According to an article published in Psychology Today, the average human being makes somewhere around 35,000 decisions every day. While some of those decisions can be as minor as what flavor of creamer you’re going to put in your coffee, a portion of those 35,000 decisions can have long-term ramifications on your life.
Those potentially life altering decisions can leave you feeling stressed about how your life, and the lives of those around you may be impacted if you make the wrong choice. Fortunately, the Bible offers us plenty of advice on decision making. If you are facing an important life decision, or you simply want to be prepared when the need for a major decision presents itself, begin mediating on some of the following verses.
Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew chapter 6 is part of the Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount. In chapters 5-7 of the Gospel According to Matthew, Jesus imparts great wisdom to a group of followers, and in turn He imparts that same wisdom to us. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus addresses decision making. However, He instructs us to not put our own desires first when we’re making decisions. Instead, we are to focus on the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
To focus on the kingdom of God and His righteousness means that we aren’t focused on our own selfish desires, or even our fears and anxieties. Instead, you are completely focused on the promises of God’s word and how they offer you hope for every situation. Once you become focused on God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, He promises to add “all these things” to you.
Matthew 6:10 (ESV)
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Another reference to Biblical decision making is found in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6:5-15, Jesus lays out the framework for how to pray, which we often refer to as The Lord’s Prayer. Within this prayer, Jesus gives an example of how we should submit our own will to God’s will.
Obviously, the way things operate on Earth aren’t exactly the same as the way they go in Heaven. In Heaven, God’s will is the final rule, while on Earth it may seem as though things are working in direct contrast to God’s will. While you can’t everything on Earth to operate in subjection to God’s will, you can put your life in subjection to His will. Once we allow His will to be done in our lives on Earth as it is in Heaven, we can make decisions that are pleasing to God and beneficial for us.
1 John 5:14 (ESV)
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
Lots of Christians struggle with the idea of understanding the will of God. While there are plenty of books and resources that are designed to help explain the will of God and how it works, ultimately, God’s will for His people is written in His word.
In this verse, John tells us that we can have confidence when we ask anything according to God’s will. That includes when you are seeking God’s help when making difficult decisions. By reading and studying the Bible, you get a better understanding of God’s will, which enables you to make decisions that line up with what He says about every situation.
Luke 14:28 (ESV)
For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?
In Luke 14:28, Jesus discusses the importance of making well-planned decisions instead of acting rashly. The Bible says there was a large crowd following Jesus, undoubtedly impressed by His teachings and ability to work miracles. It was at this moment that Jesus saw the opportunity to discuss the best way to make decisions with them.
Using the illustration of a building project, Christ taught the crowd how important it is to sit down and carefully make decisions. He went on to discuss how if you begin laying the foundation for the tower but can’t finish the project, people will ridicule you. Being careful in decision making not only helps you avoid the consequences of rash decisions, it can also help you avoid the ridicule of those around you if you act without proper planning.
Proverbs 12:15 (ESV)
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
A cursory glance at Proverbs 12:15 makes this verse seem a little harsh. However, it is simply an admonishment to seek Godly advice from people who have already submitted their lives to Christ. If we’re being honest, no one makes a decision expecting it to end badly.
That’s why the Bible says that even the “way of a fool is right in his own eyes.” However, people who are wise surround themselves with Godly men and women who can give them advice on decision making, pointing them to scriptures that illustrate what God wants for their lives.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
No one likes admitting that they don’t know what to do. However, in Proverbs chapter 3, King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, encourages us to do just that. Once we stop leaning on our own understanding, we submit every aspect of our lives to what God has planned for us.
While it’s a scary proposition on the surface, it’s important to realize that God has already seen your tomorrow. He has already gone ahead of you and has worked on things in your future. Instead of trying to figure out what you think your best option is, submit the decision to God and let His will override your own understanding.
A Prayer for Decision Making
God, I thank you for always leading and guiding me in my decision making. I know that You have been active in my life in the past, and I am trusting You to be active in my present while guiding me into my future. Lord, I am not sure what to do about the decisions I am having to make right now.
But I submit my life to you. Help me to acknowledge and accept your will for my life. Help me to stop leaning on my own understanding and seek Your kingdom and Your righteousness. I know that You only want what is best for me, so I ask that you help me in making this decision. In Christ’s name I pray, Amen.