Seeking Guidance and Faith

So, Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. 1 Chronicles 10:13 (NKJV)

Saul's death was the result of two major acts of unfaithfulness toward God, and was replaced by David, who sinned, but was faithful to God. Sauls first act of unfaithfulness was in 1 Samuel 15 when he spared King Agag even though the Lord had commanded him to completely destroy the Amalekites and their possessions. In 1 Samuel 28, when Saul was facing defeat at the hands of the Philistines, he sought counsel from a pagan diviner, rather than praying to God and was seen as a rejection of God’s authority. Israel had just become a nation united under one king and God knew that Saul was going to lead the people away from Him, so God replaced him with David, who was a man after His own heart.

Seeking God's guidance can be easily done, but having the faith to follow it takes work and dedication. Faith is the willingness to trust and follow God’s direction, while God’s guidance is His active, personal direction toward righteousness and purpose. One goes together with the other. God’s guidance is described as divine, clear, continual, and individual. John 16:13 says, “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” Faith means placing complete confidence in God rather than relying on our own limited understanding. Matthew 17:20 says, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Choose to be faithful in following guidance from the Lord. Before making decisions, pause and pray to the Lord for guidance, trusting that it will lead you to His purposes. Make it a daily habit about praying for all things and having the faith to let God lead you. Make a list of all the faithful things God has done for you. When you see faith working in your everyday life, if will be easier to have faith when the trials and tribulations come. Faith is the heart that receives and follows God’s guidance, while God’s guidance is the compass that directs faith toward His purposes.