Sometimes a believer, in his desire to hear from the Lord, will set himself aside in fasting and prayer, waiting for God to tell him what to do. Again, experience is required here. The seasoned saint can tell when it is time to wait for the Lord to speak. But no amount of waiting can force God to speak. God is ready to direct our steps, but it is not often that He speaks directly to us.

It usually is more practical for the believer to pray carefully and then—continuing in prayer and watchfulness—commence on a definite course of action, meanwhile asking the Lord to guide every step, to close doors and open doors. It is not possible to steer a ship until it is moving.

The Lord may require of us that we take a step; not a step of presumptuous "faith," as is being taught, merely a step of reasonable action. If we remain in prayer, seeking His will continually and consistently, He will guide the steps we are taking.

We may find ourselves going in a different direction than we had planned. However, nothing may happen until we make a choice. God will be God. We cannot force Him to speak.

The will of God often is difficult to determine. Our part is to present our body a living sacrifice and to do diligently what is set before us. God's part is to guide us into His good, acceptable, and perfect will for us (Romans 12:1,2; Proverbs 3:5,6).

A second counterfeit of the true rest of God is that of world involvement while we are waiting for our "call." It may happen that an ambitious, capable person becomes a Christian. He desires to go forth immediately and serve the Lord, to "do big things for God," as the current attitude has it. But then he becomes aware that one cannot "use" God to do big things. The point is to wait on God and then do whatever He commands us.

Here we have an alert, intelligent human being who has come to the conclusion that the believer is not to attempt to set out to become a "big success" in the Kingdom of God. Rather he is to wait until he understands what it is that God intends to do with him and through him.

If one is not to vent one's ambition in the Kingdom of God, what are busy hands and minds to do? We will "occupy until He comes." We will go forth in the world, attend the university, master an art or a trade, and use our industry and talents until the Lord "tells us what to do."

Sometimes the most practical action a Christian can take is to decide on a vocation or profession, attend college, enlist in an apprenticeship program, or otherwise pursue a reasonable course of activity in the world.

The problem is, it is easy to become so involved in one's profession or business that prayer is neglected, fellowshipping with fervent saints is neglected, and there is not enough time or strength left for meditating in the Word of God. Soon there is no time left for the Lord. As in the case of passivity, no voice warns us we are not abiding in Christ. Everything feels right and appears to be in order as far as the Lord is concerned. But without realizing it we have become lukewarm and are growing cold toward God. We are neglecting our salvation, and that is the path to destruction.

To be continued.