How To Find Practical Wisdom and Direction Through Prayer

One of the great blessings of living through an unprecedented pandemic has been, for me, learning to pray for guidance in both small and large decisions. It seems like every week there’s a new question in my mind.

• In early March 2020: Should I visit my family in Tennessee this weekend?
• In mid-March 2020: Should I stock up on more than three weeks of groceries? 
• In late March 2020: Should we order food from restaurants or avoid them altogether? Which grocery store will have most of the things on my list? 
• In early April 2020: How should I spend my free time? Should I wipe down everything I bring into the house?
• In mid-April 2020: Should I wear a mask to the store? 
• Now: Is it safe to go back to “normal life?” Should I keep stocking up on groceries? 

Most of these are questions you’ve probably been asking yourself, too. It doesn’t help that opinions fly at us from every direction and every possible source, making it overwhelming to know who we should listen to and who we should trust.

I’ve found the most calm, the most peace and the most clear direction as I’ve prayed through Scripture and asked the Holy Spirit for guidance in making these decisions.

Here’s an example of what that sounds like:

Proverbs 19:21, 23

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.

Lord, I’ve planned _____ for today. I know that your plans are the ones that are right, so help me to follow your plans for today. Help me to fear you so that I can rest safely and in the light of your life. 

Proverbs 14:15-16, 26

The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and careless. In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.

Lord, help me not to believe everything I hear. Help me to be prudent and to give thought to the choices I make today. Help me to be cautious like the wise man, and to not be reckless or careless especially in regard to the way I treat others who might be more fearful than I am. Thank you that you’ve promised strong confidence and a refuge to me. Please help me to fear you and to be most concerned with pleasing you today.

---

God uses His Word as I pray it back to Him. I’ve found that praying Scripture helps me not to tell God exactly how I want things while also keeping me from praying empty phrases like “be with me today” or “help us to have a good day.”

This doesn’t mean that I make perfect choices. I’m still a sinner with a short fuse and almost no patience. Slowly, the Holy Spirit helps me to pray in a way that honors God and causes me to realize that the good and the bad things in my life are instruments of grace. Whether things turn out great or things turn out the exact opposite of my plan, I have the opportunity to thank Him for directing my steps and for giving me what is best. 

A great place to start is by reading through Proverbs each month – it has changed my life. Read about that here!

I come across these verses as I read God’s Word every morning. This is another great reason to read Scripture every day! You won’t find this kind of wisdom and guidance on a podcast or in an inspirational Instagram post. Those things aren’t bad in themselves, but there is no substitute for the absolute truth of God’s Word. ❤

Read More On This Topic:

• 3 Verses to Pray For Family Gatherings
• The Verse I Pray for Myself
• What To Do When You Don’t Know What To Do