Day 41: 2 Samuel 2:1–2

Some time later, David inquired of the Lord: “Should I go to one of the towns of Judah?” (v. 1).

Did you notice that David kept asking until he had a specific answer from God? He did not want general directions. He wanted God’s exact will for his life. David wasn’t interested in simply getting to the throne. He wanted to get to the throne God’s way.

At times I have asked God’s direction, then assumed my first hunch was His will for my life. I’m learning to be more patient, allowing God to be more specific if He wishes.

No matter how long we may wait for direction, we are wise to ask before we advance. God is not going to speak to us from the clouds, nor can we toss the Urim and Thummim, but we have something David didn’t have: God’s written and completed Word. God will speak specifically to us through Scripture if we learn how to listen. God has taught me a method that never fails. It may take time but it always works. The method I use consists of four general steps:

1. I acknowledge my specific need for direction. Example: “Lord, I have been asked to serve on the pastor’s council. I need to know whether this is Your will for my life at this time.” I almost always write my question in a journal so that I can keep a record of God’s activity in the matter.

2. I continue to pray daily and study His Word.

3. I ask Him to help me recognize His answer. He usually helps me recognize His answer by bringing His Word and the Holy Spirit He has placed within me into agreement over the matter. In other words, I resist reading into my situation everything God’s Word says. I specifically ask Him to confirm with His Word and His Spirit what He desires to apply to my life. One or two weeks later I might be studying a particular passage of Scripture and His Holy Spirit will draw my attention to it and remind me of my question. The Holy Spirit almost seems to say, “Look, Beth, that’s it!”

4. I ask for a confirmation if I have any doubt.

What if the Holy Spirit still hasn’t given me an answer when the deadline comes? Then I usually assume the answer is no.