Searching for God’s will in your life?
Decision-making is important in our lives and it also relates very well to the will of God. Often, we make decisions that lead to immediate regrets because of negative consequences. Such experiences are now considered not to be the will of God in our lives. But how do we know God's will in decision-making? How do we know if our decisions align with the will of God? First, you may read my previous post here. In this article, you will know and understand what 5 practical steps in decision making and the will of God. You will also get to know the factors that influence our decision-making.
Understanding the Will of God:
Let me share with you a short story from the Bible about a strong man but very weak in decision-making. Yes, you guessed it right. Samson. He was a strong man destined to free the Israelites from the bondage of the Philistines. However, his human nature failed him. He did not live up to God's plan of saving Israel. Instead, he allowed himself to marry an unbeliever. In the end of his life, he was still able to rescue the Israelites from the Philistines, but under dire conditions. You can read the story of Samson in Judges or watch it on YouTube. In addition, you can read some inspiring stories about decision making and the will of God here.
Defining the Concept of the Will of God:
As you can see, the will of God is better than our own will. He does not lead us astray. We can know the will of God through scriptures, prayer, and other signs. The book of Jeremiah says, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11). Furthermore, God wishes for us to prosper in health as well as our souls (John). These are some of God's promises for us.
However, sometimes, people interpret God's will differently. We interpret it according to our own plans. We cannot see what God has promised us if we keep on pursuing our own plans. God's blessings are withheld if we walk in our own ways. Isaiah puts it plainly: "My ways are not your ways, nor your thoughts my thoughts."
The Role of Decision Making:
So, how do we make decisions and know if they are aligned with God's will? Decision-making plays a crucial role in our lives, impacting various aspects and shaping our present and future. Firstly, it shapes our destiny by setting us on specific trajectories and determining long-term outcomes. Secondly, it empowers personal agency, allowing us to actively participate in shaping our own narratives and taking control of our lives.
Thirdly, decision-making reflects our values and priorities, aligning our choices with what we deem important and living authentically. In this light, we ought to make informed decisions. Informed decision-making is vital to maximize potential outcomes and minimize our regrets. When we make decisions that are not carefully thought out, we are at risk of experiencing immediate regrets and making bad choices.
Factors That Influence Decision Making:
There are many factors that influence decision-making and the will of God. Often, these come from secondary and primary agents. For instance, we may be influenced by our significant others (e.g., parents) or peer and societal pressure. Advertisements allure us with the freedom and happiness found in various forms of life. Social media teaches us to live carefree.
These influences shape our thoughts to desire something in life that we want, but not all of it aligns with God's will. These advertisements are crafted to shape and alter our emotions to buy goods, but these goods may not be what we need. Let's be wary of these ads that shape our decisions. Our decisions are often shaped by reference groups (e.g., family).
Sometimes, your family does not allow you to take the courses in college that you desire or pursue the job or marry the person you want. To know whether these decisions are aligned with the will of God or not, simply take each decision-making process and compare it with scripture by reading the Bible. You can find verses that will teach you whether these choices are worth pursuing or not. For instance, if God is for us, who can be against us? Should you obey your parents or not? (Ephesians 6:1 and Exodus 20:6) How about binge eating or drinking? Should you do it?
Whatever you do, do it to glorify God; otherwise, don't do it. When facing conflicting factors, we can discern God's will again through reading the Bible. Suppose you are getting married to a person who has a different religious faith. Your parents seem to disagree with your choice, but you love the person. Is this the will of God for you? This is why decision making and the will of God is important.
Look not just at today, but beyond and consider what will happen after the wedding. Learn more about decision making and the will of God to make wise decisions now.
5 Practical Steps for Making Decisions in Line with God’s Will:
We can align our decisions with the will of God by doing these simple things:
- Seeking God's guidance: Bible verses about guidance in decision-making will help us understand God's promises to us. These verses uncover many hidden treasures and will help you make wise decisions.
- Aligning with biblical principles: Make sure your decision is founded on God's precepts. The Bible teaches us, for instance, to obey the Ten Commandments. So, it is proper to follow them and make them our guiding principles in every decision we make. The scriptures on decision-making help us think thrice before making decisions.
- Surrendering personal desires: We do not live for ourselves alone. Let us give our wants and needs to God and let Him work on them. Psalm 16:3 says, "Commit your ways to the Lord, and he will make your plans succeed." God's desires for us are unlimited (Ephesians 2:10), so why do we limit ourselves?
- Listening to the Small Voice (Holy Spirit): There are small voices that we often hear, but we tend to neglect them or not hear them at all. Why? Because we are not listening. We have to listen to them and act on them. I refer to this as more than a human instinct. It has happened to me many times before making decisions. After making the decisions and seeing the results, I have had either good or bad experiences. Hebrews 11:40. You can practice these 14 questions about decision making and the will of God.
- Considering the impact on others: In making minor decisions in life, consider other people. Do you want to be a popular influencer? The Bible is clear: consider other people's interests better than your own.
Conclusion:
Thank you for making it to the last part. Understanding God's will is the most important thing before making decisions. While decision-making has a pivotal role in our lives, we should base it on God's will and purpose.
Our life is not meant to gratify ourselves with pleasure but to live with purpose. In decision-making, it is important to seek God's guidance and trust in His guidance (Proverbs 3:5-6).
God knows what's best for us, so it is essential to put our hope and dreams in Him.
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