A Pattern for Making Decisions

January 10, 2021

A Pattern for Making Decisions

With Bishop Ronald K. Powell

Key Verses:

PROVERBS 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.”

Galatians 5:25 ²⁵If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Psalm 25:12-13

12 What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.

3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. ²Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. ³For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. ⁵Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence(the selfish human desire for an object, person, or experience), and covetousness, which is idolatry: ⁶For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: ⁷In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

The following steps will help you discern God’s directions for you no matter what situation you’re facing.

In order to hear the Lord’s voice, you must remove all obstacles by: Confessing and repenting of sin.
Any sinful attitude or habit must be removed before you can proceed. Sin clouds the mind.
Ask God if there’s anything in your life that doesn’t fit your identity as a follower of Christ. If He reveals a specific sin, immediately confess and repent of it.

Bringing your desires to the point of neutrality.
There will be times when what you want in a situation is not in line with what the Lord desires.
The only way you’ll receive His guidance is by submitting to Him.
When you can honestly say that you desire His will be done more than your own, He’ll give you clear

direction.

Exercise patience.
Some decisions are urgent-at least from a human perspective.
However, demanding an immediate answer from God is a sign of distrust.
Patience requires a willingness to trust the Lord and submit to His timing.
Examine the situation from God’s perspective and remember that those who wait for the Lord will not be ashamed.

PS. 25:3 Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.

Be alert to pressure.
When seeking the Lord’s direction, be careful not to let anyone or anything persuade you to choose a path other than God’s.

Be cautious of:

External pressure.
Sometimes people don’t understand why you’re waiting,and they may offer advice or push you to make a decision.Instead of giving in and jumping ahead of God’s will, fill your mind with His Word. That way, you’ll be able to discern if the advice aligns with His desires.

Internal pressure.
Other times, the pressure to make a decision comes from within.
Fear of losing an opportunity may cause you to enter into a situation or relationship instead of waiting for God’s guidance.
He may lead you to a decision nobody else will understand, but if you take the first step of obedience, His blessings will follow.

Persist in prayer.
Just because you don’t receive an immediate answer from the Lord, it doesn’t mean He isn’t listening.
The point of persistent prayer is not to force God to do what you want but to see the situation from His perspective.
As you wait, He deepens your relationship with Him and deals with issues in your lives that are preventing you from growing spiritually.

Philippians 1:6 New King James Version

6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Rest in God’s promise.
In order to find out what the Lord wants you to do in a situation, you must believe His promises.
He assures us He’ll answer the prayers of those who ask, seek, and knock (Matt. 7:7), and if you’ll faithfully read the Word each day, the Holy Spirit will lead you to passages with the guidance you need for any situation.

Wait for Christ’s peace.
The last step in the decision-making process is to let the peace of Christ act as the “umpire” for your choice.
Col. 3:15 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

When the direction is from God, His peace will enter your heart and mind.
This is the final proof that you are following His path.
There are no more doubts, just confident assurance.

Conclusion:

When you’re faced with decisions and don’t know what to do, remember that God’s Word is His primary method of speaking to His people.

You can also receive guidance by humbly seeking the Lord in prayer and asking the Holy Spirit to help you apply Scriptural principles to your particular circumstance.

When you patiently wait to hear His voice and heed His instructions, you can make a confident decision knowing that God has given you clear direction.