Spiritual Decision Making:

• Should I date/marry this person or that one (or not at all)?
• What schools should I apply and consider going to?
• Join the Military, Get a Job, or Go to School?
• Take the Job or Stay put?
• Have kids now, later, not at all?
• Do I need Surgery, meds, or should I hold out for a miracle?
• Do I move or stay?

I believe in a God big enough to control the outcomes of chance (Prov 16:33), and powerful enough to steer us in the paths we’re destined for EVEN if don’t actively make the best decisions at every turn (Prov 16:9). But I also believe that, while we certainly could go through life just rolling dice for every decision to be made - God wants us to be active participants - seeking and learning to make wise decisions. (Ecc 2:13)(Prov 4:7)

When you're faced with a tough, scary, or deeply emotional decision, how do you go about making a choice?

• Do you avoid it until the last minute and then let chance/fate/other people dictate the course of your life? (Prov 20:4)
• Do you respond impulsively and give into your emotions - leading you to whatever decision "feels" best? (Eph 4:14)
• Do you agonize over everything and try to think your way through it? (Prov 21:30)
• Or - do you seek God's guidance through his Word, Prayer, and the Spiritual Family He's surrounded you with? (Eph 5:15-17)

How you go about the decision making process says a lot about your faith and trust in God, your humility, and the network of friends and advisers you've surrounded yourself with.

We are all surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (Heb 12:1), and since we're supposed to live our lives openly and in the light (1 Pet 2:12), with Jesus as Lord (including Lord of our Decisions!) - how we go about finding answers and understanding can make a huge spiritual impact to those around us. (1 Cor 8:6)

Here's the process that I've tried to implement for large life decisions (and many more mundane ones as well):

1. Identify the decision as far in advance as possible (Prov 4:26; 14:8, 15; 21:29)
2. Figure out what choices you have available (obvious ones and even the long-shots) (Luke 16:1-15)
3. Map out pros/cons, the "what if's", "x leads to y" type scenarios as far as you can take them (Psalms 119:59, 128)(Prov 20:25) (Luke 14:25-33)
4. Now Pray...
• honestly about your heart's desires. (Prov 13:12)
• asking God to reveal and refine your motives (since your heart may be lying to you) (Psalm 44:21, 139:23) (Jer 17:9-10)
• asking for discernment and clarity of mind (1Peter 4:7)
• for an obvious answer (Psalm 85:8-13) (Prov 3:6, 4:11, 11:5)
• to submit your will and for help trusting even when you don't like the answer... so that things go HIS way and not just yours, acknowledging that his paths and understanding are ALWAYS better than your own. (Isaiah 55)
5. Study your Bible
• all related word searches
• topical searches
• spiritual books about the topic
• events/situations in the bible that relate (how would you respond in the same situation? what did the character do right / wrong?)
6. Choose your advisers and present the situation to them, soliciting their input(Prov 11:14, 12:5, 12:15, 13:10, 15:22, 19:20, 20:18)   - think through those you know, asking...
• "who has experience with this?"
• "who do I admire/respect spiritually?"
• "who knows me well?"
• Do I have enough here to make a decision that I am confident will honor God and be blessed? If not...
7. Seek more advisers if the matter is not clear. (Prov 13:20) This is a GREAT opportunity to let other Godly Men and Women (perhaps outside of your normal spheres of contact) influence your life and get to know you better...
• Lastly - if you have any mentors in the world, you may tap those shoulders as well - because again, your humility here may move their hearts towards a relationship with God. But be especially careful with their responses, since they may not be working with the same priorities (like pleasing God first) as you...
8. Compile and Review all of the input that you receive. Pray about it. Follow it in faith (Prov 16:1-3) because...
• God likes giving good gifts to his children (Mt 7:11)
• He always works for your best interest (Romans 8:28)
• You are working with integrity to make not just a "good" decision - but the BEST decision... (2Tim 2:15)
• God has power to bless and protect you - even if the end result feels painful, seems to fail, etc. He won't let bad advice that you received - but faithfully followed out of deference for Him - ever ruin your life or make you miss your true blessings, potential, inheritance.(Prov13:6)
9. Repeat steps 2-8 as needed/able until you can proceed confidently or your deadline for deciding arrives. Hopefully the former and not the latter :-)

I consider my life to be extremely blessed - and I attribute that not to my deserving it, but to my striving to walk and live the way most pleasing to God (as much as I can!). I hope this study and these practicals lead to the same for you!

Your bro,
Timbo