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Random Bible Verse About Guidance

Draw a verse about God's direction, making decisions, and wisdom for the road ahead.

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Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

How the Bible describes guidance

Scripture uses pictures of travel: a lamp for the feet, a shepherd leading sheep, a voice behind you saying which way to walk. Notice that the lamp lights the next step, not the whole route. Many of the passages on this page promise God's presence and instruction without promising a full map in advance.

The Bible also presents several sources of direction side by side. There is God's word, wise counsel from other people, prayer, the Spirit's leading, and plain good sense about planning. Proverbs praises many advisers and careful planning, while also saying that the Lord establishes a person's steps.

Making a decision

When you face a real decision, these passages suggest a rough order of questions. They are not a formula, but they keep a decision from resting on mood alone.

Ask for wisdom, as James says to do, and pray with an open hand.
Check the choice against what Scripture already says.
Talk with people who are wise and who will be honest with you.
Look at the open and closed doors, as Paul did in Acts 16.

When the path is unclear

Several people in the Bible were not sure what to do. Jehoshaphat said he had no idea and looked to God. Gideon asked for a sign, and Solomon asked for an understanding heart. Their honesty is a model: you can pray from uncertainty without pretending to be sure.

Guidance in the Bible is usually relational rather than mechanical. God leads people who walk with him, often one step at a time, and the clearest direction frequently comes after obedience to the last instruction.

Draw a verse and read the lines around it before applying it to a choice. For general encouragement, see the random encouraging Bible verse page, or try the Bible verse randomizer for a passage from anywhere in Scripture.

Verses in This Collection

Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Trust God fully rather than relying only on your own reasoning, and he will make your paths straight.
Psalm 32:8 – I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
God promises to instruct and counsel the one he is leading, keeping watch over him.
Psalm 119:105 – Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
God's word is compared to a lamp that lights the next steps rather than the whole road.
Psalm 25:4-5 – Shew me thy ways, O LORD ; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
David asks God to show him his ways and lead him in truth, waiting on God all day.
Psalm 25:9 – The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
God guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
Psalm 23:3 – He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
The shepherd restores the soul and leads along right paths for his name's sake.
Psalm 37:23 – The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD : and he delighteth in his way.
The Lord directs the steps of a good person and takes pleasure in his way.
Psalm 37:5 – Commit thy way unto the LORD ; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Commit your way to the Lord and trust him; the psalmist says he will act.
Psalm 48:14 – For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.
This God is our God forever and will guide us even to the end.
Psalm 73:24 – Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
After wrestling with doubts about the prosperity of the wicked, Asaph says God will guide him with counsel.
Psalm 86:11 – Teach me thy way, O LORD ; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
David asks to be taught God's way and to have an undivided heart that fears his name.
Psalm 143:8 – Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
A morning prayer asking to hear God's love and to know which way to walk.
Psalm 143:10 – Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
The psalmist asks to be taught to do God's will and led by his good Spirit on level ground.
Psalm 119:130 – The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
The unfolding of God's words gives light and understanding even to the simple.
Psalm 119:133 – Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
The psalmist asks God to direct his steps by the word so that no sin rules over him.
Psalm 16:11 – Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
God shows the path of life, and his presence brings fullness of joy.
Psalm 31:3 – For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.
David calls God his rock and fortress and asks to be led and guided for his name's sake.
Psalm 5:8 – Lead me, O LORD , in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
David prays for God to lead him in righteousness and make the way straight, because of his enemies.
Psalm 27:11 – Teach me thy way, O LORD , and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
David asks God to teach him his way and lead him on a level path because of his enemies.
Psalm 90:12 – So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
A prayer attributed to Moses: teach us to count our days so we gain a wise heart.
Psalm 119:9 – Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
A young person keeps his way pure by living according to God's word.
Psalm 139:9-10 – If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
Even at the far edge of the sea, the psalmist says God's hand will lead and hold him.
Psalm 139:23-24 – Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
The psalmist asks God to search his heart, expose anything harmful, and lead him in the everlasting way.
Psalm 121:8 – The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
The Lord guards your going out and coming in, now and forever.
Proverbs 16:9 – A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
People plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
Proverbs 16:3 – Commit thy works unto the LORD , and thy thoughts shall be established.
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
Proverbs 19:21 – There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD , that shall stand.
Many plans fill a human mind, but the Lord's purpose is what stands.
Proverbs 20:24 – Man’s goings are of the LORD ; how can a man then understand his own way?
A person's steps are from the Lord, so he cannot fully understand his own path.
Proverbs 4:18 – But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
The path of the righteous grows brighter like dawn until full daylight.
Proverbs 4:26-27 – Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
Think carefully about where your feet are going, stay steady, and keep from evil.
Proverbs 11:14 – Where no counsel is , the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Without wise guidance a nation falls, but there is safety in many advisers.
Proverbs 12:15 – The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
A fool thinks his way is right, but a wise person listens to advice.
Proverbs 15:22 – Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
Plans fail without counsel but succeed with many advisers.
Proverbs 14:12 – There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
A way can seem right to a person and still end in death, so feelings alone are unreliable.
Proverbs 2:6 – For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
The Lord gives wisdom, and knowledge and understanding come from his mouth.
Proverbs 3:7 – Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD , and depart from evil.
Don't be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn from evil.
Proverbs 3:13 – Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Happy is the person who finds wisdom and gains understanding.
Proverbs 8:11 – For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
Wisdom is personified as better than rubies, worth more than anything desired.
Proverbs 28:26 – He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
Whoever trusts his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks in wisdom is kept safe.
Proverbs 21:5 – The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
Careful planning leads to abundance, but haste leads only to poverty.
Proverbs 24:6 – For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Wise guidance is needed to wage war, and victory comes with many advisers.
Proverbs 1:5 – A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
The wise will listen and gain more learning, and the discerning will gain direction.
Isaiah 30:21 – And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
God promises that when his people turn right or left, they will hear a voice behind them saying, This is the way.
Isaiah 58:11 – And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
The Lord will guide his people continually, satisfy them in dry places, and make them like a watered garden.
Isaiah 42:16 – And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
God promises to lead the blind by unfamiliar paths and make darkness light before them.
Isaiah 48:17 – 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.
The Lord, the Redeemer, says he teaches his people what is best and directs them in the way they should go.
Isaiah 40:11 – He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
God is pictured as a shepherd who gathers lambs in his arms and gently leads the ewes with young.
Isaiah 55:8-9 – For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD . For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours, a reminder that his direction may surprise us.
Isaiah 45:2 – I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
God tells Cyrus he will go ahead of him, leveling rough places and breaking bronze gates.
Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD , thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Written to exiles in Babylon, this promises that God has plans for peace and a future with hope.
Jeremiah 10:23 – O LORD , I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
Jeremiah admits that people cannot direct their own steps without God.
Jeremiah 6:16 – Thus saith the LORD , Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein .
God tells his people to ask for the ancient paths and find rest, though they refuse.
Jeremiah 33:3 – Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
God invites Jeremiah, then in prison, to call on him and promises to reveal great things he does not know.
Jeremiah 29:13 – And ye shall seek me, and find me , when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
God promises that those who seek him with all their heart will find him.
Exodus 13:21 – And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
God led Israel out of Egypt by a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night.
Exodus 33:14 – And he said, My presence shall go with thee , and I will give thee rest.
After Israel's sin, God assures Moses that his presence will go with him and give him rest.
Deuteronomy 31:8 – And the LORD , he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Moses assures Israel that the Lord goes ahead of them, will be with them, and will not forsake them.
Joshua 1:8 – This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Joshua is told to keep God's law on his lips and meditate on it day and night, so he will act rightly and prosper.
Joshua 1:9 – Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
God commands Joshua to be strong and courageous because the Lord is with him wherever he goes.
Judges 6:36-37 – And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside , then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.
Gideon asks God for a sign with a wool fleece to confirm his calling, showing his uncertainty.
1 Kings 3:9 – Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
Solomon, newly king, asks God for an understanding heart to govern and discern right from wrong.
2 Chronicles 20:12 – O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
Facing a huge invading army, King Jehoshaphat admits he does not know what to do but looks to God.
Matthew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Jesus tells his followers to make God's kingdom and righteousness their first concern, and the rest will follow.
Matthew 7:7 – Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Jesus invites people to ask, seek, and knock, with the promise that God responds.
Matthew 7:13-14 – Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Jesus contrasts the wide road leading to destruction with the narrow road to life.
Luke 11:9-10 – And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Jesus repeats his invitation to ask, seek, and knock, saying everyone who does so receives and finds.
John 16:13 – Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Jesus promises that the Spirit of truth will guide his followers into all truth.
John 8:12 – Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Jesus calls himself the light of the world and says his followers will not walk in darkness.
John 10:27 – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Jesus says his sheep hear his voice, and he knows them, and they follow him.
John 14:6 – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus says he is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through him.
John 14:26 – But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Jesus promises the Holy Spirit will teach the disciples everything and remind them of what he said.
Acts 16:6-7 – Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
Paul and his team are redirected by the Spirit from Asia and Bithynia, an example of closed doors.
Acts 16:9-10 – And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
After a night vision of a man from Macedonia, Paul's team concludes God is calling them and goes at once.
Romans 8:14 – For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Those who are led by God's Spirit are God's children.
Romans 12:2 – And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Don't copy the world's pattern but be changed by a renewed mind, then you can discern God's will.
Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Paul assures believers that God works all things together for good for those who love him.
Galatians 5:25 – If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Since believers live by the Spirit, Paul says they should also keep in step with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:15-17 – See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is .
Paul urges believers to live carefully as wise people, making the most of time and understanding the Lord's will.
Ephesians 1:17 – That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Paul prays that God would give believers a spirit of wisdom and revelation to know him better.
Colossians 1:9 – For this cause we also, since the day we heard it , do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Paul prays that the Colossians be filled with knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Colossians 3:15 – And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Let the peace of God rule in your hearts like an umpire, as an inner guide, and be thankful.
Philippians 4:6-7 – Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Bring every worry to God in prayer with thanksgiving, and his peace will guard your heart and mind.
Philippians 1:9-10 – And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
Paul prays that love will grow in knowledge and insight so believers can discern what is best.
Philippians 2:13 – For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
God is at work in believers, giving both the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
James 1:5 – If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Anyone lacking wisdom can ask God, who gives generously without scolding.
James 1:6 – But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
The request for wisdom should be made in faith without doubting, as a doubter is tossed like a wave.
James 4:13-15 – Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
James cautions against confident business plans without recognizing life is brief and depends on the Lord's will.
1 John 2:27 – But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
John says the anointing from God remains in believers and teaches them, so they can recognize truth from error.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 – Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Test everything and hold on to what is good, a call to careful discernment.
1 Corinthians 2:12 – Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Believers have received God's Spirit so they can understand what God has freely given.
Proverbs 3:21-23 – My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
Hold on to wisdom and discretion, and you will walk securely without stumbling.
Habakkuk 2:2-3 – And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
God tells Habakkuk to write down the vision plainly and wait for its appointed time, even if it seems slow.
Micah 6:8 – He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
The Lord has shown what is good: to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.
Psalm 18:30 – As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
God's way is perfect and his word proves true, and he shields those who take refuge in him.

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Every verse on this page comes from a hand-picked list of 94 Bible verses on this theme. Each one was checked against the KJV text and comes with a short note on its context.

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