Enrollment in our Breakout Memory Challenge is well underway, and I'm sure some of you are trying to decide if this class is right for you. To help with this, I've pulled a new article together to give you a few tips on how to make important choices. Try it out and see what God says...



Ever been faced with a tough decision, and wasn't quite sure which way to go? Sure you have. We've all been there. And we use whatever means are available to us to make the best choice we can--and then hope for the best. But there's a better way.

If you are in that situation right now, allow me to suggest a simple strategy you can use that will not only help you make a good decision now, but will also help make you wiser in regards to future decisions as well!

Types of Decisions

In reality, the strategy you use will depend partly on the kind of decision you are making. In particular there are three basic kinds of decisions.

Minor Decisions
If you are faced with a small decision, without major ramifications, sometimes the best option is to pray for quick guidance and make the best choice you can, based on your knowledge of God's will at the moment. The strategy I'm going to share shortly takes some effort to implement, and practically, you won't be able to use it with every choice you encounter. Decisiveness is a character strength that involves the ability to deal with small decisions quickly.

Distant Decisions
Sometimes we have big decisions to make, with important consequences, but those decisions are not urgent. We may have months or years before we have to make a choice, and in these cases the best option is often to wait on the Lord. We may not have all the information we need. Or future circumstances may alter our options, changing the direction we will want to go. Trusting God sometimes involves not trying to force a decision prematurely.

Pressing Decisions
But there are those big life decisions that come crashing in every so often, with major implications for our life, and for which we have only a limited amount of time to choose. There is a deadline for our answer. But the impact is massive. We know we need to make these choices carefully, and we long for some kind of strategy to guide us through that process. These are the kind of decisions I'm talking about today.

A Recent Example

I was recently faced with just such a decision. I was offered a position with a ministry I highly respect, and I was definitely interested. In fact, I had been praying about possibly partnering with this ministry in some way for a number of years. So when the offer came, I was definitely intrigued.

At the same time, it was a different position than what I envisioned, and the timing was not ideal for us. There were other considerations that made this a difficult choice. And I had to consider the fact God led me to my current location for a specific work, and that that work is not yet quite finished.

Clearly this was a major decision that would have major implications for my wife and me. Either option could be a good choice--but we wanted clear direction from the Lord. And we had only a short time to give an answer. A few days, really. It was a pressing decision, and we had to choose fast.

Seeking Wisdom

There are some basic things you can always do, and these should not be neglected of course. Prayer is important, and sometimes even fasting. So is gathering as much information as possible. And making sure no option violates clear biblical principles. And of course, getting godly counsel can also be helpful. But ultimately, what we really want, is an answer from God about His specific will in regards to our decision. How do we get that?

There's a simple solution: the book of Proverbs.

The introduction to this book explains its purpose. "The proverbs of Solomon" were given to help us "know wisdom and instruction". "To perceive the words of understanding". To "receive the instruction of wisdom". To gain "subtlety", "knowledge and discretion". To "increase learning". And to "attain unto wise counsels" (Proverbs 1:1-51 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; 2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; 4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. 5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:). In other words, the book of Proverbs was given specifically to help us make good choices!



How do you tap into that wisdom? Try this simple strategy:

1. Prepare your heart. Ask God for wisdom, that the Holy Spirit will guide your thoughts. Often the biggest obstacle to hearing the Lord's voice, is our own clamoring to go one way or another. Ask the Lord to quiet all of that, and give you a heart that is willing to follow whatever He reveals.
2. Take out a sheet of paper and divide it into two columns. At the top of each column write in one of your two options. If you have three or more possible choices, make a column for each and write in one option at the top of each column. Use more than one sheet of paper if you need to.
3. Start reading through the book of Proverbs, jotting down notes about any verse that seems to point to one option or another under the appropriate column. Include the reference, and a note about what that verse says and how you think it applies. Often you will find different verses seem to point different directions, especially at first. Don't be concerned by this. If everything pointed only one direction, you would have no trouble making the decision.
4. Keep going until you find a verse that clearly illuminates the path you should take, or you begin to discern a strong consensus in the verses you have found. Don't rush the decision, but neither should you drag it out beyond the point you have your answer. This may take several sittings, spread out over several days. Trust God to bring things into focus for you.
5. Keep working at it until things click. Once you have done this a few times, you will start to recognize the "peace of God" that is supposed to guide us (Colossians 3:15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.). That "unction" from the Holy Spirit through which God illuminates His Word (I John 2:20But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.). Once you have your answer, thank God for speaking to you, and move forward in the direction He points.

It sounds simple, and it is. But I suspect this is exactly what the book of Proverbs was written for. It is filled with warnings, instruction, counsel on how to discern different character types, principles that lead to blessings, and principles that lead to cursings, and much more. It is an amazing adventure in how to think with divine wisdom.

And that's actually the best part about this particular decision making process. Not only will it help you make a good decision now, but every time you work through this process, your ability to make future decisions will be strengthened. Your thinking will be shifted just that little bit. You will become more and more familiar with the principles that govern heaven, and how to use them in this dark fallen world.



And the rewards of seeking wisdom? "Length of days" and "peace, shall they add to thee". You'll find favor "in the sight of God and man". The Lord will "direct thy paths". It will be "health to thy navel and marrow to thy bones". Your barns will "be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine". It is better than "silver" and "fine gold" and "more precious than rubies". Wisdom "is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is everyone one that retaineth her". (Proverbs 3:1-181 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. 9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. 11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. 13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.).

Who wouldn't want all these blessings?

Conclusion

What happened when we applied this method to our invitation to an exciting job possibility? The book of Proverbs helped us clarify the pro's and con's of both leaving and staying. It took a few days to sort it all out. But in the end, the Lord convicted us to remain right where we are.

To keep seeking Him every day.

And to keep serving you, our community.

Other opportunities will come along of course. And perhaps next time things will line up differently. But we have our answer for now.

Make a point to submit your next pressing decision to the principles of wisdom found here in the book of Proverbs, and you will likely get your answer too!

Comments

How important is it to use the Bible in making decisions? How is Proverbs particularly well suited to helping us with this? What are the dangers of leaving important decisions to chance, preference, or coincidence?

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