Do set the rules clearly in your mind before praying and asking that the Lord's hand be upon this toss. For example, should you drop the coin, is that going to count or are you going to pick it up and flip again? Are you going to flip it over onto the back of your other hand or are you going to catch it in your open palm? God reads your heart and goes from there, so just be aware of what you are going to do and what "counts" as a correct flip. By the way, this isn't to let God know anything. He already knows. It only lets you know what counts as a correct flip and what doesn't.

Do not restrict God's ability to help you by limiting Him in your questions. As your desire to hear His will increases (over time), He will be able to speak to your heart, clarifying His answer. Sometimes you may want to ask, "Is this question okay to ask?" And if it isn't, ask it another way. Or don't ask it at all.

Do not confuse casting of lots, which has God's approval throughout the Word (as a method of getting His present answer), with fortune telling of any kind. (Review Deuteronomy 18:9-14). Don't use it like an "eight ball."

Do not ask about whether you should have done something in another way. This is not about dwelling in the past, either. Just now, as I was writing this, I asked Him in my usual way if, indeed, we could bring up the past and ask questions using the casting of the lot, so that we might learn from our mistakes. No. I'm inspired to say, "Don't worry about lessons you may have missed from the past. You can trust that God will deliver those lessons again in digestible amounts. Your only responsibility is to bring God into your present and allow Him full access to your life. He will not leave you comfortless!"

Do not be afraid to have a close relationship with God, through Jesus Christ. Do not feel unworthy because through Jesus, you are worthy now. He sees His Son in you and smiles. Once (or more times), I flipped the coin prayerfully, but forgot the question. I could almost hear God laughing as He refreshed my memory. He loves us with the love of our "Daddy" and He enjoys His children. Do not be so stoic and formal with Him. Let your hair down and speak with Him as you would your dearest friend, for He is that. Yesterday I asked Him if we could go to a certain restaurant nearby (that we truly enjoy) and the flipped coin slipped under a fold in a blanket on the couch. I lifted the fold and was shown heads (Yes). I felt as if He wanted me to unwrap the gift so His Yes could be given to me joyfully, in that way.

Do use this method to ask Him if you need to say anything to anyone with regard to correcting them. God is probably already working with this person's heart and He may need you to back off and pray daily for him instead. The best correction any of us can have is the one given within us by the Holy Spirit. Following God's Golden Rule, since this is the type of correction we desire, allow God to correct others in this way as much as possible.

Do recognize what gibberish could mean. Gibberish is when we prayerfully toss a coin and through a series of questions, discover that the answers are illogical or contradictory to us. Take it before Him in prayer and from the depths of your heart, ask for clarification. The following are ideas as to what lot casting that does not make logical sense may mean:

• Yes means go ahead with it. No means don't go ahead with it. There is no coin side that says, "Wait on Me." I have found that when two questions are asked in which the answers from the Lord contradict one another, it is best to "Wait on the Lord" for clarification. His time frame may not coincide with ours. It's a good practice to let your first question be, "May I ask this or shall I wait upon You?" In addition, I have a few good illustrations in this book of when God was telling me great stuff, but my mind could not comprehend what He was saying. Later, I did understand and was grateful.

• It could also mean that the Lord has temporarily turned His face away from us due to the way we've treated someone, or due to our arrogance (our lack of a contrite or humble spirit). In this case, repent to the Lord, literally or figuratively falling, face down before Him. Actively pray to retrieve your humble spirit and the Lord will leap back to your side. God is disgusted with our arrogance.

• No matter what the cause of the gibberish, never fear, He will bring understanding and, as we do our part to stay humble and love His other children, treating them as we treat ourselves, as promised, He will never leave us.