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God's Guidance: A Slow and Certain Light with Study Guide
God's Guidance will not show you how to find God's will in six easy steps. Instead, Elisabeth Elliot invites you to draw closer to God so you can walk in His light. Here is a practical book to fortify your faith when coming to God for the answers to life.
192 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1992
About the author
Elisabeth Elliot
126 books1,915 followersFrom the Author's Web Site: My parents were missionaries in Belgium where I was born. When I was a few months old, we came to the U.S. and lived in Germantown, not far from Philadelphia, where my father became an editor of the Sunday School Times. Some of my contemporaries may remember the publication which was used by hundreds of churches for their weekly unified Sunday School teaching materials.
Our family continued to live in Philadelphia and then in New Jersey until I left home to attend Wheaton College. By that time, the family had increased to four brothers and one sister. My studies in classical Greek would one day enable me to work in the area of unwritten languages to develop a form of writing.
A year after I went to Ecuador, Jim Elliot, whom I had met at Wheaton, also entered tribal areas with the Quichua Indians. In nineteen fifty three we were married in the city of Quito and continued our work together. Jim had always hoped to have the opportunity to enter the territory of an unreached tribe. The Aucas were in that category -- a fierce group whom no one had succeeded in meeting without being killed. After the discovery of their whereabouts, Jim and four other missionaries entered Auca territory. After a friendly contact with three of the tribe, they were speared to death.
Our daughter Valerie was 10 months old when Jim was killed. I continued working with the Quichua Indians when, through a remarkable providence, I met two Auca women who lived with me for one year. They were the key to my going in to live with the tribe that had killed the five missionaries. I remained there for two years.
After having worked for two years with the Aucas, I returned to the Quichua work and remained there until 1963 when Valerie and I returned to the U.S.
Since then, my life has been one of writing and speaking. It also included, in 1969, a marriage to Addison Leitch, professor of theology at Gordon Conwell Seminary in Massachusetts. He died in 1973. After his death I had two lodgers in my home. One of them married my daughter, the other one, Lars Gren, married me. Since then we have worked together.
Our family continued to live in Philadelphia and then in New Jersey until I left home to attend Wheaton College. By that time, the family had increased to four brothers and one sister. My studies in classical Greek would one day enable me to work in the area of unwritten languages to develop a form of writing.
A year after I went to Ecuador, Jim Elliot, whom I had met at Wheaton, also entered tribal areas with the Quichua Indians. In nineteen fifty three we were married in the city of Quito and continued our work together. Jim had always hoped to have the opportunity to enter the territory of an unreached tribe. The Aucas were in that category -- a fierce group whom no one had succeeded in meeting without being killed. After the discovery of their whereabouts, Jim and four other missionaries entered Auca territory. After a friendly contact with three of the tribe, they were speared to death.
Our daughter Valerie was 10 months old when Jim was killed. I continued working with the Quichua Indians when, through a remarkable providence, I met two Auca women who lived with me for one year. They were the key to my going in to live with the tribe that had killed the five missionaries. I remained there for two years.
After having worked for two years with the Aucas, I returned to the Quichua work and remained there until 1963 when Valerie and I returned to the U.S.
Since then, my life has been one of writing and speaking. It also included, in 1969, a marriage to Addison Leitch, professor of theology at Gordon Conwell Seminary in Massachusetts. He died in 1973. After his death I had two lodgers in my home. One of them married my daughter, the other one, Lars Gren, married me. Since then we have worked together.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
September 26, 2014
Read this for a women's Bible study in 1997. I really don't remember a lot about the book. I enjoyed the study and remember it was one of those studies that hit me just at the right time, after the birth of my oldest daughter. One thing that has stuck with me over the years, is Elliot's quote, "DO THE NEXT THING." Amazing how such a simple little phrase has pulled me through so many times of feeling overwhelmed over the years. It's a phrase I try to live by. Helps me keep plugging away, when it seems there is just too much to be done.
April 22, 2021
Really good stuff but sometimes she can be long-winded with too many examples or stories.
July 1, 2012
Great reminders on how God reveals His plan for us. Main truth: If your heart is set to obey God, He will guide you where He wants you to go.
February 19, 2022
Wow, such a good read in the midst of transition and unknown. Elisabeth tells it to you straight haha. I also love all of her biblical examples, so encouraging!
September 10, 2012
This was not my favorite E. Eliot book, but everything she writes is very good. The whole idea of the book is that we draw closer to God so we can confidently walk in His light, one step at a time.
She had the best explanation for fasting ever. I find fasting just makes me obsessed with thinking of food. She says: "I like to eat, and fasting is not a good way of getting one's mind off food, but it is a way of deliberately putting one's mind on one thing (God) because you are reminded every minute of the other thing (food)."
Quotes:
"I like to picture the Lord handing me a platter at the beginning each day. On it are the things He has chosen as best for me, and my prayer for daily bread is answered. My part is to receive whatever He gives."
"We ought to be willing to allow God to do 'special' things for us if he wants to and to accept them quietly, confident that whatever He does fits into the working out of His purposes for us all."
She had the best explanation for fasting ever. I find fasting just makes me obsessed with thinking of food. She says: "I like to eat, and fasting is not a good way of getting one's mind off food, but it is a way of deliberately putting one's mind on one thing (God) because you are reminded every minute of the other thing (food)."
Quotes:
"I like to picture the Lord handing me a platter at the beginning each day. On it are the things He has chosen as best for me, and my prayer for daily bread is answered. My part is to receive whatever He gives."
"We ought to be willing to allow God to do 'special' things for us if he wants to and to accept them quietly, confident that whatever He does fits into the working out of His purposes for us all."
June 4, 2012
Elliot begins with a brief discussion of the model prayer. This sets the stage for why we pray. Elliot then discuss what God has promised then she talks about the conditions for hearing our prayers. The first condition is recognition of God himself. Believing that God means what He says is the second condition. Then comes obdience of faith; we go with Him. She says "There is a sense in which the objective toward which God leads is not separable from the means by which he will lead us there." She talks of God leading by both supernatural and by natural means. This was a very good book.
August 27, 2013
I found this book tucked away on a bottom shelf in the library at the church I work at. I love reading Elisabeth Elliot anyway and I was eager to find something or someone that would help me with discerning God's will for my life (who isn't?). I needed to read that book in that specific season. While I didn't ascertain the specific path that God is leading me down from that book (that would be unrealistic), I did learn a lot about HOW God leads and directs. We serve a mighty and loving God. How sweet to become better acquainted!
I would recommend this one.
I would recommend this one.
March 8, 2008
Elisabeth doesn’t give you any “quick fix directions” or a certain formula for finding God’s will for your life but rather offers sound biblical advice. The main key is to draw closer to God, putting our trust fully in Him, so we can walk confidently wherever He chooses.But also to not disregard the common sense the Lord has given us. She also shows the means on how God led men and women in the Bible.
August 4, 2012
Wonderful book about discerning God's plan for your life, keeping in mind the Promises, Conditions, Objectives, and Means of accomplishing His will. I do wish she would have used the King James Bible for scripture quotations, but overall, Elisabeth's observations and spiritual insights were wonderful. I very much enjoyed her liberal employment of Lewis and MacDonald quotes and look forward to reading more books by her.
January 4, 2009
I read this book when I was a sophomore in high school. I then did the study that went with it. Since then, I have reread the book/study at least 6 times and have lead it as a study. It's full of wisdom and truth. My relationship with God is much deeper and much more personal having read this book.
June 27, 2010
Quoting the review from the book - " This book will not show you how to find God's will in 6 easy steps. Instead, it invites you to draw closer to God so you can walk in His light, confidently, 1 step at a time. This is a practical book to confirm and inspire your continued faith when coming to God for the 'big' and 'little' answers to life."
September 16, 2016
Elisabeth Elliot. Enough said, really. There is no other Christian author whose writing and speaking reminds me so well that God is sovereign. That knowledge puts everything into perspective and is more than enough to give me the "peace that passes understanding."
December 28, 2007
A different perspective on God's will by studying the Lord's prayer.
April 23, 2012
Probably one of the most overlooked and helpful books on guidance ever written.
July 28, 2022
There was some wisdom I was able to glean from this book, but I had a hard time getting past the sexist language and mindset of the author. Rather disappointing.
July 14, 2012
This wasn't my favorite book by Elliot, but that's like saying one of the Harry Potter books isn't my favorite... I still love it, its just an A+ instead of an A++. As always, Elliot is so rooted in the truth of Scripture that you finish her book knowing God better than you did when you started it. Practical, encouraging, and illuminating are the three words I would use to describe this book. If you're looking for a 3 step program to discern God's will this isn't it, but if you're earnestly seeking to know who God is and how He reveals His will, this book is for you. I came away so encouraged and so content based on Elliot's teachings.
June 15, 2010
I must admit to being a little disappointed with this book. Don't misunderstand me; the book is good, just not what I was expecting.
Aside from that, this book blessed me by reminding me that God is guiding me in the here and now.
"It was in the ordinary course that the extraordinary happened" Elizabeth Eliot: God's Guidance
Aside from that, this book blessed me by reminding me that God is guiding me in the here and now.
"It was in the ordinary course that the extraordinary happened" Elizabeth Eliot: God's Guidance
October 27, 2012
i really enjoyed reading this book, it encouraged me to start where i am, i wait for the right time in life to start, now is the time.
i found this book interesting an easy to understand book, took me a while to read as i let things sink in a bit, it is not a book to sit and read all in one day that is for sure, you might miss something important.
i found this book interesting an easy to understand book, took me a while to read as i let things sink in a bit, it is not a book to sit and read all in one day that is for sure, you might miss something important.
May 21, 2014
I did not like the format of this Bible study (ie-having all the questions lumped together at the end of the book-they should have been scatterd throughout the study). The content was pretty good-she does go through a list of different ways God can reveal His Will to you at the end of the book(ie-signs, advice from friends, Scriptures, angelic visitors, etc...)
August 14, 2016
A Slow and Certain Light: Some thoughts on the guidance of God
Found a copy of the book on our shelves and started reading it. Elisabeth Elliot writes simply and profoundly, with the grace of one who has been through the furnace. There are no shortcuts to knowledge to be found here, just a reliance on the slow and certain light. It rings true. Well worth reading.
Found a copy of the book on our shelves and started reading it. Elisabeth Elliot writes simply and profoundly, with the grace of one who has been through the furnace. There are no shortcuts to knowledge to be found here, just a reliance on the slow and certain light. It rings true. Well worth reading.
October 1, 2012
This book was ok, but not my favorite of Elliot's. On this particular topic I would more readily recommend JI Packer's book 'Guard Us, Guide Us, Divine Leading in Life's Decisions' Packer's book is more helpful in my opinion & a lot more in depth.
Want to read
January 9, 2009Just got from Amazon - but am really excited to read.
Read
January 10, 2011is ok !!!
November 2, 2011
Just started reading this book as part of our morning Bible reading with the kids.
January 28, 2012
O carte despre calauzirea lui Dumnezeu, scrisa din experientele autoarei si din cele scrise in Biblie, nu contine o reteta pe care s`o urmezi si sa afli voia Lui. Merita o improspatare a memoriei:)
November 16, 2017
An excellent, quick read, full of perceptive insights. I especially enjoyed the first chapter on the Lord's Prayer.
January 2, 2013
very inspirational
December 28, 2013
The first chapter was really good. But as you continue on, Elisabeth seams to lose her train of thought. Also repeating herself.
August 5, 2015
Excellent.
November 28, 2015
Probably good advice, but not an easy read. Would need to read again when I have more time to reflect.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews