Surrender
your own will
If
you want directions to get to a certain place, you have to admit that
you don't know the way yourself. You have to be willing to accept
that what you thought was the right way may not actually be! If
you're determined that you already know the right way, you won't
listen to advice. It's the same with making decisions. If you want to
know God's will you must be willing to accept whatever His will is.
And often (but not always) it's not we would choose.
For
my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,
saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so
are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your
thoughts. Isaiah
55:8-9
Pray
I
think this is the most important of all. Don't make any decision
without first praying about it. A number of times in the
Bible it says that David
enquired of the Lord. And
when “David
enquired
the Lord
answered.
The
Bible also says
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs
3:6
If we sincerely pray about our decisions, God will show us the right
way to go.
Don't
depend upon feelings
Feelings
don't always tell the truth. Feelings aren’t reliable. Feelings are
very changeable. God's will is often something we don't 'feel' like
doing. And what we do 'feel' like doing is often not God's will!
Seek
God's will through His Word
Thy
word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalms 119:105
When
you have a decision to make and you are praying, sometimes God uses a
verse in the Bible to give you wisdom. There have been many times
that verses have jumped out at me and I know that it is God speaking
to me about this particular decision. There is so much wisdom in
God's Word and such good principles. God's will won't contradict His
Word.
Note
providential circumstances
When
I first started getting to know my future husband, I found it quite
confusing sometimes. How did I know if he was the right one? I
remember one morning thinking, How
on earth do I know?
But that day two things happened, just little things, that confirmed
that I was going in the right direction. They were like markers along
the trail. They were providential circumstances. God can use people,
open or shut doors (opportunities), sermons, things we read in books,
phone calls, emails, etc. as markers along the trail.
Wait
Don't
rush into anything. Take time to pray about it and think it through.
The more important the decision, the more amount of time.
Ask
for advice
If
you have godly parents, ask them what they think. You will still have
to make your own decision, but you're parents have more life
experience than you do. And God may use them to help you know what
the right decision is. They might not know what you should do, but at
least they may warn you if they think it's not a good idea. I
remember when I got my first letter from my 'then future' husband. I
showed it to my parents and asked them what to do. They told me it
was my decision, but they also didn't have anything against him. If
they had, that would have been a red flag.
If
you don't have godly parents, ask your pastor or someone else that
you know walks with God. I am married, so often if I have a big
decision to make I ask my husband. First of all I pray that God will
give him wisdom. Then usually if he thinks it's a good idea I'll go
ahead with it. If he doesn't I'll usually decide not to.
The
way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto
counsel is wise.
Proverbs
12:15
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