quietness

Whose Advice Do You Seek?

In the book of Isaiah, God’s people did not seek the Lord’s advice regarding the Assyrian nation. Instead, they turned to Egypt for protection. God spoke these words to His people.

In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it (Isaiah 30:15, NIV).

How guilty have I been? Seeking advice from those I trust is not a bad thing. But I should go to God first. After I’ve sought wise counsel from others, I need to return to the Lord and rely upon Him to guide me to make the right decisions.

The leaders of Judah trusted in horses, chariots, and a nation that could not help them. They would have suffered less had they understood their deliverance would come from confidence in the Lord.

How many times would I have struggled less had I called upon God? Instead, I followed the crowd or agreed to an idea or advice without questioning it.  

But our God is gracious. His mercy is available to each of us. Verse 18 describes God’s mercy toward his people.

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him (NIV)!

When I wait on the Lord and seek His wisdom, He’ll speak if I’m willing to listen. God whispers in my ear. It’s up to me to pay attention.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21, NIV).

Often, I pray first. After I seek advice from others, I’ll follow up with research of my own. I usually pray again about the situation. Waiting is my biggest challenge. By the time I get there, I think I’ve got it all figured out. I need to slow down and wait on God.

My life’s journey will be easier to travel when I learn to be still and rest in God’s strength for everything. I need to trust Him from the first prayer through the wait.

Which part of the advice process is most challenging for you?