“But the Lord said, ‘Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.’” Acts 9:15 (NLT)

Raise your hand if you’ve ever stood at life’s crossroads, saying to yourself, Which way should I go? What if I choose the wrong path and mess up my life?

My hand is raised.

I struggle to choose a restaurant on a night out — so imagine my indecision when the stakes are high. For much of my early adulthood, I sought clarity by making pro-and-con lists so lengthy that each one probably needed its own table of contents.

But when I met Jesus, that started to change.

Early in my faith, I told a friend about my decision-making struggles. I knew I needed to stop writing dissertation-length lists and surrender to God, but I couldn’t figure out practically how to do it.

The friend gave me a simple prayer:

Dear Lord: Your will, Your way. Amen.

“Really?” I asked. “That simple?”

Then I prayed that prayer. I still pray it today. I’ve learned that God loves it — and He will answer it, so I need to be ready to obey when He does. Even if it’s uncomfortable. Even if it’s contrary to my own desires.

Exhibit A: Ananias in Acts 9. The Lord gave Ananias a clear vision telling him to prayerfully lay hands on Saul, a frightening dude who persecuted believers in Jesus. Ananias wasn’t too keen on the idea.

“‘But Lord,’ exclaimed Ananias, ‘I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem!’” (Acts 9:13, NLT).

You can practically hear Ananias’ voice shaking.

“But the Lord said, ‘Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel’” (Acts 9:15).

So Ananias went, walking straight into the center of God’s will.

Ananias didn't know Saul had recently met Jesus Himself! Saul was temporarily blind after this life-changing encounter, but immediately when Ananias laid hands on him, scales fell from Saul’s eyes.

If Ananias had disobeyed, God could have made another way. But because of his obedience, Ananias got to play a key role in a milestone moment of the Christian faith: Saul, aka Paul, ultimately became a world-changing messenger for Jesus who spread the gospel to the nations.

We might not have a vision like Ananias did or hear God’s voice audibly, but as believers, we have His Spirit in us. We have His Word to lean on. We can seek Christian mentors and counsel. And we have a God who promises to give us direction.

When we pray, Your will, Your way, it won’t always be easy. But like Ananias, we can experience the peace of knowing this life-altering truth:

The best place to stand is in the middle of God’s will.

Dear Lord, give me the voice to pray this prayer in moments of indecision: Your will, Your way. And then grant me the courage to obey. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

One practice that can help you discern God’s will for your life is journaling. Jennifer’s journal Stuff I’d Only Tell God is a great starting point to help you put pen to paper.

ENGAGE

Jennifer would love to connect with you on Instagram, where she daily explores topics such as surrender, seeking God’s will, and trusting Him through all of life’s circumstances.

2024 marks 20 years of publishing Encouragement for Today Devotions! One of our devotion writers, Kia Stephens, has created a special video message for you as we celebrate this milestone! Check it out here in our Encouragement for Today Facebook group!

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Isaiah 30:21, “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’” (NIV).

Psalm 23:3b, “He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (ESV).

As the verses above suggest, God wants to direct us down paths that are both right and righteous. What big decisions do you face right now? As you think about the paths before you, how do these verses assure you that God will guide you down the right ones?

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.

© 2024 by Jennifer Dukes Lee. All rights reserved.