Verses about god guides
How God walks with and directs those who seek him, in big things and small.
27 passages from 12 books
1He directs your steps
- We plan our way, but YHWH makes our step firm
The heart of a man plans his way, but YHWH establishes his step.
Proverbs 16:9 - Even if he falls, he is not thrown down: YHWH holds his hand
By YHWH the steps of a man are made firm, and in his way he delights. When he falls, he will not be hurled down, for YHWH sustains his hand.
Psalms 37:23–24 - David says YHWH is his shepherd, who lets him rest and leads him by still waters
A psalm of David. YHWH is my shepherd; I will lack nothing. In pastures of grass he makes me lie down; beside waters of rest he leads me. He brings back my soul; he guides me along tracks of righteousness for the sake of his name.
Psalms 23:1–3 - God promises to teach the way and advise you, with his eye on you
I will make you understand and teach you in the way that you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Psalms 32:8 - A voice behind you says which way to go, right or left
And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.
Isaiah 30:21 - Jeremiah admits that directing his own step is not up to him
I know, YHWH, that his way does not belong to the human being, nor to a man who walks to direct his step.
Jeremiah 10:23 - A pillar of cloud by day and fire by night goes with Israel in the desert
YHWH went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give light to them, so that they could travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.
Exodus 13:21–22
2Seeking his will
- Paul links giving yourself to God and renewing your mind with finding his will
I urge you then, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice living, holy, pleasing to God, which is your rational worship. And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may discern what the will of God is: what is good and pleasing and complete.
Romans 12:1–2 - A simple prayer: teach me to do your will
Teach me to do your will, for you are my Elohim; may your good spirit lead me in a land of level ground.
Psalms 143:10 - Jesus, face to the ground, asks that the cup pass, yet as the Father wills
And going forward a little, he fell on his face praying and saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not as I want, but as you want.”
Matthew 26:39 - The psalmist says his delight is to do God's will
To do your will, my Elohim, I have desired, and your instruction is within my inward parts.”
Psalms 40:8 - The Spirit closes some roads, then Paul sees a Macedonian in a vision asking for help
And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in Asia. And when they came opposite Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul during the night: a certain Macedonian man was standing and urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when he saw the vision, at once we sought to go out to Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.
Acts 16:6–10 - Paul asks us to watch how we live and understand the Lord's will
Look therefore carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 5:15–17 - One who prays asks to be shown the paths, and waits all day
Your ways, YHWH, make me know; your paths teach me. Direct me in your truth and teach me, for you are the Elohim of my salvation; for you I have waited all the day.
Psalms 25:4–5
3Asking for counsel
- Where there is no direction a people falls; many advisers bring safety
Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but there is salvation in an abundance of counselors.
Proverbs 11:14 - Listen to advice, and remember YHWH's plan is the one that stands
Listen to counsel and receive correction, so that you may become wise in your end. Many are the plans in the heart of a man, but the counsel of YHWH, it will stand.
Proverbs 19:20–21 - Moses' father-in-law warns he will wear himself out and advises sharing the load
Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. You will surely wear yourself out, both you and this people that is with you; for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. Now listen to my voice; I will advise you, and may Elohim be with you! You be the representative for the people before Elohim, and you bring the cases to Elohim. Teach them the statutes and the instructions, and make known to them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do. And you shall look for, from all the people, capable men, who fear Elohim, men of truth, who hate unjust gain; and place them over them as chiefs of thousands, chiefs of hundreds, chiefs of fifties, and chiefs of tens. Let them judge the people at all times; and every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves; so make it lighter for yourself, and they will bear the load with you. If you do this thing and Elohim so commands you, you will be able to endure, and also all this people will go to their place in peace.” Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.
Exodus 18:17–24 - Rehoboam asks the elders for advice but prefers that of the young men
King Rehoboam sought counsel from the elders who had stood before Solomon his father while he was alive, saying, “How do you counsel me to answer this people?” They spoke to him, saying, “If today you are a servant to this people and serve them and answer them and speak good words to them, they will be your servants all the days.” But he abandoned the counsel of the elders that they had counseled him, and sought counsel from the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.
1 Kings 12:6–8 - Happy is the one who follows YHWH's instruction, not the counsel of the wicked
Happy is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but in the instruction of YHWH is his delight, and on his instruction he meditates by day and night. He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, that gives its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and all that he does prospers.
Psalms 1:1–3 - Israel's men accept the Gibeonites' provisions without asking YHWH
The men took of their provision, but they did not ask the mouth of YHWH.
Joshua 9:14
4When you don't know what to do
- Surrounded by enemies, King Jehoshaphat admits he does not know what to do and looks to God
And now, look, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, among whom you did not let Israel come when they came from the land of Egypt, but they turned aside from them and did not destroy them look, they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of your possession that you gave us to possess. Our Elohim, will you not judge them? For there is no power in us before this great multitude that is coming against us, and we do not know what to do, but on you are our eyes.”
2 Chronicles 20:10–12 - God promises to lead the blind by roads they do not know
And I will lead the blind by a way that they have not known; in paths that they have not known I will make them tread; I will make the dark places before them into light, and the crooked places into a plain. These things I will do, and I will not abandon them.
Isaiah 42:16 - The psalmist knows God holds his hand and guides him with his counsel
But I am always with you; you have grasped my right hand. With your counsel you will guide me, and afterward with glory you will take me.
Psalms 73:23–24 - When we do not know what to pray, the Spirit intercedes for us
And likewise the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with groanings that cannot be uttered.
Romans 8:26 - YHWH promises to guide always and strengthen in dry times
And YHWH will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in scorched places, and your bones he will strengthen; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not deceive.
Isaiah 58:11 - David asks for a level path while enemies lie in wait
Teach me, YHWH, your way, and lead me on a level path because of those who lie in wait for me.
Psalms 27:11 - His word is a lamp for the feet and a light for the path
A lamp to my feet is your word, and a light to my pathway.
Psalms 119:105