The Scripture says to acknowledge God in all your ways, and He will direct your paths. In another place it says, "Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you." Most guidance happens without you being aware of it while you are seeking to walk in the fruit of the Spirit, reading the Bible, praying, fellowshipping with other Christians, and being up front about your Christian faith in front of those in the world. It is only when you get your eyes off Christ and start to wander off the path that you hit the "electric fence" of conviction and correction. Paul knew that when he wanted to go into Asia and the Holy Spirit prevented him. There are no references where it says that He ever asked the Lord where he should go to preach and plant churches. He made up his own mind, but when the Holy Spirit didn't want him to go somewhere, it was made obvious to him. It is the same with us. It is like having a green, amber, red light in our system. We seem to sense when something is right and good, and then at other times we sense a caution and so we are careful in our consideration. At other times there is a definite "red light" where we just know that this is not a place where we should be, or a direction in which we should go. It is usually when, through our self will, that we ignore the amber or red light and then wonder why things are turning to custard.