God's Guidance and Wisdom

Promises of God's Guidance
Psalm 25:4-5
Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.

Psalm 27:11
Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.

1 Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps

Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Isaiah 42:16 I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them.

Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Psalm 48:14
For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death.

Psalm 25:8-12 Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. For Your name’s sake, O Lord, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great. Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Psalm 119:104-105 Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Isaiah 30:21
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.

Psalm 37:5-6 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.
Proverbs 2:8 He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints.

Psalm 73:24 You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

Psalm 138:8 (ESV) The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ

Philippians 2:13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Promises of wisdom
Psalm 119:99-100 I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts.

Deuteronomy 28:13 And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.

Luke 6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Proverbs 28:5 ...those who seek the Lord understand all

Proverbs 2:3-6 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding

1 Kings 3:11-12 Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.

Isaiah 54:13
All your children shall be taught by the Lord, And great shall be the peace of your children.

Promises of God helping you speak
Exodus 4:11-12 So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.

Luke 21:15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.

Luke 12:12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.

Isaiah 50:4 The Lord God has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned.

Also see God's help and guidance
Also see The Will of God

Helpful music playlists on Youtube
God's guidance

Your Identity and Help Found In God

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:1-2

Our worth and identity comes from Him who redeemed us
Your worth and identity isn't defined by your performance or by the things you possess. Your worth comes from God who says, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine." Isaiah 43:1. God knows your every thought and yet He has precious thoughts toward you, they're more numerous than the sand in the sea (Psalm 139:1-2, Psalm 139:17-18). There's something powerful about knowing that God knows and understand you infinitely more than you could for yourself and yet His love for you is eternal. (Jeremiah 31:3). He loves us, even when we don't love Him back (1 John 4:10).

God has a plan for your life, you are not an accident! (Jeremiah 29:11). God knew you before you were even born and just as He called Jeremiah, He also calls you to share His love with others (Jeremiah 1:5). Loving God and living for Him is only a response to Him first loving us, even when we didn't love Him (2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 1 John 4:10, 19). You will seek to please God, not out of fear of punishment or to earn a reward, but because what He already did for you. To surrender to God is to recognize you belong to Him who created you and redeemed you.

God can change our hearts and free us from sin
God has the power to melt our stony hearts and give us the power to obey by His Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27). It is the Holy Spirit's job to testify of Jesus and transforms us into the same image as we behold Him. (John 15:26, 2 Corinthians 3:18). The scriptures testify of Him and it's His Spirit that helps us to see (John 5:39, 2 Corinthians 3:16).  It is in His light that you shall see the light (Psalm 36:9). Let His word abide in you and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free (John 8:31-32). To overcome sin, we need to get to know the Lord and claim His promises personally for ourselves (2 Peter 1:3-4).

We all need a personal trusting relationship with Jesus
The Lord is near those who call on Him in truth (Psalm 145:18). We have a real God who helps real people who get real with Him, confessing to Him their real problems. Our greatest problem is sin, but praise God, His grace is greater and more powerful than our sin (Romans 5:20). Our greatest need in life isn't things, ideas, or other people (God forbid) that we try to use to help ourselves. What we all really need is in our lives is a personal trusting relationship with Jesus, the Source of help.

Let God be Who you ultimately depend on
God knows the things and even the people we need in our life, but remember only God is your Savior, not things or people (Isaiah 43:4, 11). We all depend on God in order bear the fruit of the Spirit (John 15:5, Galatians 5:22-23). Nobody but God has innate goodness, we all depend on God as the source of goodness. We are all God's workmanship, it's not wise to dwell on your own faults or the faults of others (Ephesians 2:10).. Seeing God's image in others changes you. Your focus will be on God and how He's working to restore His image in others and yourself.

You have to surrender to Jesus for yourself
As Christians, we are all like epistles or letters from Christ for others to read. (2 Corinthians 3:3). Just as God can use you to point others to Him, He will also use others to point you to Him as well. That's what witnessing is all about. Maybe they don't say anything to you directly, but you know God is using them to convict you about something in your life that you need to surrender. A preacher once said, "God chooses how He speaks, we choose if we will listen". If God is saying to surrender something, listen to God, He means what He says. Don't go waiting for others to be your conscience for you, that's why God gave you your own conscience.

A Call to Surrender

You belong to God and He's The Giver of all good things
When God asks you to surrender something, remember everything already belongs to Him, and you aren't your own either, you belong to Him, for He is your creator and redeemer (Psalm 24:1, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Isaiah 43:1). Also remember that He wouldn't withhold something that would be for your own eternal good. The bible says "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly." Psalm 84:11.

God isn't a withholder, He's a giver, Calvary proves it. "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Romans 8:32. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." James 1:17

God's goal for you is character
Remember, "If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" 1 John 5:14. When you wonder what's going on in your life, remember that "all things work together for good to those who love God" Romans 8:28. Even if bad things happen to us, as long as our focus is on Christ, then it will work for the good of our characters (2 Corinthians 3:18). Our characters will change for the better when our “comfort” or fortitude is found in God in spite of disagreeable circumstances.

Ask God, and He will give you wisdom to understand what He is working on in your life (James 1:5). What you need to know is not information, but the Person of God and Jesus Christ who He sent (John 17:3). God's Spirit testifies of Jesus and will guide you to all truth (John 15:26, John 16:13). God will give you His Spirit if you ask Him (Luke 11:13). As you behold the glory of the Lord, His Spirit will transform your character into the same image as His (2 Corinthians 3:18). Don't worry about what you don't know and do what God already revealed to you. (Deuteronomy 29:29).

We are God's workmanship, not our own, and He prepared these works in Christ for us to walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). It shouldn't surprise us that we are called to walk in Jesus footsteps in this world of suffering (1 Peter 2:21). God prepared the way for us and He promises His Spirit to help us. "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31.

Seeking God's standards, abiding in His love
We tend to suffer needlessly from worry because we're trying to live up to a standards or expectations from the world instead of seeking God's word for His standards or expectations. While God does give us "commandments" or boundaries to abide by, we must remember they are meant for our own well-being. To abide by God's boundaries is simply to abide in His love (John 15:10). This is the key to surrender. Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing" John 15:5.

Crucify away the thought that you have to perform something of yourself in order for God to love you, abide in His love, you're His masterpiece in the making! God isn't seeking for mere outward performance, He wants your heart (Psalm 51:17). Let Him take your heart and He'll give you a new one, then you will be able to work out what He works in you (Ezekiel 11:19, Philippians 2:12-13). This isn't a time time thing, the inner man is to be renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16).

Remember that God's love for you never changes (Jeremiah 31:3). God says, "I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me."  Isaiah 49:15b-16. God sees the walls we've built, so in reality we are the ones who hold ourselves back. Yet, God doesn't give up and forget about us, even if we give up and forget about Him (Isaiah 49:15). When we stray like sheep, He goes looking for us and will rejoice when He finds us (Isaiah 53:6, Matthew 18:13, Zephaniah 3:17). Yes, there's joy in all of heaven when a sinner repents (Luke 15:7).

God calls us to surrender, not to conform to this world, and to be transformed in the renewing of our minds so that we can know His will (Romans 12:1-2). While God warns about what happens to minds who don't retain Him in their knowledge, remember He doesn't really want to give us up to such things (Romans 1:28). "For this is the will of God, your sanctification" 1 Thessalonians 4:3. It's through the knowledge of God that we're given "exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:2-4. God wants to sanctify you completely and your "whole spirit, soul, and body" to be preserved "blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23.

Being known and loved by God should inspire us to live for Him
God knows what you're thinking and He understands what you're going through (Psalm 139:2, Hebrews 4:15). Of course He would, He made you and even became flesh to redeem you with His very life so you would not perish, but have eternal life if you believe; You belong to Him and are very precious to Him (Isaiah 43:1, 4. John 3:16, 1 Peter 1:18-19).

God has always loved you, even when you didn't love Him and when you had fallen into sin (1 John 4:10, Romans 5:8). God is "longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9. God's love should inspire us to no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who died for us and rose again (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

God's love gives us a sense of belonging and inspires us to love each other
Think about what God did for all of us. He sent us Jesus our Creator and Captain of our salvation, to taste death and bring many sons to glory, yes He isn't ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters! (Hebrews 2:9–11). We are part of His family, isn't that amazing? The bible also says that Christ suffered and died in the flesh so that He "might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Hebrews 2:14-15.

God bought our freedom from the tyranny of sin. God's word says, "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:13-14. The Lord is able to keep you from stumbling and it's with exceeding joy that He presents you faultless before the presence of His glory (Jude 1:24). Jesus will never cast anyone out who comes to Him (John 6:37).

The Lord will order your steps, and though you may fall, He will not utterly cast you down, but will uphold you with His hand (Psalm 37:23-24). Knowing this, why would we ever discourage another soul, as if hoping they fall and give up on life? God's word warns us against this, it's the context of the verse which says that a righteous man will fall seven times and rise again (Proverbs 24:15-18). Let us love one another as Jesus loved us (John 13:34).

God is not willing that any should perish
To those who reject His love, the Lord asks, “O My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me. For I brought you up from the land of Egypt (represents the world), I redeemed you from the house of bondage (represents sin); And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam (represent God's messengers)." Micah 6:3-4. Just as Israel had evicted God out of His house (Ezekiel 8:6), many today are evicting Him from mind and body, which belong to Him (1 Corinthians 6:19). Jesus weeps over each of them, like how He wept over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37). Jesus weeps, not because of what they were but because of what they could have been.

God is pleading with us today  ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’ Ezekiel 33:11. God isn't out to harm you, put away such thoughts. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you," says the Lord, "thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11.

If we forget our dependence on God, blessings become a curse
The Lord wants you to be saved, He's excited about the idea. He says, "Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other." Isaiah 45:22. We need to remember that the Lord is our only Savior and be careful not to make an idol out of our blessings, lest we should forget to depend on Him from whom all blessing flow (Hosea 13:4-6, Ephesians 1:3). This is what can make "blessings" into a curse and God doesn't want that.

Jesus says, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Luke 12:15. "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:26. Is eternal life really worth being lost over things that will burn up anyway? (2 Peter 3:10).

Only God's righteousness can satisfy the void in your soul, stop trying to satisfy it with something else (Matthew 5:6). Remember that eternal life is about personally knowing the Lord and the result is a transformation of character, which is the only thing you'll take to heaven anyway (John 17:3, 2 Corinthians 3:18). Make it your priority to "seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore! Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth" Psalm 105:4-5. When God shows you His goodness, He also asks you to reflect His goodness toward others (Exodus 33:18-19, Micah 6:3-8, John 15:12).

God's promises for the depressed

Psalm 42:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.

Psalm 34:18 

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

Psalm 119:107 I am afflicted very much; Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word.

Psalm 56:8
You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?

Psalm 30:5b ...Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.

Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Psalm 27:14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

Psalm 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord.

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Romans 8:38-39  

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep

Proverbs 12:25
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.

Philippians 4:6-8
Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Philippians 3:13-14  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Job 1:21 And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Also see Mind Character and Personality, Vol 2, Chapters 49 (Grief) and (52 (Depression)
Also see Ministry of Healing, Chapter 18 "Mind Cure"

Depression: A Time To Choose Who To Worship
“All suffering is intended to train us to fix our eyes on the true God. Therefore, depression, regardless of the causes, is a time to answer the deepest and most important of all questions: Whom will I trust? Whom will I worship?” Depression: Looking Up from the Stubborn Darkness, p. 43-44

“Nothing tends more to promote health of body and of soul than does a spirit of gratitude and praise. It is a positive duty to resist melancholy, discontented thoughts and feelings–as much a duty as it is to pray.” The Ministry of Healing, p. 251

Helpful music playlists on Youtube
Trials and temptation
For The broken heart
Jesus Understands
Peace in the Storm
Hymns for troubled minds
Courage, Hope, and Cheer
Faith and Courage
Peace, Joy, and Comfort
Songs for the trials of life (bluegrass)
Songs for the storms of life (bluegrass)
Courage and Comfort (bluegrass)