A Prayer for Guidance from the Holy Spirit
By Kenny Luck
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. – Hebrews 13:16
One of the Holy Spirits tasks is to experientially validate for every believer God’s awesome love, acceptance, and encouragement toward each of His children. We “taste and see” that the Lord is good through the Holy Spirit, bringing his goodness to us (Psalm 34:8). We sense it and feel it deeply. We love how the Holy Spirit takes the intellectual concepts of love, mercy and grace of God and makes them practical and experiential.
The Holy Spirit’s best work in people is seen in how He changes the way they relate to one another. You want the best part of your character displayed in your kids. It’s when your positive qualities, ways, words, actions and encouragements are reproduced In your child’s interactions with others that brings you joy. On the other hand, if they abuse, discourage and harm others with their way and words, you are grieved.” That’s not me,” you protest. I think our waywardness has the same effect on the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit heals relationships. He does this by lending and prompting all believers to show to others what God has shown them in the person of Jesus Christ. His point: you didn’t deserve grace, but now that you have it, you better give it as liberally as you received it! If we don’t the same thing grieve the Holy Spirit. Jesus aggressively illustrated His heart in the parable of the unmerciful servant. You feel the Holy Spirit’s presence and you honor him when your character reveals the grace that Jesus has freely given you.
If you want more of the Spirit’s presence in your life, to be more in touch with His leading, here is a prayer you can pray today:
Lord, I pray you would move the Spirit more boldly in my life. I know that any sin can grieve and diminish the voice of the Spirit, and I pray against the temptation to sin. Help me crave your presence more than I crave sin. Help me grow in the fruit of the Spirit and so walk closer with Yourself. I pray for guidance from your Spirit- let your will and promises always be a meditation of my heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
*Editor’s Note: The following is an abridged version of “Holy Spirit Impact” from Every Man Ministries. To read the full devotional, follow this link.
www.crosswalk.com
Spirit of wisdom and understanding, enlighten our minds to perceive the mysteries of the universe in relation to eternity. Spirit of right judgment and courage, guide us and make us firm in our baptismal decision to follow Jesus’ way of love. Spirit of knowledge and reverence, help us to see the lasting value of justice and mercy in our everyday dealings with one another. May we respect life as we work to solve problems of family and nation, economy and ecology. Spirit of God, spark our faith, hope and love into new action each day. Fill our lives with wonder and awe in your presence which penetrates all creation. Amen.
OR
Oh Holy Spirit, You are the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. You are the Spirit of truth, love and holiness, proceeding from the Father and the Son, and equal to Them in all things. I adore You and love You with all my heart. Teach me to know and to seek God, by whom and for whom I was created. Fill my heart with a holy fear and a great love for Him. Give me compunction and patience, and do not let me fall into sin.
Increase faith, hope and charity in me and bring forth in me all the virtues proper to my state of life. Help me to grow in the four cardinal virtues, Your seven gifts and Your twelve fruits.
Make me a faithful follower of Jesus, an obedient child of the Church and a help to my neighbor. Give me the grace to keep the commandments and to receive the sacraments worthily. Raise me to holiness in the state of life to which You have called me, and lead me through a happy death to everlasting life. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Grant me also, O Holy Spirit, Giver of all good gifts, the special favor for which I ask {name special petition}, if it be for Your honor and glory and for my well being. Amen.
OR
Holy Spirit of light and love, you are the substantial love of the Father and the Son; hear my prayer. Bounteous bestower of most precious gifts, grant me a strong and living faith which makes me accept all revealed truths and shape my conduct in accord with them. Give me a most confident hope in all divine promises which prompts me to abandon myself unreservedly to you and your guidance. Infuse into me a love of perfect goodwill, and act according to God’s least desires. Make me love not only my friends but my enemies as well, in imitation of Jesus Christ who through you offered himself on the Cross for all people. Holy Spirit, animate, inspire, and guide me, and help me to be always a true follower of you. Amen.
OR
Breathe into me, Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy. Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy. Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy.
Saint Augustine
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In life we make various decisions, and God is very much interested in the decisions we make. He doesn’t just want you to make the right decision, but He wants to guide you as you make it – God knows what is best for you and His plan is to reveal it to you and show you what you should do. To successfully scale through the series of decisions we make daily in life, it is most vital that we have a clear understanding of what the Bible teaches concerning God’s guidance and render prayers for guidance in decision making, how to ask Holy Spirit wisdom.
Decision often requires immediate action. Oftentimes, we are faced with the burden of making important decisions that can either make us or mar us. We sometimes make the mistake of setting God aside or even abandoning the place of prayers for guidance in decision making. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
Different Prayers for Guidance in Decision Making
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Pray for Peace
“…thoughts of peace, and not of evil to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11).
Father, I pray for peace upon my heart today, the peace of mind that will last eternally – a peace that only you can provide. Oh Lord, strengthen and give me your peace that will wash out my restlessness, anxiety and uneasiness. Give me victory, Lord, from the enemy that is bringing confusion and worry into my mind. Oh Lord, fill me with your peace that will stand as the conviction in any decision I make in life. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
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Pray for Wisdom – Ask Holy Spirit Wisdom
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God… “(James 1:5).
Holy Spirit, fill me with the wisdom that I need to succeed in my life decisions. Help me with your wisdom daily as I battle through tough decisions in my career, marriage, business, finances, academics and ministry. Teach me, Lord, not to depend wholly on my own thoughts and opinions. I need your wisdom to do the right thing at the right time. Oh Lord, help me with the wisdom to choose rightly – and to choose the right way in Jesus Christ name I pray. Amen.
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Pray for God’s will
“…nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42).
Oh Lord, my Father, forgive me of the sinfulness and selfishness of always allowing my will to prevail over your will in every of my actions. Help me, Lord, truly believe and trust you as the only good and caring God who always desires the best for me. Let your will be done in my life daily, as I simply devote myself in total obedience to your word. This I pray in Jesus name. Amen.
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Pray for a humble spirit
“The meek will he guide in judgement: and the meek will he teach his way” (Psalms 25:9).
Lord, today I pray for a humble spirit to depend on you totally in my life decisions. You promised me in your word that you will lead the humble in what is right and teach the humble his way. Father, I decrease that you might increase in me. Grant me your guidance, and with it grant me the humble obedience to accept it in Jesus name. Amen.
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Pray for discernment
“But the natural man receives not the things of the spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).
Oh Lord, open my eyes to see whatsoever that is hindering me from attaining spiritual progress in life. Help me to make bold decisions as I discern the next steps I need to take in my life. Amen.
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Pray for His instruction
“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eyes” (Psalms 32:8).
Lord, Guide me into the right decision. Instruct me not to necessarily choose what I want to do, but what you want me to do. Help and guide me so that I will not be strayed while making life decisions. Holy Spirit teach me your word in Jesus name. Amen.
Reasons behind prayers for guidance in decision making
God is the foundation of all wisdom. He alone has the ability to view your life in a comprehensive standpoint. We see a portion of the picture, but God sees it all. Involving Him in your prayers as you go through life decision will assure your life success.
- So that God can help us understand our choices more clearly, and then decide which is best for us to choose.
- So that we can seek God’s will before taking a major decision that will affect our lives.
- It’s because God loves us, He wants what is best for us and He wants to guide us.
- Since God is Omniscience, Omnipotent and Omnipresence – it means His ways are always best. So we need His best plan to help us through our decisions.
- So that we will not fall prey to Satan’s deceit in making the wrong decision that might look so correct in our eyes.
Prayers for guidance in decision making, goes a long way in helping us act the mind and will of God for our lives. Through prayers, the Holy Spirit our Counselor who is ever with us, bids us to bring our decisions before Him.
Also read: PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE
prayray.com
