Let us now discuss what I call the acid test of divine guidance. They are what you naturally experience as you follow His leading, proving to you that you are on course with destiny.

The Peace of God

A key acid test for determining the voice of God is His peace. All God-given guidance is characterized by His peace that follows. Guidance and peace are covenant partners; so when you receive guidance and rest is driven from you, then re-examine the guidance. Abraham was a man addicted to God’s guidance. After waiting twenty-five years for his son, Isaac, God instructed him to sacrifice this same son to Him, and Abraham was at peace, knowing that God was able to raise him up again from the dead (Heb. 11:19)

Peace always accompanies a leading that is from God, because He always speak peace to His people.

“I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.” Psalm 85:8

God’s voice ministers peace to the people to whom it is sent. If peace is absent after a leading, then watch it; it must be that the stranger is hiding in a corner to rob you of what belongs to you. Since there are several voices clamouring to get man’s attention, there must be a way of determining which one is genuine and which is counterfeit. Here is the simple way of knowing: when you are apprehensive or upset, it is the enemy planning to crash your destiny. The Bible says that out of the mouth of two or three witnesses, every truth shall be established. Here is what God said to the children of Israel concerning His leading:

“Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:” Isaiah 48:17-18

God said their peace would have been like a river, if they had hearkened unto Him. That means the leading of the Lord brings you into the realms of peace like a river; an ever-flowing peace, not temporal peace. The Psalmist also said in Psalm 23:2 that “he leadeth me beside the still waters…” Peace is the proof of genuine guidance! When God the good Shepherd leads, He always leads beside the still waters, which connotes peace and rest.

When we were moving our ministry’s headquarters and church from the heart of the city to what scened like a forest then (it has now been transformed by heaven and called Canaan Land, every time I went to the site, I felt such an inexplicable peace, that I kept telling my associates then, “I can feel God here.”

The peace of God always trails His leadings in our lives. Whenever the peace of God eludes a believer in the pursuit of a “purported” leading, there is need to check it out, because except God is actually involved, no leading can be accomplished. The Bible states in Zechariah 4:6, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” This is reiterated in Psalm 127:1: “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.” What more shall we say? “For by strength shall no man prevail” (1 Sam. 2:9). The Master Himself concludes it with a seal of finality thus: “without me ye can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5).

It is clearly evident from scriptures that every guidance requires the direct involvement and intervention of God to be accomplished and fulfilled. We are told that, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” (1 Thess. 5:24). In the final analysis, it is God who works in the vessel to accomplish the task He gives (Phil. 2:13).

However, for God to work in man, man must first be at rest. We have this blessed assurance in the Word that we need not be otherwise: “The Lord will fight for you (while) you hold your peace” (Ex. 14:14). If God must take over, then man must hold his peace. God does not take over our battles and pursuit until we hold our peace. This is because He does not share His glory with anyone (Isa. 42:8)! Another reason also is “That no flesh might glory in his presence” and more importantly, “Be still and know that I am God: 1 will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” (Ps. 46:10).

The truth is that until you are at rest, God cannot be at work. If you must see God at work in your life and on your behalf, then you have to be at rest. This is the secret behind the peace that attends all heaven-borne leading. With peace in your heart, triumph in your pursuit is guaranteed…

This text is an extract from the book “IN PURSUIT OF VISION” written by David O. Oyedepo. 
We invite you to read the following article “THE APPOINTED PLACE“.

ACID TESTS. ACID TESTS. ACID TESTS. ACID TESTS.