Need To Hear God For Major Decisions?

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Hearing the voice of God changes your life forever. But how do you know when you are hearing God, when it is for a big decision?

It is dangerous to make a major move or change jobs on just one dream or vague impression from God. Sometimes, people will not do anything at all because they are afraid of making mistakes or doing something in their own strength.

There is a balance when hearing God—it takes time and practice to hear clearly and consistently.

Unfortunately, when you cannot figure out what God is saying, it costs you valuable time and heartache. Let me give you some powerful pointers I have learned over the years that will help you.

Open Door

A mistake Christians make in trying to hear God for guidance in decisions is using the open door strategy. People pray that God will close all doors of opportunity except the one they should go through.

This works sometimes. But it does not always happen that way with God. Why? Because God wants us to become mature in our decision-making. He will give us choices to train us. It is like the way an earthly father helps his children. As a parent, you cannot make decisions for your kids all their life, or they never grow up. A better way to pray is that God will give you the wisdom to know which opportunity or door to take.

Fleece Technique

Another way Christians try to know what God’s will is, is by using the fleece technique from Judges 6. Here Gideon asked God for a sign that God was with him. Gideon put a fleece of wool on the ground and asked God to confirm what he should do by overnight making the fleece wet from dew and the ground dry. Sure enough, the next morning he found it wet while the ground was dry. From this, Gideon knew God had answered him.

It is possible for God to answer these types of prayers: “God, if it is your desire for me to do this, then make this happen …” But again, God wants us to become mature in our decision-making. Eventually God may not answer one of these prayers, and you will need to rely on other means to determine His will.

Peace

I have found that since the Holy Spirit is now in us, unlike in Gideon’s day, we now can know God’s will by the amount of peace we have. God’s will always comes with His peace. Peace is the best fleece!

If you have a major decision to make, be sure to get confirmation in several forms. Also, the greater the risk or cost of the decision, the more you will want to hear God clearly with peace. If you are stuck and afraid of making a mistake, realize that fear is not from God but that you want to break through.

Blessings,

doug-sig

Doug Addison
DougAddison.com

P.S. If you are interested in growing deeper in understanding the prophetic, check out our online prophetic activation school, Hearing the Voice of God 365 so you can become more sensitive to God’s voice and activate your spiritual gifts.

Doug Addison is a prophetic speaker, author, life coach and stand-up comedian. He is known for his Daily Prophetic Words, Spirit Connection webcast, podcast and blog. Doug’s message of love, hope and having fun reaches people around the world! His unique style of teaching and coaching helps open people to discover their destiny and experience God’s supernatural love and power. He and his wife Linda live in Los Angeles, California.

Doug Addison

Doug Addison is the founder and president of InLight Connection. Doug is a prophetic speaker, author and coach. He is best known for his Daily Prophetic Words and Spirit Connection podcast and blog. Doug’s message of love, hope and acceptance reaches people around the world! His powerful, lighthearted style of teaching and coaching helps open people to discover their spiritual identity and personal destiny as they experience God’s supernatural love and power. He and his wife Linda live in Los Angeles, California where they are impacting the arts and entertainment and media industries.

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    • Shynaaz
    • January 29, 2019
    Reply

    Good afternoon my name is Shynaaz my husband
    Is from Pakistan I’m a South African we are now married for 8 years he want me and the kid’s to move to Pakistan I really really need God to help me make the right decision

      • Nikki, InLight Connection Team
      • February 1, 2019
      Reply

      Agreeing with you Shynaaz for peace and clarity in your decision. God bless you!

    • Patricia
    • December 22, 2014
    Reply

    Thank you for this practical wisdom, Doug. Sometimes it is challenging to know which course of action to take. I like simple actionable keys that produce results.

    The thing I appreciate so much about the Holy Spirit is that the scripture teaches us that he will lead us into all truth. It is comforting to know that the Father always has a good plan in mind for us, and his thoughts towards us are not for evil but for a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

    I have found it beneficial to ask the Lord to “reveal and expose to me what I need to know about a situation, to give me wisdom to know what to do, and to make it so clear that I can’t miss it, to confirm his will to me.” It’s interesting how he not only confirms things, but also encourages us in the process. Many times for me this will be through my sensing I should look in a certain place in scripture or in some other book, or a newspaper, billboard, TV, internet, call a person, go a certain place, etc. He works with each individual , so we need to learn how he works with each of us.

    Once when going through a very difficult and traumatic time in my life – I got in my car and although I seldom used the radio, I felt a strong urge to turn the radio on, which I did. Immediately I heard a preacher’s booming male voice say, “GOD – is rearranging – the circumstances – of your life!!!” I shut the radio off, said, okay, and started praising God that he was taking care of me and would help me deal with everything, which he did.

    For me, his wonderful peace is the key, since I know telltale signs of the kingdom of darkness are “kill, steal, and destroy” which includes fear, worry, anxiety, and confusion, and many times feeling overwhelmed or guilt and condemnation – trademarks of “the accuser of the brethren” satan, while the signs of God’s kingdom are “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” as well as love and peace – as it is in heaven.

    So by getting real quiet and taking a few minutes to discern exactly which manifestations are present reveals a lot to help me make decisions. It’s a learning and growing process, so no condemnation – grow in grace as you learn to hear his voice more clearly. It might be helpful to do a study on the things in scripture that he says please him or give him pleasure or that he desires or delights in, to help understand the Father’s heart.

    A scripture I use a lot is Proverbs 16:3 (amplified) “Roll your works upon the Lord, commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and so shall your plans be established and succeed.”

    If I am being bombarded in my thoughts with negative things from the kingdom of darkness, especially before going to sleep, I will personalize this like: “Father, I’m rolling all these cares over onto you. I commit myself to you and I wholly trust them to you. Thank you that you are causing my thoughts to become agreeable – to your will – and that my plans shall be established and will succeed.” Since I’ve released it to the Lord, I expect him to cause my thoughts to line up with His will – because he said he would. Then I thank and praise him and have His peace.

    • tanna
    • September 3, 2014
    Reply

    I want to know more…..ahhhhh!

    • Josephine Rintoul
    • September 3, 2014
    Reply

    I too am pleased you addressed this and know many can get stuck in one or the other and out of fear, stay using it.I have also found..things that people say ..out of the blue helps.But peace as you said, is always needed as the major covering.

    • Fallon Hale
    • August 16, 2014
    Reply

    Thank you for this blog, as I have several life decisions ahead!

    • Barbra Paradzayi
    • August 15, 2014
    Reply

    Thank you Doug.this has come at the right time .was struggling to make a a great decision. This has helped me a lot. Blessing.

    • Kim Long
    • August 14, 2014
    Reply

    Recently we put our house on the market. An offer was made almost immediately with contingencies (Miracle). We shared how good God is, found another home that our families all agreed upon (miracle) found another job had two interviews going good and in two days EVERYTHING implodes! Everything gone. Was I deceived that this was God’s Will? Is it that easy to be deceived? What happened?

  1. Reply

    So true! Peace is key…I had many times to make BIG decisions on my own, which caused fear. I had to getaway by myself to get the answer. I also found out in the middle of the crisis many will try to help with their wisdom or even pray with me.. At times they were going through their own trials! The only answers I felt to do is follow the leading of The Holy Spirit.

    Thanks for all your awesome inspiration and wisdom. Can’t wait to meet .. See ya here in Texas @ Joan Hunters! 😀

    • anna
    • August 14, 2014
    Reply

    Hello Doug,
    Spot on! Thank you for the great practical words!

    • Claire
    • August 14, 2014
    Reply

    Thank you so much for this post!! It is exactly what I needed to hear. I made a big decision almost a year ago based on a truly spiritual experience of God calling me to move to a new country. Since then, I have not felt a shred of doubt. That is, until recently, when the process became more real. I was scared I was making a mistake, that maybe God changed his plans for me, etc. I tried using all those ways you listed. Thank you so much for helping me realize how God wants us to mature in our decision making skills! And thank you especially for reminding me that fear and doubt are not tools used by God to show us our way. THANK YOU and God bless!

    • Valerie
    • August 14, 2014
    Reply

    Hey Doug- thanks!!!!! I have to make another major decision in the workplace within the next few weeks. This has been a great area of perplexity in my life, so it’s a bit trying. I recognizing using all of the techniques above :-0 I totally agree that “God wants us to become mature in our decision-making”. Blessings, blessings blessings on you and yours!

    • Laurie Agnes
    • August 14, 2014
    Reply

    Thank you for your insight and Godly wisdom.Its clear you have waited on God for answers and made very good choices in your life decisions. My husband and I love to read your stuff ! God Bless you
    Laurie

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