English 
Chinese 
Dutch 
Arabic 
Spanish 
Portuguese 
Russian 
French 
Italian 
German 
Japanese 
Continue reading with a subscription
Get unlimited access to all our premium content and exclusive features.
Enjoy unlimited access, cancel anytime.
Summary
- Solomon asked God for “an understanding heart … that I may discern between good and bad” (1 Kings 3:9), and James 1:5 promises wisdom to anyone who asks.
- Before choosing Matthias, the apostles prayed, “shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,” and cast lots (Acts 1:24–26); Jesus prayed all night before choosing the twelve (Luke 6:12).
- Traditional prayers include the 1928 Book of Common Prayer’s “Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings” and the prayer to the Holy Spirit for “a right judgment in all things.”
- Short prayers cover clarity, a decision with no easy answer, fear of choosing wrong, waiting, seeking advice, open and closed doors, temptation, following through and a choice that went wrong.
- Christians look for guidance through Scripture, prayer, counsel, circumstances, peace and sound judgment; Gideon’s fleece (Judges 6:36–40) and Jesus’ refusal of a sign (Matthew 12:39) show both sides of asking for signs.
Bibliography (Click to show)
- Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (1611), text of Project Gutenberg eBook no. 10 (Judges 6:36–40; 1 Kings 3:9; 19:12; Psalm 25:4–5; 27:14; 37:5, 24; 119:105; 143:8; Proverbs 11:3, 14; 15:22; 16:33; Isaiah 30:21; Matthew 12:39; Luke 6:12; 14:28; 22:42; Acts 1:24–26; 16:6–10; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 14:33; 16:9; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 3:15; James 1:5; 4:15). https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10
- The Book of Common Prayer (Protestant Episcopal Church in the U.S.A.), Standard Book of 1928. Prayers, Collects, “Direct us, O Lord,” p. 49; Whitsunday, The Collect, p. 180. PDF facsimile: https://www.artisticdailyprayers.org/uploads/3/0/1/6/30164961/bcp1928std.pdf
- A Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Catholic Laity, prepared and published by order of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore. New York: Catholic Publication Society, 1888. Prayers before Mass, pp. 89–90. https://archive.org/details/AManualOfPrayers1888
Leave a Reply