Making Decisions God's Way

Some of these decisions are huge; others are not such a big deal.  But they all involve one thing:  the individuals making the decisions desire to make the "right" decision, go down the "correct" path, do the "right" thing for their lives.

But we cannot see the future, so we do not know how things are going to turn out for us.  We have no way of knowing how one decision may effect the course of our lives, or bring us into contact with folks that we would have never met otherwise.

So how on earth do we make "good" decisions?

I suggest that we stop trying to make "good" decisions, and start making "God" decisions.  God decisions are made by people in-tune with the Lord, who know what He has already said in the Bible, and make decisions for themselves after praying about it and seeking His guidance and wisdom.  God says that wisdom is one of the absolutely BEST things that we could possibly ask Him for!

For example, if you think you have romantic feelings for a married co-worker and you pray that God will make that person leave their spouse to be with you, the answer will always be NO.  The answer will always be no, because God has stated in the Bible that marriage is a sacred union between man & wife and that He has blessed such partnerships and desires that they stay together for all eternity.  So if you ask God for such things that He has already detailed His viewpoint on as being wrong and sin, then His answer will always be no.

That is an example of a very cut & dry decision-making process.  Most decisions are NOT so easy to arrive at, and most life situations are NOT so easy to interpret.  It is for these cloudier moments & decisions that I have written this.

Something that most Christians fail to realize (and that I am always re-learning myself) is that, when you are serving Christ and staying in-touch with Him through prayer, then almost ANY decision you make will be a good one.  It will be a "good one", meaning that it is in God's plan for you, that He will use it for His good purposes (which may be much different than yours), and that He will bring you closer to Himself because of it.  God uses are decisions and life situations to teach us more about Him, to always draw us closer into an intimate relationship with Him, to bless us, and to show His overwhelming Grace & Mercy to others through our lives.

Something else that Christians fail to remember is that NOTHING is too small for God.  Meaning, that you should ask for God's help with ANYTHING & EVERYTHING, no matter how menial, how small, or how insignificant you think it may be.  God wants to be a part of your everyday, mundane life and be with you through everything, and He thinks that nothing is too small for His attention.  So ask for His help with everything, and take everything to Him in prayer, and ask Him for anything & everything that you desire.  The worst He will probably say is "no."

One of the greatest & easiest ways to decipher if I made a correct "God" decision about something is to determine if I feel a strong sense of peace about it.  The Bible says that God will give us His peace, which surpasses all understanding.  If, after praying about something and making your decision, you feel a great sense of peace come over you and stay with you, then you have probably made a great decision that God can and will work with.

What if you make a "bad" decision, or one that God did not want you to make?  Don't fret too much, because God is NOT going to simply drop you or leave you.  He will help you clean up your mess and get back on track.  Of course, He is also just, so you will have to deal with any consequences of your actions.  But He will be with you in the midst of that.  He is the Great Healer & Fixer.  Confess your wrongdoing and your sin, apologize for not asking His opinion before making that decision, and ask for His help as you move on.  He will help you and bless your efforts.  He is always with you.

So yes, I think that Christians are still very capable of making wrong or bad decisions, decisions that harm them or someone else.  But I also believe that, if you are in an intimate relationship with Christ, He will lead you & speak to you, softly nudging you along His path, which might re-route itself as you make decisions that carry you in different directions.  But you will still be in God's will and plan.

So take heart; do not stress too much, do not worry, trust God, and pick yourself back up when things go wrong.  Lean on Him and He will sustain you.