Decision Making

As we trust God to give us wisdom for today's decisions, He will lead us a step at a time into what He wants us to be doing in the future.  Theodore Epp

At one time or another in our lives we will be faced with making important decisions.  How we go about this process can mean the difference between success or failure. 

For many years I made decisions based on feelings.  Instead of looking at it from a heavenly perspective, I would make a decision on how I felt at the time.  You know the ones I am talking about.  You are working in a job you hate and one day you get enough and you start thinking that leaving will be the answer to all your problems.  As you can guess this wasn’t a great way to go about making decisions.  By decisions in this instance, I mean life changing decisions.  Where you will work and live, how many children you will have and even what kind of treatment in medical decisions.

If we know and understand that God has a plan for our life; the very first thing we should do when faced with making a decision is turn to God.  He is the best source for all of the life changing decisions and His resource, the Bible, is the best Book for guidance that you will ever read.  If you don’t go to His resource first; how will you know you are making the right decision?  Too many times we take the decision making out of God’s hands and into ours and we often make mistakes that we can’t undo.

The second step in the process of making a decision is to research the facts.  If you are going to buy a house you don’t just go out and buy the first one you see.  You look at neighborhoods, schools if you have children, locations (is it near your work) and so on.  If you want to make a good decision you need to be informed and the best way to do that is research.

The third step in the decision making process is to ask for advice.  If we are too proud to ask others for advice; most likely we will fail.  Each one of us was created by God for a specific purpose.  The people around us are better able to understand our talents, temperament and any number of qualities that will make a difference in the success of the decision we make. Too many times we look at asking for advice as a weakness.  We want others to perceive us as confident.  The reality is, we don’t know it all and the very people we should approach for advice are going to help us make a better decision than us doing it on our own.  Humility and wisdom go hand in hand.
 
If you take the time to go through these important steps, your chances of success increases.  Another thing we should look at is, “Has God placed me exactly where I am for a reason.”  God always has purpose in what He does.  Sometimes that purpose if for our own good and at other times it is for someone else’s.  Spend time with God so you can find out how to make the best decision for whatever circumstance you face. 

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I no longer depend on myself to make decisions in my life.  Thank you for getting my attention and helping me to stop before I make a decision based on feelings, instead of making it based on Your will.  My chances of success multiply if I look to You and Your Word first, research the facts and then ask for advice.      

      

Scripture: My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path. Proverbs 2:1-9