Key verse: psalm 25:12 | Who is the man that fears the Lord?
Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.
Supporting Scriptures: Psalm 25:3; 27:14; 62:1; 119:105 | Proverbs 1:7 Isaiah 9:7 | Matthew 7:7 | Acts 16:31 | Romans 10:9 | 2 Corinthians 6:2 | Colossians 3:15 | 1 John 1:9; 5:14
Introduction:
Christians can face difficult decisions with confidence knowing God is willing to give them clear direction in every situation.
However, those who fail to seek or wait for His guidance will experience uncertainty, confusion, and frustration. Sometimes, the fear of making wrong choices or feelings of inadequacy prevent many people from taking advantage of wonderful opportunities.
Others miss out because they rush ahead of God’s timing and just hope everything works out for the best.
Life is a continuous chain of decisions—some of which are irreversible—and that’s why we need divine guidance.
Many times, our present circumstances are the result of past choices, and our futures will be determined by the decisions we make today.
Our loved ones, friends, and co-workers are all affected by what we choose. We desperately need God’s wisdom to direct us.
What are Some Important Decisions that Can Transform our Lives?
The following six steps will help you discern God’s direction no matter what situation you are facing.
1. CLEAR THE WAY:
In order to hear the Lord’s voice, you must remove all obstacles by clearing your heart. You can’t expect to hear from the Lord if you’re tolerating sin in your life.
Any wrong attitude or action must be removed before you can proceed because sin clouds your mind just like fog obstructs your view of the highway.
Ask God if there’s anything in your life that doesn’t fit who you are as a follower of Christ. If He reveals a specific sin, confess and repent of it immediately.
You must also bring your desires to a point of neutrality. There will be times when what you want in a situation is not in line with what the Lord desires.
The only way you’ll receive His guidance is by submitting to Him. When you can honestly say that you desire His will to be done more than your own, He’ll provide the clear direction you need.
2. Trust the Lord
Some decisions are urgent—at least from a human perspective. However, demanding an immediate answer from God is a sign of distrust. Patience requires a willingness to trust the Lord and submit to His timing. Instead of jumping ahead and making
a rash decision, slow down and evaluate your situation from God’s perspective.
Does this choice fit the principles of Scripture? Does it look like something the Lord would choose? Psalm 25:3 says that those who wait for the Lord will not be ashamed.
3. Be alert to pressure
When seeking the Lord’s direction, be careful not to let anyone or anything persuade you to choose a path other than God’s. Be especially cautious of external pressures. Sometimes, people don’t understand why you’re waiting, and they may offer bad advice or push you to make a decision and move ahead.
Instead of giving in and making choices that are in conflict with God’s will, fill your mind with His Word. That way, you’ll be able to discern if the advice aligns with His desires. If you don’t have clarity from the Lord, it’s always best to wait.
Other times, pressure to make a decision is internal. Fear of losing an opportunity may cause you to get involved in a harmful situation or a wrong relationship instead of waiting on God’s guidance. Or the dread of rejection or criticism may prompt you to make a choice based on emotions rather than His will.
The truth is that anyone who lives a godly life will be excluded or misunderstood at times. God may lead you to a decision nobody else will understand, but if you take the first step of obedience, His blessings will follow.
4. Persist in prayer
Just because you don’t receive an immediate answer from the Lord, it doesn’t mean He isn’t listening. The purpose of persistent prayer is not to force God to do what you want but for you to see the situation from His perspective.
As you wait, He deepens your relationship with Him and deals with the issues in your life that are preventing you from growing spiritually or being prepared for what He has in mind. You may not understand what He’s doing at the time, but one day, you’ll look back and thank Him for His perfect timing.
5. Rest in God’s promises
In order to discover what the Lord wants you to do in a situation, you must believe in His promises. He assures us He’ll always answer the prayers of those who ask, seek, and knock (Matt. 7:7).
And if you faithfully read the Word each day, the Holy Spirit will lead you to verses that can guide you in any situation. If you don’t know where to look, begin by reading in Psalms and Proverbs, asking God to speak directly to your heart.
Remember, His Word is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Ps. 119:105). If you fill your mind with the Lord’s thoughts each day, you’ll be able to make any decision.
6. Dwell in God’s Peace
The last step in the decision-making process is to let the peace of Christ act as your umpire. He will tell you whether or not you’re “safe” in your choice, and there will be no doubt about it. When the direction is from God, His peace will enter your heart and mind (Col. 3:15). This is the evidence that you are following His path. There are no longer worries or struggles to deal with— just confident assurance.
CONCLUSION:
When you’re faced with a decision and don’t know what to do, remember that God’s Word is His primary method of speaking to His people. The Scriptures address many issues, but if the one you’re looking for isn’t clearly discussed in the Bible, you can still receive guidance by humbly seeking the Lord in prayer and asking the Holy Spirit to help you apply scriptural principles to your particular circumstance.
When you patiently wait to hear His voice and heed His instructions, you can make a confident decision knowing that God has given you clear direction. Though others may not understand your choice or argue against it, you can face them with Christ’s perfect peace in your heart.