Making Decisions
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:8 NIV
In reading this verse today, the word should was illuminated in my mind. I have been praying for months about God’s direction in a certain area of my life, with no answer from Him. I realized today that when I seek God’s will, listen and read and apply His written Word, He gives me instructions, but He also gives me free will and choices. I’ve known about God’s free will before, but today it really set in my heart.
God loves us so much that He lets us choose for ourselves the paths of our lives. He does instruct and teach us in His Word about how to make the best choices. Sometimes God doesn’t answer our prayers with a big Yes or No like we want Him to, and sometimes we have to make a decision and act in faith and trust in Him. As a follower of Jesus, in my heart I always know which direction I “should” be going. It’s the direction that keeps me moving closer to Him, not farther away. It’s the direction that builds up my faith and trust in Him. It is the direction that makes me want to please Him with my choices and my life. It’s the direction that always connects me ever closer to my heavenly Father. When we know the truth about God’s plan for us in His Word, it makes choices so much easier.
Decisions have always been difficult for me to make for fear of choosing the wrong thing. This new way of thinking makes it simpler to choose the direction that leads me closer to Him, and in my heart I now know which way to choose. “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from ALL my fears” (Psalm 34:4).
We can be anxious on our own, but when we pray and ask God for all our needs—we are given the gift of peace, knowing God is able to help us and provide the way. Jesus is our conduit to peace. We cannot have it without a personal relationship with Him. Oh, we may find temporary peace in the world or relationships or things that make us happy for awhile, but real joy and peace is only found in Jesus. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ” (Philippians 4:6).
Thank You, Lord, for speaking to me with just a single word showing me the way I should go. Even when I make a wrong choice, Your eye is still on me and I do not need to fear anything.
Amen.
Amen!
This brought a lot of clarity to praying for ‘God’s Will’, as I was reminded of something I read many years ago: “God’s Will is to know His Son, Jesus, personally and as your Lord and Savior”. So this pretty much confirms as we have read many times that “A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps”, Proverbs 16:9 NKJV. If we are staying close to Jesus, and continuing in The Word, we have the best chance of making the right decision that would be pleasing to Him.
Many times, I have prayed for His direction and after proceeding in the direction ‘my heart’ told me to go, I discovered that it was not the best place for me to be, and like with Joseph, there was much suffering, but ultimately God used it for His Good.
God Bless You All.