One of the greatest gifts God has given us is the power to choose. In fact, every day we are faced with literally hundreds of choices. The question is, “Are we making the right ones?”
I love Proverbs 3:5-6. It says, Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way) (AMP).
If you are anything like me, you know how easy it is to “rely on your own insight.” However, just because something might sound good, feel good, and look like the right thing to do, it doesn’t mean it’s God’s best for you or necessarily the right direction to take.
The good news is, we were never meant to face decisions on our own. God wants to help us make right choices every step of the way, and I want to share four steps with you that you can take to making a right decision.
1. Find wisdom in God’s Word.
First and foremost, God has given us His Word. It is alive, active, and powerful (see Hebrews 4:12). In fact, Jesus is called “the Word made flesh” (John 1:14). So, when we read and study the Bible, we’re not just reading a good book; we are actually spending time with God Himself!
The Bible is the instruction manual for our daily lives. It is filled with His wisdom, truths, stories, and parables to instruct us in every area. In it, we can find help for our behavior and our relationships with God and others. We can learn how to grow spiritually, to discern right from wrong, find information about His plan for our lives, and so much more.
The more we read, study, and fill our minds with God’s Word, the more intimately acquainted we become with Him and the easier it becomes to hear His voice when we need to make a decision.
2. Let the Holy Spirit lead you.
Another way God helps us make decisions is through the leading of His Holy Spirit. Look at what Jesus said to His disciples: But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth [full and complete truth]. For He will not speak on His own initiative, but He will speak whatever He hears [from the Father—the message regarding the Son], and He will disclose to you what is to come [in the future] (John 16:13 AMP).
The Holy Spirit wants to “guide you into all the truth.” And it’s not just about the big stuff. He wants to help guide you in every little detail of your life. When we encounter various situations in life that require His wisdom and direction, the Holy Spirit will help remind us of what God’s Word says to do. You can trust Him to lead you and help you make the best decision possible.
3. Follow peace.
One way we can be certain we are hearing from God about the decisions we are making is to follow peace. Colossians 3:15 shares one of the most important principles we can learn about making good decisions. It says, “And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds....” (AMPC).
This verse is telling us to use peace as an umpire to help make decisions. Now, I’m not a big sports fan, but I think it’s helpful to look at the umpire in a baseball game as an example. Part of the umpire’s job is to decide what is “safe” and what is “out.” Peace is God’s way of telling us what things are “safe” for us and what things we should leave out. In every area of your life, always make it your goal to follow the peace of God.
4. Step out and find out.
Don’t be afraid to step out and do what’s in your heart. I remember one particular day when I was trying to make a decision about moving forward in a certain area. I believed the Lord was leading me to step out, but I still had doubts. I didn’t want to take that step unless I was 100 percent certain it was God.
As I was praying about the decision, I said, “But God, what if I step out and it’s the wrong thing? What if I miss Your will?” I’ll never forget what He spoke to my heart that day. He said, “Joyce, if you miss Me, I can find you!”
God is greater than your mistakes! If you’re seeking Him and doing the best you know how—if you step out in faith, believing wholeheartedly that God wants you to do something, He’ll always be faithful to take your mistake and work it out for your good in the end (see Romans 8:28).
When we are faced with a difficult situation or have a hard decision to make, it’s so comforting to know we don’t have to figure it out on our own. We can go to God and ask for His wisdom and direction, and He will help us know what to do.
Joyce Meyer
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