Decisions, decisions, decisions!!! Life's full of them, big and small. You have to make choices on everything from the items you purchase at the retail store to which combo meal you will select at the fast food restaurant to what career change you may feel led to make. Every day is chock-full of moments of decision that await your choice.
So how do you know how to make the right decision? Specifically, how can you know that the choices you make (especially the big ones) are glorifying to our Lord and will put you in a place where you can continue to experience His blessings?
Here are a few action points that I've discovered enable me to discover what choice God would have me make:
1. Get Rid of Sin
If you want to hear from the Lord, you've got to do the necessary work of confessing every known sin. God won't honor you with a Word from Him if you aren't honoring Him with a clean life.
“Indeed, the LORD’s hand is not too short to save, and His ear is not too deaf to hear. But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have made Him hide His face from you so that He does not listen.” (Isaiah 59:1-2)
2. Dig Into God’s Word
The way that God primarily speaks to us is through His Word. If you want to hear from Him, pick up your Bible. It contains a wealth of divine instruction. Use some of the study helps to see if there is a text that addresses your specific issue or a timeless principle that sheds light on your decision.
“Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
3. Spend Much Time in Prayer
You need to bring your request before your Heavenly Father. In prayer, acknowledge your dependence upon Him. Acknowledge Him as the One who knows all things and will work all things out for your ultimate good. Realize that He has a perfect will and desires to make it clear to you. Believe that He will honor your prayerful request for wisdom concerning His will in His time.
“During those days He went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God. When daylight came, He summoned His disciples, and He chose 12 of them--He also named them apostles:” (Luke 6:12-13)
4. Rely on the Holy Spirit
If you have received the gift of eternal life, the Holy Spirit resides inside of you (Romans 8:9). Of the many duties the Holy Spirit will carry out in you, one is to reveal and guide you into truth (correct thinking). This is essentially what we're looking for when we need to make a major decision.
“I still have many things to tell you, but you can't bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come.” (John 16:12-13)
5. Obtain Wise Counsel
Don’t allow spiritual pride to undermine a valuable resource God has provided to you. Almost certainly, you are surrounded by at least a few Christians who have some wisdom they could impart to you. Share your thoughts and questions with a few other select peers … and then listen.
“A fool's way is right in his own eyes, but whoever listens to counsel is wise.” (Proverbs 12:15)
6. Observe Your Circumstances
Often, discovering God's will is as simple as looking around you. What's He doing in your life? What’s God doing around you? The answer may not be so difficult to ascertain after all.
“A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)
7. Question: Do You Have Inner Peace?
It seems as if the moment we realize what God's will is, we will have a sense of peace about the decision. The fretting that may have characterized our searching heart is gone. We are at peace with the decision and have a sense within our spirit that God has made His will clear to us.
“Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
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