We tend to seek God's guidance generally but not specifically; vocally but not mentally; ritually but not actually. Regardless of our protestations, and even of what we think are our intentions, we tend in actuality to do what we think (or hope) that God will think is best. Seeking God's guidance is of little value unless it is a continuous, conscious process, applied to every detail of every decision. The flesh is like a powerful
spring: though compressed, it will immediately re-extend the moment the pressure is relaxed. It is common to dutifully "seek God's guidance" at the inauguration of a process of action (compressing the spring), and then immediately to relax the spring and act according to our own "best judgment" -- presuming that therein God is guiding us. This is a complete fallacy. Even the utterly fleshly U.S. Congress does this: ostentatiously intoning a solemn prayer for Divine guidance at each opening session, then putting the flesh completely in charge for the rest of the way. To seek God's guidance is: (1) to continually study the Word with the sincere, conscious intention of applying it in detail to our lives; and (2) to appeal to Him in silent prayer in EVERY detail -- fully conscious that our own natural fleshly thinking is utterly undependable even momentarily, and realizing that if God does not guide us step-by-step and moment-by-moment, we shall never do anything right or worthwhile. We do not break the process down finely enough. We assume periodic spurts of guidance will keep us on track. But God's guidance is not like momentum which when set in motion will continue thereafter. Rather it is like electric power which stops immediately the circuit is broken.

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