How To Make Tough Decisions
Every day we make hundreds of decisions. Probably thousands. Many of the decisions we make we are not particularly aware of! But, some decisions are weighty. They are the decisions that keep us up at night. Some are life-changing and scary and hard! Today, let’s discuss how to make those hard decisions.
First, let me say that all decisions should be made in light of God’s word. The Bible should be the plumb line by which our lives are measured. But, there are some decisions that get muddled up with emotions and options and plain indecisiveness! Here are 5 steps to take when making those tough decisions…
PRAY
Have a conversation with God. He already knows what you want and what the outcome will be. God knows what is best for your life. He is Omniscient. He is ALL KNOWING.
Then why does God want us to pray if he already knows?
Because God wants to have a close and meaningful relationship with you.
He wants us to learn and grow in Him and that means making decisions that are according to His word and will. In doing so, we glorify God and magnify (make big) God in our lives.
DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION WITH THANKSGIVING MAKE YOUR REQUESTS KNOWN TO GOD. AND THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING WILL GUARD YOUR HEART AND MIND IN CHRIST JESUS. PHIL 4: 6,7
Get Your Heart Lined Up With God
Get your heart (mind, will, emotion, and intellect) in such a state that it has no will of its own. Not an easy thing to do! But 9/10 of the difficulty in making a tough decision is overcoming our own strong wills! We need to make God’s will for our lives our will!
This is a big battle. If most of us were truly honest we can confess that we want our own way.
THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS AND DESPERATELY WICKED. WHO CAN KNOW IT? Jere. 17:9
Spend time in God’s Word and in prayer asking God to make His will YOUR’S. So many times we try to see “signs” and have “feelings” that bend towards our own preferences. But, really the best thing for us is always God’s will!
Feelings Can Be Deceiving
And speaking of “feelings”, they can be so deceiving!
Do not make a decision out of feelings or “impressions”. The longer we walk with God the better we are at discerning God’s will for our lives.
Make decisions based on the word of God.
A sure way to know something is not the will of God is that is does not align with His word! If what we feel or think God is telling us goes against the Word of God then we can be sure that it is not God’s will and not from God.
Read The Bible
Seek the Spirit of God by connecting with the Word of God! Simply, talk to God and ask Him to show you His will and read your Bible. These things must be connected when making wise and godly decision.
God will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER ask you to make a decision that goes against His word… NEVER!!!!.
AND DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, THAT YOU MAY PROVE WHAT THE WILL OF GOD IS, THAT WHICH IS GOOD AN ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT. ROM 12:1
In other words, God is saying do not identify with the ungodliness and desires of what we see around you. Doing so is a sure way to make wrong decisions! But transform (a process of renewing that happens by the power of God… a change of heart) your thoughts, your will, and your intellect. So that you will know what the word of God is by putting it to the test.
Putting what you think up against the Word of God to see if your thoughts align with God’s word.
It is so important to do that because you want to know God’s will for yourself and make decisions that are good in God’s eyes, acceptable and well-pleasing to God, and will grow you up to be spiritually and intellectually mature.
We want our thoughts, will, and intellect to be exactly like our Father’s!
Look For God’s Leading In Your Circumstances
Lastly, after we have done all the above, take into account Providential circumstances.
I say this with a warning!
Make sure you have earnestly prayed and your heart is in a state that it has no will of its own. Make very sure you have discounted “feelings” and “impressions” and have sought the Spirit of God and connected with the Word of God.
Once we have totally handed our hearts over to God’s will we can then look for God’s working in our lives.
I call this an “open door”. These open doors are Providential circumstances that line up with God’s word and His way of guiding us in His will. Remember God’s will will never contradict His word.
This is not the easy way to make a tough decision, is it? But it is the GODLY way!
God does not guarantee that our answer will be swift either. But God is faithful. So, we need to be faithful. Keep on praying and seeking and reading the Bible and looking for God’s answer without letting your will muck up the whole thing!
When you finally make a godly decision, remember to praise and thank God! And don’t fall into the pit of doubt. Believe God and nothing else!
I hope this will help you make those tough decisions we all face in life with confidence that God will show you the right way to go!
May we be blessed and mature and give glory to God through all of our tough decisions!
A verse to tuck in your heart this week…
AND DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, THAT YOU MAY PROVE WHAT THE WILL OF GOD IS, THAT WHICH IS GOOD AN ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT. Romans 12:2
Thank you for such an important post. I know I need to be reminded of this. I sincerely appreciate God’s Holy Word and you for bringing it out. God bless you and your family!
Thank you again Yvonne for another article filled with Gods Wisdom.
You should write a book , teach !
Blessings Kelly
Thank you Yvonne for your words of encouragement and scriptures to remind me that as a Christian we have a heavenly Father God who sees our needs. He knows every moment of despair we feel, and waits for us to call on Him. It is something we know but sometimes life overwhelms us and we feel that no one understands. I pray and seek His will for my life. I have not been able to see beyond my own hurt and loss to truly listen and turn it ALL over to Him. I cannot carry this and should not try when I know God has a plan for my life; my desire is to take the first step in reaching out to others who have felt the empty heart of one who has lost their husband.The grief is deep,overpowering, and I walk in a new life alone.A happy marriage with my husband of 49 years ended with the diagnosis of Small Cell lung cancer after five months of chemotherapy. I have trusted God with His decision to take my husband to heaven. What I have not been able to work through are all the changes I now encounter in being left without him. I miss his comfort,his voice, his presence, and his faithful love. I have prayed with tears flowing asking God to show me what to do and how to give meaning back to my life so I can move forward. I have a strong connection with family,a son, and my church family but today your message were the words my heart needed to hear. Please pray for me as I look forward to whatever God has designed for my life as a widow. I will be praying for others who follow your blog and may have a very similar situation as me. God bless you friend.
Oh Yvonne, thank you so much for this post it could not have come at a better time! My mom passed away a little over two years ago and she is greatly missed. My younger brother lived with her never married. He lives in NC and I in Florida. He has had two strokes and needs care. He was able to get into an assisted living facility. I have tried to help him as much as I can. I just worry about him and wish I was closer but your words gave me so much hope and direction. I am so grateful to have read your blog today. Love following you and love your decorating!
Yvonne, this is such a wonderful post! We all have to make tough decisions in our life and you have outlined the steps so well that are needed in making these decisions. May God continue to bless you as you share your devotionals with us. We appreciate you so much — and thank God for you! Have a blessed week, dear friend!
Please also remember to seek the help of other believers, a.k.a. “wise counsel” and “the body”. We are to bear one another’s burdens. Find others who have had similar problems, connect with them to gain compassion, consider their wisdom, and receive the comfort that they have been comforted with.
So true!