Decision Making With God’s Help

Do you ever have trouble making decisions?  I think we all struggle at times to know what is the right thing to do.  Thankfully, God has given us several ways to look to Him to help us know the right course of action.

God’s word is there for us to rely on in a very practical way.  Looking to the truths, commands and values expressed in Scripture helps us to know what God’s will for us will be in a specific situation.  By understanding how to look to the Bible for help, we can make better decisions and be more confident in the choices we make.

First thing to remember is that God’s leading will always follow and not contradict a clear principle of Scripture.  The Bible teaches that God never lies, so we can rely on His word as the truth.  For example, if a husband is tempted to leave his wife for an affair, it should be clear that this would not be God’s will, as God states that he hates divorce (Malachi 2:16).  By looking to Scriptural principles, we can eliminate many wrong choices.

The second thing is to realize that our purpose is to bring honor and glory to God.  When decision making is not so much right or wrong, but more about better or best choice, the decision that leads to God’s glory, rather than boosting our self is usually the correct one.  While God may lead us to choices that are for our benefit, the motivation for our choices should be God’s glory, not our own pride of sense of accomplishment.

Third, the Bible encourages us to seek godly counsel.  Many times, our Christian brothers and sisters and our church will have insight that is desperately needed in critical decisions.  Seeking the advice of trustworthy advisers who can bring a Biblical perspective and speak honestly with us can help us see what we might be missing.  The confirmation of multiple sources of counsel can often point us in the right direction.

Finally, committing all decisions to prayer is a must.  Proverbs 3:5-6 reads, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Seeking God’s will in everything shows our dependence on God and our trust and faith in his wisdom.  Even when the problem we face is clear, seeking the Lord for the “how” of approaching decisions is important.

In 1 Chronicles 14:8-17, King David was faced with battling the enemy army of the Philistines.  Although David knew he would have to fight, he still chose to ask the Lord for direction.  In the first skirmish, David attacked head on and defeated the Philistines.  After a while, though, the Philistines regrouped and attacked again.  Rather than just charge into battle, David asked the Lord first what to do.  This time, the Lord advised David to circle and attack them from beyond, again achieving victory.

By seeking God’s direction, even when we know what lies in front of us, we allow God to help us make the best decision.  By submitting to His will and seeking His truth, we can use God’s word and our relationship with him to help us achieve the best path for our lives.