Where do I look for good advice?
Psalm 37:30The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong.
Proverbs 15:7The lips of the wise give good advice; the heart of a fool has none to give.
1 Corinthians 12:8To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.
Colossians 3:16Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.
Titus 1:15Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure.
Seek advice from God through prayer and reading his Word, the Bible. Next seek advice from godly people who have proven themselves to be discerning, honest, and trustworthy. They can be counted on to give counsel that comes from God’s Word.
Exodus 17:4Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What should I do with these people? They are ready to stone me!”
1 Samuel 8:6Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance.
1 Kings 22:5Then Jehoshaphat added, “But first let’s find out what the Lord says.”
Job 12:13“True wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding are his.”
Psalm 32:8The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”
Psalm 73:24You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.
James 1:5If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
Come to God honestly seeking his advice.
Psalm 119:24Your laws please me; they give me wise advice.
Psalm 119:105Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
Look for God’s advice in his Word. It is the manual for divine wisdom, and it’s fully available to you.
Isaiah 9:6A child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 11:2The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
John 14:16“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.”
John 14:26“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”
John 15:26“But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.”
John 16:13“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.”
God gave us his Son to show us what is true; both Jesus’ life and words counsel us. God also gave us his Holy Spirit, who is called “the Counselor.” If you are a follower of Jesus, the Holy Spirit literally lives in you to give you wisdom and to guide you in any circumstance.
Psalm 16:7I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.
Proverbs 20:5Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out.
Romans 14:1-3, 14Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. . . . I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong.
1 Timothy 1:19Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.
Titus 1:15Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted.
Our own conscience can be a source of good counsel to warn us of wrong as long as we have not desensitized it. Our conscience is not the same as the Holy Spirit, and it is not infallible or enforceable on others. We may, for the sake of conscience, avoid an activity that leads us into temptation, but another believer may participate without concern. That is normal, and we should show respect for each others’ decisions based on conscience. Unless our conscience is in conflict with God’s Word, it is wise to follow its warnings and direction.
Genesis 6:9Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.
Psalm 1:1Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
Proverbs 10:21The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.
1 Corinthians 12:8To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.
Titus 1:15Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure.
Seek advice from those who are faithful, godly, honest, trustworthy, and wise. They can be counted on to give counsel that comes from God’s Word.
Exodus 18:14When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?”
1 Kings 12:8-11Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers. “What is your advice?” he asked them. “How should I answer these people who want me to lighten the burdens imposed by my father?” The young men replied, “This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!’”
2 Chronicles 22:4He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, just as Ahab’s family had done. They even became his advisers after the death of his father, and they led him to ruin.
Proverbs 1:8My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
Proverbs 4:1My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment. . . .
Proverbs 6:20My son, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
Proverbs 23:22Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
Proverbs 27:9The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.
Family and friends have the potential to be excellent sources of advice as they often know us and our circumstances. However, be wary that close kinship and association is not always the best criteria for good advice nor is it a guarantee of godly advice.
Proverbs 11:14Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.
It is often wise, especially on major issues, to seek more than one opinion, comparing the advice with God’s Word and his ways.
1 Kings 22:6So the king of Israel summoned the prophets, about 400 of them, and asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?” They all replied, “Yes, go right ahead! The Lord will give the king victory.”
Proverbs 27:6Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.
Proverbs 29:5To flatter friends is to lay a trap for their feet.
Zechariah 10:2Household gods give worthless advice, fortune-tellers predict only lies, and interpreters of dreams pronounce falsehoods that give no comfort. So my people are wandering like lost sheep; they are attacked because they have no shepherd.
2 Timothy 4:3A time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
Avoid “yes men”—people who tell you only what you want to hear. They are, in a very real sense, false prophets. A godly advisor who loves us enough to speak difficult truths is incredibly valuable.
