Recently, I shared with a servant of God a standard practice whenever I am in need of guidance. In the absence of direct “thus saith the Lord”, I would normally list the options open to me. I would proceed to check the pros and cons of each option while thinking them through and at the same time praying. God guides His people through various methods, including their thoughts. Even if our thought does not provide complete guidance, it may form the foundation from where God will pick us up. That was what happened to Joseph. He was mindful of cutting ties with Mary, but nothing was to be done hurriedly. He gave considerable thought to his plan. It was then that the Holy Spirit interrupted his plan and urged him not to break off from Mary. Thinking through the options was all the opportunity God needed to speak to him.

The more we get our minds purified, and the more we study to be quiet, the quicker it is for the Spirit of the Lord to invade our thoughts with divine ideas, concepts, and solutions to the questions we face.

In our text, Peter did not immediately comprehend the meaning of the trance which he saw. He fixed his thoughts on this rather strange revelation, trying to decode it. It was while he also was thinking through that the Spirit of the Lord latched to his thoughts and gave him direction. It has been my own experience in many cases that the thoughts I take during or immediately after prayers have always indicated the direction of the Lord. The more we get our minds purified, and the more we study to be quiet, the quicker it is for the Spirit of the Lord to invade our thoughts with divine ideas, concepts, and solutions to the questions we face.