[Scripture reading for this
devotion listed below.]
Life is full of decisions. Some are choices we make
without giving them much thought; where others require significant amount of
information and processing. Every decision falls somewhere on the scale from
minor to MAJOR. That scale is unique to each individual. How those decisions
are made is also idiosyncratic with everyone having their own decision-making
style.
Some people are like crockpots. They need to gather
all the information together and let it “cook” for a long period of time before
making the final decision. Others are
like microwaves, reheat what worked in the past and make decisions quite
promptly. Pressure cooker decision
makers wait until the last minute when a decision has to be made right
now. There are also those who resemble a
cookbook. They are willing to use any of these other means just as long as they
have a very specific process to work through.
“Take Out” decision makers prefer the convenience of others making their
decisions for them. (There is a need for a little “take out” in everyone’s
lives, but it isn’t a healthy lifestyle when it comes to diet or
decision-making.) The final style is the
window shopper. These look at a lot of
options, listen to a lot of opinions, taste, pinch, and smell, but do not buy
into any of them and end up doing without or living with what happens.
Regardless of how we make decisions, there is one very
important choice that has to be made: whether or not to include God in the
process.
He wants to be included.
Read Isaiah 48:17; James 1:5; Proverbs 4:11-13; Psalm 32:8 and Jeremiah 33:3. Did you notice the word “should”
in several of these passages? He has a
preference. He knows what is, will and
can happen. He knows what is best. It
requires trusting His omniscience -
being all-knowing. But, it remains our choice.
Including God in the process requires three vital
elements:
1. Believe God has a specific will regarding this specific
decision or situation.
What you believe matters. Actually, what you believe
shapes your view of EVERYTHING. When you
believe He has a specific will, you will begin to involve God in the process of
discerning it. If you believe it doesn’t
matter to Him, you won’t bother involving Him.
It is as simple as that. What you
believe is a choice. You will think, act and ask accordingly. Really asking
requires an act of submissive faith – believing that God alone has what we
need. It is an act of truly partnering with Him in the details of our lives.
2. Want what pleases Him.
This
is nailing down the motive behind including God’s will in the process. We want
the result to be pleasing. The question is: Pleasing to whom? What God wills
may not always be what we would call “pleasing.” However, when you know Him,
really know Him, you are not intimidated by His doing what pleases Him. Read
Psalm 135:5,6. What pleases Him is glory
and grace. Glory is who He is and grace is His manifesting it in our lives and
situations. When pleasing Him is important
in our lives (Colossians 1:9,10; Hebrews 13:20,21; 2 Corinthians 5:9), then His
will has to be given priority at the ground level of our decision-making
process. It means giving His pleasure
precedence over our own desires, wants and even needs.
3. Sincerely ask and then listen with the intent to fully
obey.
There needs to be a pre-submission to obey regardless the cost,
discomfort or inconvenience. If we are simply asking to decide, don’t expect
God to bother telling us what He would like us to do. He knows the secrets of
our hearts (Psalm 44:21) and the intent of our thoughts (1 Chronicles 28:9). He is worthy of more respect then
being just an option. (Malachi 1:6) If we are going to call ourselves “His
servants,” we have to be ready and willing to move at the slightest expression
of His will. (Psalm 123:2) The proof we are ready to
know and do His will is that we are already actively obeying. (1 John 3:21,22)
Seeking God’s will really isn’t all that complicated. Often just
putting into action these three vital elements will enable us to discern what
He wants us to do, and enable our making the right choice in each and every
decision. In partnership with Him, we
never have to make another decision on our own.
Making It Personal
What are some of the decision you are in the process of
making?
- Where do they fall on the scale from minor to MAJOR?
- Do you believe God has a preference in regards to that specific decision?
- If you are not including Him in the process, what do you truly believe?
Whom do you ultimately want to be pleased by the decision you make?
- How would or does prioritizing the Lord’s pleasure radically change your decision-making process?
- What does it mean to want His pleasure even more than having your very real need met?
God has a wonderful plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11),
but He prefers to reveal it step by step as you walk by faith in partnership
with Him. Have you already done
everything He has asked you to do? If
not, what is your first step? (Deuteronomy 4:29)
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If needed, the following guidelines may also be helpful in
discerning God’s will:
1. Qualify what you feel is being revealed with whom you
know that He is.
2. Look for the next step, not the entire blueprint.
5. Conduct your search in partnership with the Holy Spirit.
(2 Timothy 3:16,17)
6. Freely use all the resources the Lord makes available to
you.
7. Seek godly advice from people of integrity. (Mark 12:14)
[Note: You do not want to know what they think you should do, but what they
believe God would have you do, backed with prayer and God’s word.]
8. Don’t underestimate godly desires. (Psalm 37:4)
[Note: the characteristics of godly wisdom also applies to godly
desires. (James 3:17)]
9. If necessary, seek confirmation from God. Often referred to as “putting out a fleece”
from Judges 6-8. [Note: Purpose is to
confirm and obey specifically, not to decide if you are going to obey.]
10.Watch for an opportunity to take the first step.
11.Wait for peace of the assured presence and empowerment of
God. [Note: It will not be the peace of this world (John 14:27) that comes from having a workable plan, superior power, control or lack
of conflict or concern.] (Philippians 4:6,7)
12.When God is silent, trust His timing and wait. (Isaiah 50:10,11)
