9 The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
Proverbs 16:9
Looking into the future can be a scary endeavor. Life is full of big decisions that impact the rest of our lives, like a line of dominos or a ripple effect on water. As I peer into the next season of my life and the decisions I will have to make, here is my plan for deciding what to do and highlighting the role the Holy Spirit will play throughout the process. My current process will be outlined as beginning with God’s Word, continuing in prayer, analyzing my life, seeking wise counsel, practicing the art of waiting, making a decision, and being flexible afterward to God’s providence in all things.
I will begin with God’s Word to see if it clearly speaks to my next decision or gives guardrails for my decision-making. Sometimes, one aspect or perhaps even the whole concept of my decision is clearly spoken to in the Scriptures. When this happens, I praise God and move forward with full confidence. The Holy Spirit plays an active and passive role in this step as both the Author of Scripture and the Illuminator of Scripture in my own heart and mind.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105
My next step will be to pray and to continue to pray. I will pray that God’s will will be done in this area of my life or in the decisions I am bound to make. I will pray for God to make it clear to me through the means He has given me in discerning His will. I will pray for wisdom from others to lead me well and for patience to allow time before I make an official decision (if possible). Lastly, I will pray that God would clear my heart and mind of any selfish ambition or vain conceit that can so easily entangle me and help me to be a pure vessel, ready to follow His direction. The Holy Spirit plays a pivotal role in my prayer as He prays for me when I do not know what to pray or how to pray, and He empowers my prayers and carries them to the Father in the name of Jesus Christ.
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7–8
The next step starts off internally and works itself to include others externally. I will take the time to analyze my life and see if God has given me strengths, weaknesses, desires, opportunities, or availability that would incline me to believe He has prepared me for making the decision one way or another. After thinking through this on my own, I will enlarge the circle of thought to include those closest to me and who know me best. They will see things I may not see in myself that help guide and direct my decision-making. The Holy Spirit is fundamental in this step, as He is the reason for my gifts, fruit, understanding, wisdom, etc, that may point to my saying yes or no to the decision needing to be made.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
Psalm 37:4–5
The next step ties in closely with the last, as I will now go to those who know me well and those who are biblically knowledgable and wise to receive their counsel. As I tell them about my current plight and the decisions that need to be made, they can communicate God’s truth to me, encourage me in the truth, and join me in seeking God’s help to make the most God-honoring decision. There is wisdom in seeking counsel from others who are wiser and further along in their walk with God. They know things and understand the application of God’s word better than you and can disciple you to see an area or principle you may have missed before. The Holy Spirit works through brotherly fellowship and enables us to speak with wisdom and sincerity the things of God, building up Christ’s bride.
18 Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance, wage war.
Proverbs 20:18
The next step is to practice the art of waiting, if possible. Too often, we are tempted to make a decision quicker than is necessary because of our discomfort with things being “up in the air.” The Holy Spirit helps greatly as He continues to produce fruit in my life, and I lean on Him and His power to trust in the Lord, who controls all things. However, I cannot allow myself to remain in the “waiting posture” indefinitely. Decisions have to be made. Life must be lived. Analysous paralysis is a real thing. So, when an appropriate amount of time has gone by, I will make a decision and stick to it. After the decision is made, I will coach myself to have peace with the decision, knowing I have done all I can reasonably do to honor God with the decision and trust Him with the outcome. A caveat is placed at the end of the decision-making process, as flexibility is necessary after the decision is made. God opens and closes “doors” as He wills, and I must always be submissive to His perfect will, which may mean my decision will last forever or only for a short period and to fulfill a purpose I had not planned before.
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
Psalm 37:7
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
Proverbs 16:33
May God bless your week and your decision-making as you seek His kingdom first!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Dan
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