Purposes and plans are established by counsel; and [only] with good advice make or carry on war. Proverbs 20:18 (AMPC)
It takes direction or advice to make the right decision or course of action. This is what counsel is all about. However not all counsel is good or useful. There’s ungodly counsel-See Psalms 1:1
This is foolish counsel because it totally disregards and denounces God and we know a fool says in his heart that there’s no God. Psalms 14:1.
Job’s wife offered him this ungodly, foolish counsel.
During Job’s suffering the wife told him to curse God and die and he replied “you talk like one of the foolish women” Job 2:9, 10
Ungodly counsel says all you need to make it in life is your hand and brain, you don’t need God. It also sees other people as objects to be used and discarded. This kind of counsel leads to destruction.
A certain group of people acting on ungodly counsel lured the children of Israel to sin against God causing a deadly plague to hit the Israelites.
Numbers 31:16 (AMPC) Behold, these caused the Israelites by the counsel of Balaam to trespass and act treacherously against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and so a [smiting] plague came among the congregation of the Lord.
However there’s godly counsel. This is God’s counsel or the counsel of the Most High.
This is the good counsel we are looking at here. This counsel stands forever
Psalms 33:11 (NKJV) The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.
The person who walks in or acts on godly counsel is like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. Psalms 1:3 (NKJV)
Godly counsel leads to safety, life, fruitfulness and prosperity.
How do I walk in good counsel? How do I tell that this is godly counsel?
Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMPC) Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.
Find out what the Word of God says concerning the thing you want to do, take time to meditate on that Word. Pray to God about every decision you plan to make trusting Him to lead you. Spend time giving thanks to God. Listen to your heart; especially watch out for that inward peace. Practice these things and you’ll always be able to recognize and walk in good counsel, you will always operate in godly counsel.