Question 1

What must I do to make good decisions?

Accepted Answer

Micah 6:8The Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.Romans 2:18You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law.Start by making the basic decision to do what the Bible says is right and avoid what the Bible says is wrong. It is much harder to make wise decisions on big scale when you have not practiced wisdom in small, everyday decisions. For example, if you have decided consistently to tell the truth, then you will know to turn down a job opportunity if you know the company will encourage you to tell little lies to get ahead.Psalm 25:4Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.Follow God’s direction. God’s Word shows us where God is going. Stay on the path with him, seeking always to follow his will. Decide not to do anything that will take you off God’s path, or you will soon be in danger of losing your way.Luke 6:12-13One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles.Saturate your life with prayer. Talking with God calms your spirit and clears your mind, making you more able to hear his counsel.Proverbs 12:15Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.Proverbs 18:15Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge.Psalm 37:30The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong.Listen to the advice of godly people and carefully consider it as you make a decision.Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.Don’t make a decision without first asking for God’s help. Begin all decisions with humility and reverence for God to whom you are ultimately accountable.Proverbs 18:13Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.Make sure you have all the facts before making up your mind.Matthew 16:26“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”Resist the temptation to make choices guided by a desire for personal satisfaction. Such ambition will lead you to make some very bad decisions.Galatians 5:22-23The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!Good choices are always in keeping with the character traits produced in us by the Holy Spirit. Bad choices often are a result of neglecting those qualities for selfish ones.

Question 2

How does God guide my decision making?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 25:12Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose.Proverbs 4:5Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.Philippians 2:13God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.Pray for God to give you the desire to obey him and seek his guidance. When you obey God’s Word and God’s will, he will guide and you will make decisions that please him and are therefore good for you.

Question 3

What are some principles of good decision making?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 1:7Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.Don’t make a decision without first asking God’s help. Begin all decisions with humility and reverence for God to whom you are ultimately accountable.Proverbs 18:13Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.Make sure you have all the facts before making up your mind.Proverbs 18:15Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge.Be open to ideas. Leaders need to realize that being open to good advice is not a sign of weakness or inadequacy, but of intelligence.Proverbs 12:15Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.You will often have many people offering you advice. If you reject the advice of people who are wise, like Rehoboam did (1 Kings 12:1-20), you will probably make some foolish decisions. But if you listen to advice and weigh it carefully, you are more likely to make good choices.Matthew 16:26“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”Resist the temptation to make choices guided by a desire for personal gain. Such ambition will lead you to make some very bad decisions.John 5:19Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing.”1 John 5:14We are confident that he [Jesus] hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.If leaders, like Jesus, continually seek what God would have them do, then they are more likely to make good choices that honor him. Seek God’s guidance; he is glad to help you follow his will.Proverbs 12:15Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.Seek the advice of trusted friends; they want to help you and can honestly tell you if you are getting off the right track.Psalm 119:98Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.Make sure your decisions are based on values in line with God’s Word. Divine common sense will help you make good decisions.Luke 6:12-13One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.Do what Jesus did and saturate your major decisions with prayer.Galatians 5:22-23The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!Good choices are always in keeping with these character traits produced in us by the Holy Spirit. Bad choices often involve neglecting these character traits for selfish ones.Psalm 25:4Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.Psalm 119:24Your laws please me; they give me wise advice.Always seek God’s wisdom first in any big decision. Knowing the Bible and gleaning its wisdom gives you more options in your decision making and provides you with the discernment you need to make healthy choices. A right decision is one that is consistent with the principles of truth found in God’s Word. If only one of the options would please God, that is the right decision. If there are several options that are consistent with God’s Word, then rather than the decision itself, the most important thing may be the process of trusting God to help you make the most of the path you choose.

Question 4

How does our dependence on God relate to making decisions?

Accepted Answer

2 Chronicles 16:9The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.God wants to help you make the right decisions. He is looking for you to depend fully on him. Your openness to him is the first step to being shown the way.James 1:5-8If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.Some people fear they are bothering God with their problems. Nothing could be further from the truth. God is looking for ways to help you because he loves you. Your commitment to him releases his resources for you.Romans 8:26-27The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.When you are overwhelmed, confused, or uncertain, do not hesitate to pray. In fact, these are the best times to pray because the Holy Spirit can then help you the most. Describe your situation to God and trust him to prescribe the solution.

Question 5

How do I know if I have made a good decision?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 79:9Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the glory of your name.You know you have made a good decision when it honors God.Galatians 5:22-23The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.You know you’ve made a good decision when it produces good results. Always check your motives—are you deciding based on what you want or on what is best for others? Are you making a decision that will help others or hurt them?2 Timothy 3:16All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.Hebrews 5:14Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.You always make the right decision when you follow the guidelines and commands God has given you in the Bible. You will consistently make good decisions when you are spending regular time in God’s Word and acting on its principles.Romans 8:28We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.Even if you don’t always make the best decision, God has the power to make your decision turn into something very good.

Question 6

What is the most important decision I can make?

Accepted Answer

Deuteronomy 30:19-20“Today I have given you the choice between life and death. . . . Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him.”Joshua 24:15“Choose today whom you will serve. . . . But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”John 3:16“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”John 14:6Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”The most important decision anyone will make is whether or not they will be a follower of the one true God. This decision requires believing that his Son, Jesus, who died for your sins and rose from the dead so that you can have an eternal relationship with God. This decision not only affects your life now, but will affect what happens after you die. Accept God’s invitation. Do not miss out on the sweetness of a relationship with Jesus.

Question 7

What is the danger of indecision?

Accepted Answer

Isaiah 42:20You see and recognize what is right but refuse to act on it. You hear with your ears, but you don’t really listen.James 1:5-8If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. . . . But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.Indecision is really a decision not to make a decision. When you procrastinate in making decisions, you forfeit your ability to choose and will be at the mercy of decisions made by others.Joshua 24:15If you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.Indecision regarding matters of faith can slowly but persistently draw you away from God. Not deciding for God is actually making a decision against him.

Question 8

How can I be more decisive?

Accepted Answer

Philippians 2:13God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.Psalm 25:4, 12Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. . . . Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose.Psalm 119:5-11Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! . . . How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. . . . I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.When you persistently ask God to give you wisdom, perspective, and a desire to obey him, he promises to do it. And the more you know God through prayer and reading the Bible, the more you know what God wants you to do. And when you know what God wants you to do, you can be decisive when faced with choices.Isaiah 50:7Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame.When you know the right thing to do—you are certain it is what God wants you to do, it does not contradict God’s Word, and it does not use improper methods (like deception) to accomplish something good—then move ahead. Do the right thing the right away and you will never regret your decision.Hebrews 11:8It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.Having faith in God will help you be decisive because you know he holds the future. You don’t have to know exactly where you are going when you are going with God, just believe that he is good and will keep his promises.Psalm 119:8, 57I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me! . . . Lord, you are mine! I promise to obey your words!Psalm 119:30I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your regulations.Choosing to obey God helps us to be decisive in both large and small decisions. When we know what God’s Word says, that knowledge will help us discern if the choices we face are right or wrong.

Question 9

What do I do when I don’t know what to do?

Accepted Answer

2 Chronicles 20:12God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.You don’t always have to know what to do. What’s important is that you know who to ask. As the saying goes, “It isn’t so much what you know, but who you know.” How well do you know God? As long as you are looking to him, he will make sure you have all you need.Proverbs 3:5-7Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.Trust the Lord to direct your steps, even when the way is confusing. God will guide you.

Question 10

How do I reveal my character in my decisions?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 13:10-11Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley . . . The whole area was well watered everywhere . . . (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley . . . and parted company with his uncle Abram.Proverbs 14:2Those who follow the right path fear the Lord; those who take the wrong path despise him.Lot’s choice was selfish. He chose the best land for himself, even though he knew he would be moving into an area known for its evil and temptation. Your decisions determine your actions, and your actions show what is in your heart.

Question 11

Should I put out a “fleece” as Gideon did?

Accepted Answer

Judges 6:39Then Gideon said to God, . . . “This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.”“Putting out a fleece” is a phrase that comes from the story of Gideon found in the Bible. It means that you designate a sign that will confirm you made the right decision and then ask God to make that sign occur. Great caution must be exercised when putting out a fleece because it tends to limit the options of a God who has unlimited options available to you. It is also dangerous because it can be used to blame God if the decision doesn’t go the way you wanted. Don’t try to force God to make a decision from your limited range of options. Let him decide his way from his unlimited perspective.

Question 12

How can I make a wise decision in a difficult circumstance?

Accepted Answer

Isaiah 51:7Listen to me, you who know right from wrong, you who cherish my law in your hearts. Do not be afraid of people’s scorn, nor fear their insults.Daniel 3:14-18Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”The right decision is not always the safest one, at least in the short run. Trust God to always do what is eternally right in your life, even though choosing to follow him may seem harmful to you at the time.

Question 13

Do I have to worry even about small decisions?

Accepted Answer

1 Samuel 15:22-23Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? . . . because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”Even a seemingly small decision has lasting consequences. Sinful decisions, even small ones, can have consequences, like a cancer that grows wildly out of control.

Decisions