Have you ever done something, and while you were doing it, you knew it wasn’t right, but you did it any way. That little voice within was talking, but you didn’t want to listen. The inner alarms were ringing, but you just kept on.

I have a funny little story for you …

If you know me, you know I’m a lover of bright happy colors. My wardrobe is mostly from a company called Natural Life. It’s a little bit hippy and a whole lotta happy. BIG Life and Natural Life truly need to do a collaboration of the happiest Jesus girl clothing on the planet. They haven’t reached out yet.

Well, recently, a friend who owns a boutique that carries the Natural Life brand sent me a link advertising a massive warehouse sale. Now, I’m currently out of the country with one little suitcase. I don’t have space for anything new and I don’t even have a shipping address to receive it. So, when she first shared the website link of massive clearance, I ignored it. A few weeks went by and I decided maybe I should order me a few new pieces for when I return to the states and have them waiting for me. So, I clicked on the link and began scrolling.

Y’all, the romper I had paid $65 for was $12. My favorite hat was on sale for $2! Entire bedding sets were $7. I don’t even own a bed, y’all I am full on homeless, but for some reason I decided I would really need a bedding set because it was so cheap. And so would 8 of my best friends. I had hundreds of dollars of items in my cart, and the total was only $65.

So, what do I do? I keep adding more things to my cart. Oh, there’s my favorite happy travel bag, I’m going to need a dozen of those and I will give them away at the next retreat. Gosh, everyone will want one of my favorite coffee mugs, so yes, let’s get 30! The cart grew and grew, yet the discounts kept piling up and my total remained at $65.

I literally spent hours tingling with excitement thinking of who would want that sweater, who would love that floral dog bed, who would be thrilled over that fuzzy blanket. Still, the total never moved from $65.

All while there was a little voice within that said, “Pamela, something isn’t right here.”

Susshhhhhhh little voice, I’m basically doing free shopping for all the happy things for me and my people. The inner alarm is ringing as I put in our credit card information. But I ignore the alarm and proceed because it’s all just sooooo pretty. At this point I have a semi-truck load of things scheduled to be delivered to my friend Nicole’s house in Illinois so I text her and tell her to make space. Gifts are on their way!!!!! Girl, I just redecorated your whole house for you! Oh the excitement.

Then comes the confirmation email … in a foreign language. Then the credit card charge … totally NOT my beloved Natural Life.

I had been scammed. And sadly, I knew it the entire time, I just wouldn’t listen. I wanted it so bad I just couldn’t be told no. And guess what … that semi-truck never showed up with my massive order, and now they have my credit card.

You know what … I did that. I have no one else to blame.

Sometimes we do the same exact thing when there’s far more than $65 on the line. We proceed with relationships we know darn good and well aren’t right. We step right into jobs and careers that were never meant for us, but the offer of money was so good. And we go from one bad decision to another because we’re chasing fickle feelings and fleeting desires.

Was that little voice within God? Was God trying to get our attention, trying to direct our steps, trying to safeguard us from disaster? Was God showing us a better way, giving us an out, and offering divine wisdom, but we didn’t accept it?

Scripture tells us of David who became a mighty warrior and King. His victories came from God. His every step came under the direction of God … WHEN ASKED! When David stopped asking God for guidance, then things got messy. As long as he was fully surrendered to God and obedient to his guidance, then he walked in supernatural victory.

One of my favorite examples of David seeking God’s guidance is documented in 1 Chronicles 14: 10-16:

David asked God, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”

The Lord replied, “Yes, go ahead. I will hand them over to you.”

So David and his troops went up and defeated the Philistines there. “God did it!” David exclaimed. “He used me to burst through my enemies like a raging flood!”

But after a while the Philistines returned and raided the valley again. And once again David asked God what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” God replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, go out and attack! That will be the signal that God is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” So David did what God commanded, and they struck down the Philistine army.

Wow, can you imagine being able to ask God such specific questions and receiving such clear guidance? That’s absolutely amazing. The question is, is that level of guidance reserved for only a few, or is it available to all who seek the Lord? Seriously … is this available to us?

Have you ever wondered if God could answer you so clearly? I have. So, I started doing some digging and found God’s answer. God, do you still speak as clearly today as you did back then? Will you give me clear direction as you did David? And guess what, God’s word is very clear with the answer … and it’s YES!!!!!!!!!!

But, here’s the kicker … you must ask! Notice God’s plan was only revealed when David sought out his will through prayer. God didn’t push his plan on David. He didn’t force him to seek him. God always had a plan, but the plan was only accessed through David seeking God in prayer.

How many times has God had a plan for us and a clear path through our mess, but we never stopped to ask him for help. We were busy making our own plan and trying to figure things out for ourselves. David knew his first step was always to seek God. Why is it that’s often my last step when all my other steps have failed? Why are my knees reserved for the times when I’m knocked there? Prayer shouldn’t be our last resort, it should be our first step. But quite simply, it often isn’t.

The enemy has done a great job convincing us that God is too busy for our little concerns. NO WHERE in God’s word does it say God can’t be bothered with our requests. Never does it say he’s limited on his time, attention, answers or power. That’s from the pits of hell … and we’ve bought it.

It’s a scam. Oh my goodness, girls – we have been scammed. Tricked out of God’s best plans and guided steps! We have forfeited God’s divine guidance in our every step simply because we haven’t asked. And we haven’t asked because we’ve believed the scam that we couldn’t ask God.

James 1:5, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”

To receive wisdom, we literally HAVE TO ASK. But not ask self-help books, not ask our friends, not ask the Google or ChatGPT, no – If you need wisdom, ask our generous GOD! You have not because you ask not. You’re confused because you’re not continually asking God.

Maybe you’ve asked God before and you felt like you didn’t get an answer, so you’re hesitant. You believe God doesn’t really answer you. He doesn’t really guide you. He’s never talked to you like he talked to David with such a clear plan. That’s a fair feeling … but my sister, it’s just a feeling. God wants to answer you clearly. He wants to guide you in alignment with his will. He’s not trying to make this a great mystery.

The request must be made in faith. You can’t doubt God’s ability or desire to give you wisdom. Verse 6-7, “When you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.”

Sometimes I ask, but then I don’t really believe God is listening. I ask, but I don’t really believe God cares. I ask, but I struggle to believe God is really that involved in the details of my life. And my little bit of unbelief is dismissing God’s guidance and divine wisdom.

This is where we must come to Jesus and pray Mark 9:24, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” God, I’m confessing there’s a part of me that struggles to believe, help me overcome my unbelief. I want to hear from you. I want to be guided by you. I’m asking you.

Maybe that’s part of our problem. We think we know what to do now. We think our experience has equipped us and we’re smart enough to make our own decisions. Oh how dangerous success becomes when we no longer seek God for every next step. This is the setup for a humbling failure!

YOU STILL NEED GOD! Honey, you don’t know what you’re doing. You don’t see what God sees. You have not reached the point in your life where you don’t need God for every single step … and you never will! You were designed to always need his wisdom and the only way you get it is to continually ask him for it.

God has given you his word as a lamp to your feet. The words in your Bible are alive, read them. They will guide you.

God has given you his Holy Spirit to prompt you in the way you should go. Listen to him and respond in faith.

God has given you direct access to him through prayer. Ask him.

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