Rev. Richard Smith
Philippians 4:6 Words of Paul
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Each of us sooner or later must make key decisions in life. These can be personal, professional, relational, or moral. When we find ourselves needing to make significant decisions, how do we know what is the right decision? How do we people of spiritual grounding have confidence that our decision resonates as much as possible with the will of God?
Well, of course, the first thing we do is pray. We naturally pray for God’s guidance, for God’s direction. What we have to realize, however, is that God expects us to do our part. God expects us to cooperate with Him in finding the right answer.
Here are five things I think God expects us to do…
As Best You Can, See What The Bible Has To Say
As I noted last Thursday, the Bible is critically important in one’s spiritual journey and life of faith. We are to take it seriously! Now, of course, relying on the Bible for decision guidance isn’t necessarily an easy process; simply because the Bible doesn’t speak to every single life as practically and clearly as we might like.
This means we need to explore Bible passages around the topic for decision and prayerfully discern what we’re being told. A good ole’ Google search can help immensely here.
Discern If the Decision Makes Sense
In our moral decisions we need to ask, Does this action, this perspective really make sense? In seeking to discern God’s will for our choices, we need to ask, Would God really have me do this or believe this?
In looking at key decisions for our present and future, we need to ask Is this really something that God would ask of me? While we each are a person of faith, prayer and trust, we shouldn’t (as I’ve previously noted) devalue the significance of reason. Intellect and reason are without question ways God can and does guide us.
Talk With Someone You Admire and Trust As a Spiritual Mentor
There hopefully is someone to whom you look up; whom you admire; whom you consider to be mature in the faith and rightly related to God. Talk with that person. Seek his or her advice. Really do pay attention to what this mentor says.
“What do you think?” spoken to this friend, this mentor can be an essential question and that person’s response can be a key way God speaks to you.
Be Clear How Your Decision Affects Others
Many of the decisions we have to make affect other people. We have a responsibility to ask ourselves how the decisions we make or are about to make will affect those who are dearest to us, those for whom we have some responsibility. It is not appropriate to make decisions which greatly impact the lives of those who are nearest to us without both taking them into consideration and in some way involving them in the discussion in some way.
