Read Four Ways God Leads His People, by John Piper at Bible Study Tools.







"I see at least four methods that God uses to leads us in his will. I put them in four "D’s" to help me remember them."

DECREE:

"God sovereignly decrees and designs circumstances so that we end up where he wants us to be even if we don’t have any conscious part in getting there."

24 and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26 and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken ; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here !" 29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved ?"          

31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. 33 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34 And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.

Acts 16:24-34   

I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.   

Job 42:2

DIRECTION:

"This is simply what God does for us by giving us the commands and teachings of the Bible...  God reveals his directions in the Bible."

DISCERNMENT:

"Discernment is how we follow God’s leading through the process of spiritually sensitive application of biblical truth to the particularities of our situation."

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:2

DECLARATION:

"This is the least common means of God’s leading. He simply declares to us what we should do."

But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, "Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a desert road. )   

Acts 8:26

Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot."   

Acts 8:29

"...the truth that God is sovereign and guides all things is the rock bottom confidence under all others. It is a good place to rest."

Image by NASA's Hubble, Spitzer, and Chandra space telescopes, as well as several ground-based astronomical telescopes.  Click Here for More Info.






...but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.   
2 Peter 3:18

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.   
Corinthians 10:31

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.   
Psalm 19:1

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,   
Romans 3:23

And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
Revelation 21:23

"God's glory is everywhere. Revelation 21:23 says when we get to heaven there will be no need of the sun or moon because the glory of the Lord will illuminate everything. There will be no night there, for the place will be consumed with the glory of God. His glory is so awesome that it will light up our heavenly home."

Read the entire article, All for God's Glory, by DR Tony Evans at One Place.

All quotes are from The Art of Living Well, by DR Robert Jeffres at One Place







Thousands of years ago the wisest, wealthiest, and most powerful man of his day compiled a book of pithy and practical insights for living well.  Solomon's timeless book of Proverbs provides nuggets of wisdom that are guaranteed to bring success in every area of life...

1. The focus of Proverbs is this life, not the next one.

You can read the entire book of Proverbs without ever learning how to pray, how to share your faith, or how to go to heaven after you die.  The emphasis in Proverbs is not the hereafter, but the here and now.  God is vitally interested in your success today as well as in eternity...

2. The measure of living well is not money.  

Yes, the book of Proverbs has a great deal to say about earning, saving, spending, and investing money.  I believe one reason many people are not prospering financially is because they fail to follow God's timeless wisdom about money...

For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? (Luke 9:25)

3. Living well does not exempt us from problems. 

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

4. The purpose of living well is to glorify God. 

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)

5 "See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where  you are entering to possess it.            
6 "So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'            
7 "For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him?(Deuteronomy 4:5-7)

God wants your life to be a demonstration of the  benefits of living well.  When you follow His wisdom for setting worthwhile goals, handling money, rearing children, and building a strong marriage, it is a win-win situation:  You receive the benefits, and God receives the glory!  As John Piper has said, "We most glorify God when we are most satisfied in Him."

Read Rejoice with Trembling, by John Piper of Desiring God at One Place








11 Worship the LORD with reverence And rejoice with trembling.            
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!   

Psalm 2:11-12

Serve the Lord with Fear

Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing.
Psalm 100:2

for our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:29

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-unless indeed you fail the test?
2 Corinthians 13:5 

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.    
1 Corinthians 10:12

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,    
Jude 1:24

...and rejoice with trembling.

"Fear does not rob us of our joy for two reasons. One is that it drives us to Christ where there is safety. The other is that even when we get there the part of fear that Christ relieves is the hope-destroying part. But he leaves another part-the part we want to feel forever. There is an awe or wonder or trembling in the presence of grandeur that we want to feel as long as we are sure it will not destroy us. This trembling does not compete with joy; it is part of joy."

...for His wrath is quickly kindled.

Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;    
Exodus 34:6

Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! 
Psalm 2:12

Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.

"The only safe place from the wrath of God is in God. Everywhere outside of his care is dangerous. He is the only hiding place from his own wrath. If you see him as frightening and try to run away and hide, you will not find a place to hide. There is none. Outside of God's care there is only wrath. But there is a refuge from the wrath of God, namely, God. The safest place from the wrath of God-the only safe place-is God."