Welcoming God's Direction - Your Nightly Prayer - January 10th

Sophia Bricker

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Your Nightly Prayer

Welcoming God’s Direction
Your Nightly Prayer
By Sophia Bricker

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

"Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." - Proverbs 3:6, NLT

SOMETHING TO PONDER

To one of his many correspondents, François Fénelon offered simple yet challenging advice: surrender to God’s plans. Succinct, right? But the advice becomes jarring as he clears away assumptions about surrender. It is not about the showy giving up of things in our lives that God demands, but a quiet resting in the Lord. As Fénelon wrote, “Surrender consists, not in doing great, heroic deeds about which self can brag, but simply in accepting whatever God sends, and not seeking to change it (unless it is His will for it to be changed). Full surrender is full peace.”

How often is that our approach when we must make decisions? Whether big or small plans, we often seek to take control, asserting our will, and expect the Lord to bless our choice. We become like Sarah and Abraham as they were waiting on the promise of God, trying to take matters into their own hands (see Genesis 16:1-4). There is no restful surrender; just a fretfulness over what will happen next.

Yet, Scripture reminds us continually to turn back to the One who is the Author of our stories. We might think we know best and understand the thing we want most, but we look for direction in the wrong place if we are only searching inward, gazing at our hearts. The wise will look outward, seeking the will of the Lord in whatever they do, and trusting in Him instead of themselves (Proverbs 3:5-6). For the Lord knows better than anyone the path we should take.

And even if we sometimes find it hard to submit ourselves to the Lord’s perfect plan and timing with major decisions, we can always draw encouragement from Christ’s example. He knew what the Father required and had come into the world with the purpose of doing His will. But He knew what was coming (i.e., the cross) and asked for the cup of suffering to be taken from Him. Jesus’ prayer of surrender can become our own: “not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39, NIV).

Like the woman who sought advice from François Fénelon, Christians today need the encouragement to quietly rest in the direction given by God. If we know, as shown by a prayerful study of the Bible, what we are meant to do, then there is no need to worry about the next step forward. We can surrender our goals and plans to Him in prayer and receive the perfect peace of our Savior. He gives us a peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:6-7).

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Lord,
You know how often I try to force events to go my way. Instead of waiting on You or seeking Your will, I rush forward and miss the path You had lovingly made. From now on, help me to be quick to welcome Your direction instead of trusting in my knowledge or feelings. God, You know the best steps forward. I don’t want to get ahead of your timing. Grant me patience as I wait, and diligence to search Your Word to find encouragement and guidance. And help me to rest in Your plan, accepting the path You set before me. May I do Your will, and not my own.
In Jesus’ name, I pray.
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. A picture or memory of a person or animal sleeping. For example, when we see a puppy curled up asleep, the dog appears comfortable and safe. Or a baby will rest easily when held in the arms of her mother. What do you notice about rest?

2. A Bible verse God has used to guide you. What was it, and how might you commit the contents of the verse to memory?

3. Someone you know or a person from Scripture who failed to seek God’s guidance. Abraham and Sarah experienced hardships because they jumped ahead of God (and Hagar and Ishmael also suffered). In what ways could it have been different if they had sought the Lord’s will instead of following their own?

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Sophia Bricker Sophia Bricker is a writer. Her mission is to help others grow in their relationship with Jesus through thoughtful articles, devotionals, and stories. She completed a BA and MA in Christian ministry which included extensive study of the Bible and theology, as well as an MFA in creative writing. You can read her thoughts about literature and faith at The Cross, a Pen, and a Page Substack, or visit the discipleship-based site Cultivate, where she writes with her sister.