Are you at a place of personal transition and uncertainty? I found 7 helpful keys in a teaching called "7 Lights" found in The Shepherd's Staff, to help me advance in my quest to know God's will. These 7 keys or lights help us move progressively from the darkness of uncertainty towards the light of clarity and purpose.

1. OBTAIN GOD’S GUIDANCE Seven Lights

2. INTRODUCTION As we walk faithfully with God, we find ourselves in need of His divine guidance in making decisions relative to what He is saying to us. ************* “ He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.” Psalm 23: 2,3

3. A. WE MUST HAVE BALANCE We can be steered wrongly even while sincerely seeking God’s will. Objective vs. Subjective “ There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning.” (1 Corinthians 14:10) Faith vs. Presumption

4. B. WE MUST ACT IN FAITH Elijah: An Example “Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD, and (the God who answers by fire, He is God." And all the people said, "That is a good idea." (1Kings 18:24) “ At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word.” (1 Kings 18:36)

5. ELIJAH: AN EXAMPLE What produced the overthrow of the Baal worshippers? God initiated God communicated Elijah obeyed The miracle happened

6. C. WE MUST USE GOD’S ‘GUIDING LIGHTS’ They keep us on course There are seven lights: An inward conviction Confirmation in Scripture Prophetic Confirmation Godly counsel Circumstantial evidence The peace of God God’s provision

7. 3. THE SEVEN DESCRIBED Inward conviction … “A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." (Acts 16:9) ‘When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” (Acts 16:10) Must come first Comes from waiting on God

8. 3. THE SEVEN DESCRIBED Confirmation in Scriptures Scriptural warning To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.” (Isaiah 8:20) 2. No contradiction

9. 3. THE SEVEN DESCRIBED c. Prophetic Confirmation Examples from Scripture “And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, "This is what the Holy Spirit says: 'In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'" (Acts 21:11) (Acts 20:23) (Acts 21:4) 2. Warning

10. 3. THE SEVEN DESCRIBED Godly counsel “Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory.” (Proverbs 11:14) Some teach error“… because the king's matter was urgent." (1 Samuel 21:8) Seek respected elder

11. 3. THE SEVEN DESCRIBED e. Circumstantial evidence When you are walking in the centre of God’s will, having an inward conviction, and perhaps prophetic confirmation and godly counsel, all lining up with scripture, you will often begin to see definite confirming circumstances. Personal example There may be exceptions

12. 3. THE SEVEN DESCRIBED f. The Peace of God… comes by walking in obedience to the will of God. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer & supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6) Is your umpire “ 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7) You must make a decision

13. 3. THE SEVEN DESCRIBED God’s provision “Where God guides, God provides” “God’s work, done in God’s time, in God’s way, will never lack God’s provision” – Hudson Taylor Don’t neglect your family “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” ( Timothy 5:8) Sometimes, He doesn’t provide

14. 4. SUMMARY God gives us seven guiding lights to keep us on course in our Christian lives We start by having an inward conviction of what God wants us to do; of the necessity of that conviction lining up with Scripture; of prophetic confirmation to give direction; of the wisdom of having godly counsel; of confirming circumstances; of the umpiring peace of God; and finally, of God’s provision.

15. D. GOD GUIDES IN DARKNESS "I will lead the blind by a way they do not know, in paths they do not know I will guide them I will make darkness into light before them and rugged places into plains.” (Isaiah 42:16) Hang on in faith If your life is committed to God and you are not walking in willful rebellion against the will of God, then GOD IS GUIDING. He’s Always There “ When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.Andthrough the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.” (Isaiah 43:2)