Decisions, Decisions

---

As a Christ follower, what is the right way to make a decision?  Any decision – which house or car to buy, what job to pursue, where to live, what relationships to invest in. Let’s start with what part, if any, God should play in the process. Here is one of my favorite life verses, good for all occasions and particularly useful on this subject:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 6-7 NKJV

So, God’s word tells us to go to Him in prayer for everything.  Last fall, I wanted to move back home to Kentucky, where I have children, grandkids, and other family. I really felt that the timing was right, and I had a general sense of peace.  But I didn’t know for sure if God would bless the decision.  God sees the end from the beginning.

“Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.”’ Isaiah 46:9-10 NKJV

I really wanted to leverage God’s insight in my decision.  Who wouldn’t want that kind of advantage? In order to hear from God, we must remember that it is important to stay in His presence.  Think of it this way: if your small child asks for your help to solve a puzzle, say a Rubik’s cube, and he or she brings it to you, and as soon as you start to help (good luck with the cube thing, they puzzle me!) they take it from your hands and run to the basement and try to solve it on their own.  This plays out several times, back and forth, until there are tears. That’s a picture of how we often act with our needs.  We initially take them to God, but we quickly pull them back and try to solve them on our own. This leads to much frustration, and, most often, a solution that is less perfect than what the Father had in mind if we could just let go and let Him help. God could do all the work needed here on earth to bring the lost to Him, but He greatly desires that we participate and receive the blessing and the growth that comes from the experience.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1: 5-8 NKJV

Ask in faith and expectation that God will give you wisdom. This touches on several concepts taught in the Infusion EPIC Journey series. First, we must understand our Identity in Christ. Understand that we have access to all the wisdom and power of Heaven at our disposal.  If we struggle with this truth, either we don’t have a firm grasp on our Identity, we don’t believe that we are a saint, a holy one (See Philippians 1:1, Ephesians 1:1, and Colossians 1:2) and entitled to all God brings to bear on our behalf. Or, we need a refresher on the truths of our Freedom.  Often, it’s a lie from Satan that we have adopted as true, or a bad habit / stronghold we’ve allowed to take root in our lives.  These things are the tools that the devil uses to sideline us in our Christian walk and steal our joy. They keep us from a clear understanding that God is ready and waiting, even eager to be a part of our life in every decision we face.

 “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 NKJV

So, back to my move. Was this God’s will for me? Was the timing right? Was the house, neighborhood, and town I had chosen to look at right? A good friend and mentor gave me wonderful advice. I think it applies to many decisions we face, but we want peace that God has blessed a desired outcome. He said that the filter that should first be applied is: Does this decision honor God? In other words, it’s more about my heart and where I am in my relationship with God. If I am doing my best to be obedient and offer my life as a servant in whatever opportunity He presents to me – it doesn’t matter where I choose to live.  In my specific situation, I came to understand that God could use me and bless me equally whether I was in Knoxville, Tennessee, or Lexington, Kentucky. As long as I am walking out my life in Christian Identity and Freedom, God can use me regardless of my choice.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

Here, literally, is the heart of the matter. If you want to be certain that what you are considering is consistent with God’s will, prepare yourself and your heart by living and walking daily in His presence. God’s direction for our life can be summarized in these three habits: pray, love, and serve. Then, when the next decision looms, we are confident and ready to make a choice that pleases the Father, and will work out even beyond our desires and expectations.

As adapted from THE BONDAGE BREAKER and STOMPING OUT THE DARKNESS by Dr. Neil T. Anderson and Dr. Dave Park & The Infusion Ministries Team