A Prayer for God's Direction in Your Life Choices
By Christine F. Perry
Bible Reading:
"A man's steps are of the Lord; How then can a man understand his own way?" Proverbs 20:24 NKJV
Read or Listen Below:
I was working at a fast-food restaurant, studying for the manager test that would certify me as a general manager. I grabbed a coffee, opened the first page of the study guide, and knew this was not what I wanted to do. The first page talked about how to wash your hands properly. I had an overwhelming sense that the Lord had more for me. Please know that there is absolutely nothing wrong with working any job because work is an honorable endeavor. You should work heartily for the Lord wherever you are. You can honor the Lord in any profession.
However, I believed there was more for me to do. The problem was that I had no idea what to do. I began praying and thinking about what to do. A week or so later, I sensed the Lord telling me, "I'm not going to give you the second step until you take the first one." I knew I needed to tell my boss he would not need to spend the money to have me certified because I was leaving.
It was nerve-wracking because I didn't have a reason to leave besides believing the Lord had something more for me. Since he wasn't a believer, he wouldn't understand. But he let me work until I had something lined up. I started to make plans to return to my home state. I thought I'd enroll in school and finish my bachelor's degree. As I planned, my pastor's wife said, "Have you prayed about staying?" I said, "No. If I stayed, I'd need a new job and a place to live." She said, "Why don't you pray about that?" I didn't really want to stay. I was looking forward to being home again. However, I prayed about staying.
Since my days off were limited, I started packing my things in anticipation of my move. I should reach out to a friend who had been in the area to let her know I'd be leaving. She responded with, "Are you sure you're supposed to leave? If not, I would offer you a job." After getting together with this friend, I was offered a place to stay and a job. My prayer was answered. I went home for the summer and returned in the fall. That job ended up being one of the hardest and best jobs I have had. It also gave me the training I needed for future endeavors. God knew that I would need it. My plans fell through, but God’s did not. He can see the whole picture, whereas we can only see what's right in front of us.
Let's Pray:
Lord, Thank you for being in control of our lives. Lord, we make plans, but you determine our steps. Thank you for knowing what is best for us, even when we don't understand. Thank you for being patient when we feel frustrated when things aren’t going as planned. Father, thank you for loving us enough to not only save us but also direct us. Thank you for taking care of us like a shepherd does his flock. Thank you for your protection, provision, and perfect love. Help us trust you, knowing we wouldn't have it any different if we knew what you knew. Thank you for being faithful, trustworthy, and true. We love you. We need you. Thank you for being all we need at all times and in every situation. Amen
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Bayram Gürzoğlu
Christine is just a lady who was given the gift of being raised in an incredible family. For reasons unknown to her, God has blessed her with an amazing life full of beautiful friendships, remarkable experiences, and a love from Him that is completely underserved. She desires to encourage others and share hope as we journey through the highs and lows of life. Christine is the author of How I Met Peace and For the Weary Life Traveler, a 31-day devotional. Check out more of Christine's work at her website: Learning to be fearless and her Patreon.
Related Resource: Establishing a Routine of Rest
For a long time, rest felt less like a gift and more like a guilty indulgence — something to be earned, something to feel vaguely ashamed of, something that productive, faithful people did not really need. In a world that measures worth by output, the idea of stopping feels dangerously close to falling behind.
But what if rest is not optional? What if it was never meant to be? Tonight, lay down the hustle. Receive the gift. This is exactly what you were made for. Your Nightly Prayer is a daily Christian prayer podcast from the LifeAudio Podcast Network and Crosswalk.com. Each night, the team behind Crosswalk.com brings you a devotional and prayer to help you end your day in conversation with God. May these nightly prayers help you find the words to pray and focus your heart and mind on the love of God as you end your day. If you like what you hear, subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!