I Need An Answer Now!

I had a line of people waiting for me, they had picked numbers so that everyone was in the right order, names were recorded so that none got into the line twice before someone else got their first turn.  All wanted some form of wisdom and direction from God, some type of prophetic word from the Spirit of Jesus. When the line wasn’t finished that day, we just picked up where we left off the next day. I kind of felt like Moses in Exodus 18, where the people lined up all day to get the council and advice from him. Of course I am not Moses, I do not have a hot line to heaven, nor do I see the face of God like Moses did – such that his face and countenance was changed.
You have probably experienced many situations where you needed wisdom and direction for a situation that was coming up. You frantically started to pray, spent extra time reading in the scriptures, as you tried to find the answer to the question and need that was ahead of you. Did you ever notice that sometimes it seems like the answers seem so hard to get?  Why is it that God’s direction seems hard to get.
First, we need to realize that God is not trying to give us quick fix-it answers. His direction is usually best received through a lifestyle of walking in the character and values of our Lord Jesus. In this context we are most likely to instinctively act and live our lives as Jesus would, and we will naturally do what is right. Of course becoming like Jesus is not an immediate process it take years to allow our lives to be transformed into the character of our Lord Jesus, but often we need immediate answers.
Secondly, God never asks us to quit using our understanding.  Some Christians feel that if they pray enough, God will speak and they don’t need to do any studying or research into the area that is before them.  Yet the wisdom that we need will often come from getting understanding into the situation and the details that come with it.  That is why Proverbs 4:7 says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. and in all your getting, get understanding.”   We are to investigate issues, check out the situations, use our brains to research the parameters, then make wise decisions.
Thirdly, we are never asked to stand alone.  God brings us into relationships and wisdom comes through the strength of those relationships.  That is why the scripture says in Proverbs 15:22, “Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counse1lors they are established.
Yes it is nice to have a prophetic word from God, but God is faithful to speak, to lead and to encourage us. He provides many ways to receive His direction. Take a moment to thank Him for faithfully wanting to share His ways with us.