Make A Choice: Decision Making and the Will of God

Making Good Decisions

He couldn’t conceive of carrying out the gargantuan task the Lord was requiring of him. He was too insignificant, too weak, too … whatever! How could Gideon—the least in his father’s house and identified with the weakest clan in Manasseh—ever deliver Israel from such a monstrous enemy army?

Although God had directly spoken to him, this godly young man still felt insecure about making the right decision. To make sure he had actually heard from God, twice Gideon asked for a supernatural sign. The first night he put out a fleece and asked God to make it wet and the ground dry. The next night Gideon asked God to make the fleece dry and the ground wet.

Although God honored both of Gideon’s requests, today Christians have the indwelling Holy Spirit, who counsels them, and “the word … made more certain”

2 Peter 1:19 “And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,”

Therefore, we are not to look to supernatural events to reveal the will of God.

Judges 6:36-40 “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.” And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.”

Some people will always want visible signs to discern God’s will, yet these signs are based on normal occurrences such as chance phone calls or letters. If you insist on “putting out a fleece,” make sure the sign is supernatural. Suggestion: On a hot summer day, why not ask for a snowstorm!

Six Methods of Decision Making:

If you could, wouldn’t you want to know the future? If you could see the outcome, wouldn’t it make your decisions a lot more accurate? Today people seek guidance through a plethora of occult practices. They search for answers in newspaper columns, carnival booths, and psychic hotlines. Astrologers, palm readers, and fortune-tellers toting tarot cards all claim to speak for “God.” But the God of the Bible says these dramatic ways are “detestable”

Deuteronomy 18:9 ““When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations.”

Leviticus 19:31 ““Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.”

Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

Making decisions can be approached in various ways, but most will fall into one of the following six methods or a combination of some of them. Not all methods of decision making will prove to be profitable.

#1 Dramatic Method (Bible Roulette)

- Some people misuse Scripture by flipping open the Bible and pointing to some random Scripture for guidance without considering the context. Others expect God to come through with a spectacular, supernatural sign that will give proof of His will in a given situation.

Yet, God says … “The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26).

#2 Defaulting Method (Whatever “you” want)

- Scripture tells us there is an appropriate time to delegate duties and to seek counsel, but ultimately we are responsible for our own choices. We can even be so pressured by the opinions of others that it becomes easier just to let others make decisions for us … even when we think they are wrong.

Yet, God says … “He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right” (Isaiah 7:15).

#3 Delaying Method (Procrastination) - Not to decide is actually a decision.

- Many people choose to procrastinate when a decision is due, hoping that “it will all come out well in the end.” They allow circumstances to determine the outcome. However, not to decide is actually a decision. Their delay tactics are filled with superfluous activities that do not include placing a high priority on knowing God’s will through prayer, biblical counsel, and intimacy with the Lord.

Yet, God says … “That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways’ ” (Hebrews 3:10).

#4 Deductive Method (Humanistic)

- The Christian life is to be a life of balance between human deduction and spiritual insight. If we become solely analytical in thinking through a situation and choose to rely completely on logic, we will miss God’s way.

Yet, God says … “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” (Isaiah 55:8).

#5 Desirous Method (Emotional)

- Too many people allow their emotions to have “soul control.” This means allowing feelings to determine their behavior. God gave us emotions, but He never intended emotions to be our “decision makers.” Many of us don’t even realize that we often have an “if it feels good, it must be good” mentality.

Yet, God says … “He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe” (Proverbs 28:26).

#6 Discerning Method (the best method) - Spiritual discernment, therefore, is wisdom to determine what is true, appropriate, and superior in the eyes of God, regardless of how things may seem.

- To be discerning is to grasp what may not be evident, that is, “to have insight and understanding by going beyond what seems obvious.” Spiritual discernment, therefore, is wisdom to determine what is true, appropriate, and superior in the eyes of God, regardless of how things may seem.

Yet, God says … “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Tests for Decision Making

He was scared to death—but it was to the dead that he turned for guidance!

The enemy army had gathered for war against his smaller country. He wanted counsel from God, but “when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him” (1 Samuel 28:6 ESV).

Desperate for supernatural insight, Saul disguised himself and went to a medium (a practice forbidden by God). He asked to talk with the beloved prophet Samuel, who had died. After Samuel appeared and after Saul complained that God no longer answered him, Samuel replied, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has turned away from you and become your enemy?” (1 Samuel 28:16).

The Lord would not answer Saul because he had continually defied the commands of God—and since he did not reflect the heart of God, he became the enemy of God. When faced with a decision, we need to see whether we “pass the test” so that our decisions will be blessed.

Eight Tests of Decision Making - From God’s perspective, decisions are not to be determined by random selection, supernatural events, people’s opinions, delay tactics, analytical thinking, or good feelings. God wants you to measure your decisions by His standards.

Faith is believing with legs on it - Adrian Rogers

Rather than testing God, test yourself against the following eight Scriptures. This will help you to make choices that are pleasing to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:8,10 “and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.”

#1 Scriptural Test - “Has God already spoken about it in His Word?”

Example: Marrying a nonbeliever in hopes of drawing the spouse to Christ even though

2 Corinthians 6:14 says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.”

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

#2 Secrecy Test “Would it bother me if everyone knew this was my choice?”

Example: Thinking no one is hurt by keeping an overpayment of returned cash or credit

“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” (Proverbs 11:3)

#3 Survey Test “What if everyone followed my example?”

Example: Assuming a little trash tossed out the car window will never be noticed on a busy highway

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)

#4 Spiritual Test “Am I being people-pressured or Spirit-led?”

Example: Accepting a commitment of time that has not been affirmed in your spirit by God

“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10)

#5 Stumbling Test “Could this cause another person to stumble?”

Example: Having an alcoholic drink in a public place.

“It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.” (Romans 14:21)

#6 Serenity Test “Have I prayed and received peace about this decision?”

Example: Deciding to make any major change without praying and waiting on God’s peace for confirmation.

Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, faith looks up - Adrian Rogers.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7)

#7 Sanctification Test “Will this keep me from growing in the character of Christ?”

Example: Failing to obey God when He prompts you to do something that is difficult or burdensome.

“We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

#8 Supreme Test “Does this glorify God?”

Example: Conforming to the world’s standards by living a lifestyle of indebtedness

“Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Do you want to live a life of supernatural victory? The Victory Express runs on two tracks: Trust and Obey. - Adrian Rogers