I get to the end. Do not criticize an unfinished plan. Have patience. When you get to the end, you will understand it all. All those problems, difficulties, delays, physical ailments, financial problems, will all be clear in the light of God’s love.

One day in the full light of eternity you will look back at your path and you’ll say, OH, that’s it. That is what God was doing. I didn’t see it then, but I see it now.

If you do not follow the path of righteousness, then you will experience life’s greatest tragedy: a wasted life. This is not a minor issue. Will you be what God made you to be, or will you do it your way. The greatest tragedy in life is to have lived without finding out what you were made for.