How can I avoid making mistakes?

1 Kings 16:1-7This message from the Lord was delivered to King Baasha by the prophet Jehu son of Hanani: “I lifted you out of the dust to make you ruler of my people Israel, but you have followed the evil example of Jeroboam. You have provoked my anger by causing my people Israel to sin. So now I will destroy you and your family, just as I destroyed the descendants of Jeroboam son of Nebat.” . . . Baasha had done what was evil in the Lord’s sight (just as the family of Jeroboam had done).

2 Chronicles 30:7-8“Do not be like your ancestors and relatives who abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and became an object of derision, as you yourselves can see. Do not be stubborn, as they were, but submit yourselves to the Lord. Come to his Temple, which he has set apart as holy forever. Worship the Lord your God so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.”

Psalm 78:1-4O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying, for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.

Psalm 78:8Then they will not be like their ancestors—stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.

Isaiah 42:23Who will hear these lessons from the past and see the ruin that awaits you in the future?

1 Corinthians 10:1-11I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. . . . These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.

It is wise to review our past because it helps us avoid repeating our mistakes. We can also learn by observing the mistakes of others and the consequences they suffered.

Psalm 119:11I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

God’s Word is full of wisdom. Knowing God’s Word gives guidance that helps us avoid making mistakes. The Bible is not an advice column of opinions, but the wisdom of Almighty God.

Proverbs 11:14Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.

Ecclesiastes 10:1As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor.

Godly counsel helps us avoid mistakes. When in doubt, ask a wise person who follows God for advice and help.

Numbers 33:2At the Lord’s direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress. These are the stages of their march, identified by the different places where they stopped along the way.

Hebrews 11:8, 25-27It 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. . . . [Moses] chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.

Faith in God makes us quick to listen to his direction, which makes us much more likely to make good choices. Without God’s guidance, we will make far more mistakes.

Proverbs 14:29People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.

James 1:19Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

James 3:2Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

Mistakes are made when we speak or behave impulsively. Thinking before speaking and acting can prevent many mistakes.