Discerning Direction from God-Series

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A Five-Part Series

Have you been seeking the Lord’s guidance on a particular issue yet still can’t discern what He would have you do? We don’t always know why God doesn’t make everything clear when we ask for His help. But doing certain things can prepare us to hear His directions.

Part One. Seek Cleansing. We need to ask the Lord if there is anything in our life that is hindering our prayers. Then, if He brings something to mind, we can receive His cleansing through confession (1 John 1:9).

Commentary from the In Touch devotional by Charles Stanley, May 8, 2019.

The Whole World

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In a spiritual sense, Satan is called the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), and he poisons the atmosphere wherever he is. He pollutes our minds, our media, and our whole planet. But God has a system for protecting His children and purifying the air around us. He covers us with the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. When we are clothed in Christ we are under divine protection.

Commentary from Turning Points magazine and devotional by David Jeremiah, June 2 and 3, 2021.

Willing Witness

Witnessing is not a matter of persuasiveness or verbal skill. Rather, it’s an overflow of your love for Jesus Christ, along with a desire to invite people to know Him. As you allow the Holy Spirit to increasingly express His life and power through you, your joy will overflow and touch others.

The In Touch devotional by Charles Stanley, December 11, 2021.

Greater than the world

1 John 4:4 and 2 Kings 6:16

In the storms of life let us not forget that God’s resources are greater than the world’s. Maybe in heaven, it will be revealed the times in our lives when God protected us without us even being aware that we were in danger. Trust Him.

The transformation

While salvation involves an understanding of sin and a choice to repent, some people mistakenly think they themselves must clean up their life before coming to Christ. But that is actually impossible. No one can make himself righteous apart from the work of the Holy Spirit – only God can give a clean heart, holy desires, and a transformed mind.

Commentary from the In Touch devotional by Charles Stanley, January 8, 2021.

What is love?

We hear a lot about love in books, songs, and conversations, and we can lose sight of its spiritual dimensions. Believers must remember that God’s love is of a much higher caliber – it is the starting point of our salvation. If He had not loved us first (1 John 4:10), we’d be destined for eternal consequences rather than eternal life. Never let the world’s shallow concept of love rob you of the wonder of being a recipient of God’s divine love, which transforms us from enemies to heirs.

Commentary from the In Touch devotional by Charles Stanley, January 12, 2021.

Avenues

The prayers of God’s people don’t merely drift into space but are avenues through which God does His amazing work on earth. However, He cannot be manipulated into unleashing His power – there are no prayer formulas or perfect words that cause Him to act.

What James means by effective prayer is explained to us in 1 John 5:14 (in photo). Therefore we can define effective prayer as that which is in accordance with God’s will. According to James, effective prayer requires a righteous life. If we are harboring sin, pride, and self-reliance, it’s doubtful that our prayers will align with God’s will. We can’t hang onto our unrighteousness and expect to offer effective prayers, because sin hinders our relationship with God. Before coming to the Lord with our petitions, we must first confess our sins and turn from them.

Commentary from the In Touch devotional by Charles Stanley, August 9, 2019.

Humility

There is only One worthy of praise!

Through Christ and His provision of salvation, the believer is a victor (1 John 5:5) over the invisible system of demonic and human evil that Satan operates to capture men’s souls for hell.  Faith in Jesus Christ and dedication of one’s life to Him make one an overcomer.

Commentary from the MacArthur study Bible, notes for 1 John 5:4,5.