Making Major Decisions

Story: Committing to the Bridge Builders ministry

We had to go clear that up.

1. Clarify the decision you need to make.

What is the apparent problem? What do you think is the problem?

The goal: To determine what course of action to follow

2. Prepare your Heart and Pray. James 1:5

James 1:5 ESV

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Ask God for wisdom in the process

Ask God to help you prepare your heart:

Are you really just out for what you want?

Do you really have a neutral, submitted heart?

Are you spending time with God regularly?

Are you walking in obedience to the Lord?

Are you really depending on God?

Ask God to help you see what options are available.

Record insights in a notebook

Many people don’t really think through decisions, they just stew.

3. Consider the Circumstances. Acts 16:6—7

Acts 16:6–7 (ESV)

And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

What are the facts?

What is the real problem?

What are your resources? (Money, time, man-power)

What current commitments do you need to consider?

What are the possible solutions?

Ex: Supporter of our ministry offered to mentor me in a business opportunity.

4. Study what the Bible says about the Topic of your Decision. Ps. 119:105

Psalm 119:105 ESV

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Seek wisdom in the Scriptures

What appears normal or right in our perspective may turn out to be very different from God’s perspective Prov. 12:15, Is. 55:8

Proverbs 12:15 ESV

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Isaiah 55:8 ESV

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

Conform your thinking to what God says.

Commit to only make a decision that would align with God’s Word. Josh. 1:8

Joshua 1:8 ESV

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Go back to your notebook:

Record your insights in a journal

Modify existing options.

Some options may need to be crossed out in light of what you found in Scripture.

5. Seek and Consider Wise Counsel. Prov. 11:14

Proverbs 11:14 ESV

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

Gather advice from wise counselors.

Look for people who:

Have a biblical worldview.

Have a history of applying the bible to their decision making.

Have a track record of walking with God faithfully.

Have proven to have success in the area you are trying to make a decision in.

Share your situation and your options.

Ask for their input.

Ask them what passages of Scripture they recommend studying.

Take notes on what they say. This is valuable.

Not all counsel is wise counsel.

Ex. King Rehoboam 1 Kings. 12:8

1 Kings 12:8 ESV

But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.

We can deceive ourselves by going to the person for counsel who will tell us what we want to hear. 2 Tim. 4:3

2 Timothy 4:3 ESV

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,

6. Be open to Subjective Signs. Acts 16:8-10

Dreams and visions

Acts 16:8–10 ESV

So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Signs: Gideon and the fleece Judges 6:36-37

Judges 6:36–37 ESV

Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.”

Impressions from the Holy Spirit.

7. Before you Finalize, be sure to Analyze. Prov. 21:5

Proverbs 21:5 ESV

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

Do I really understand the problem?

What am I trying to get done?

Is this the way to do it?

What will go wrong when I put this decision into action?