We’ve all seen those funny videos of people failing big time because they made a stupid decision. If we are honest, sometimes it’s funny watching other people fail and get hurt by the stupid choices they made, but it’s not so funny when you and I are the ones getting hurt or failing because all we are left with is the pain of what we did. And every one of us knows what I am talking about.
You decided not to study for the test or not to do a homework assignment and your grades reflect that decision. You decided to talk back to your mom or your dad and now you find yourself grounded with no phone, no TV, no life, and things in the house are tense. You decided to talk behind your friend's back and you were confronted by them about what you said and now that friendship isn’t even close to what it was once like.
Let’s face it, between today and the end of our life, you and I will make millions of decisions, and all of our choices lead us to a destination. I once heard someone say, “We make our choices, and then our choices make us.” In fact, the choices you make today will affect your life 5, 10, 15, even 20 years from now. We need to be careful to choose wisely. So how do we do this?
How do we know if we are making the right decisions or not? How do we figure out what God wants us to do?
Today let’s look at three ways that God leads us to make the best decisions we can possibly make.
1. God helps us make decisions through the Bible.
Over 90% of God’s plan for your life is already spelled out for you in the pages of this book. That is why I have been hitting the subject of spending time with God every single day so hard because each day we are going to understand a little bit better the direction God wants our life to take.
Bottom line: The more the Word of God gets in us, the more we become like Jesus, and the more we are able to discern between what is good and what is best. And that is where our struggle is. We don’t want to settle for just a good life but we want God’s best for our life.
The Bible says in Proverbs 2:1-9,
“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.”
What an amazing promise from God. If we will get into the word of God and let the word of God get into us, God will give us wisdom, knowledge, and insight into the path that He wants us to go.
The question is, are we “searching the scriptures for what God desires like we are searching for hidden treasure”? For a lot of people, the answer is not so much. We are so busy doing this and doing that and making this decision and that decision that we don’t make the time to spend with God seeking His plan and purpose for our lives and that is when life becomes messy.
Most of the mistakes we make in life are because we just make decisions without ever seeking the wisdom of God found in the pages of this book. And if you and I would simply take the time to open it and read what God says it would save us so much heartache.
For example, if you are wondering if you should go to church weekly, the Bible says in Hebrews 10:25, “let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
If you’re wondering, does God care if I gossip or lie or tell an inappropriate joke? Ephesians 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
How about a few verses later in Ephesians 5:4? God makes this even clearer. It says, “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.”
Should I mess around and have sex before marriage?
1 Thessalonians 4:3 answers that one. “It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality.”
Should I date someone who doesn’t love God?
2 Corinthians 6:14-15 tell us, ”Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can goodness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the Devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?”
Is it God’s will for me to forgive those who hurt me, or does He want me to hold a grudge and become a bitter person?
Colossians 3:13 says “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
In just about every situation of life, God has a direction that he wants us to go and if we will do what He tells us to do, our life will have fewer regrets. You see there is a reason God asks us to do what He asks us to do.
He wants us to forgive others because He doesn’t want bitterness and hatred to rule our life. He wants us to be pure and holy because He doesn’t want us to hurt other people and leave a wake of broken hearts in our path. He wants you to marry someone who is a Christian because He wants you to be able to share the most important aspect of your life with the person you love the most on this earth.
If we ignore what God’s Word has to say, we will end up with massive regrets.
Don’t ignore God. Spend time with God every day and you will have fewer regrets tomorrow.
2. Another way God guides us into making great decisions is through the Holy Spirit
When we asked Jesus to forgive us of our sins and come into our life, God gave us the Holy Spirit.
John 16:13 says, “He (The Holy Spirit) will guide you into all truth.”
Jesus said in John 14:26 “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
The Holy Spirit that lives in us reminds us of the words of God and guides us down the path that God wants us to take.
Now I have never heard an audible voice from God, but there have been times when God has spoken to me so loudly in my gut, that there was no way I could miss what He was telling me to do.
How many times have you had a feeling in your gut as to what to do, but you didn’t listen? That's the Holy Spirit. Now how many times did you not listen, and you look back now with regret?
Jesus said in John 10:27, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
How do we hear the voice of God? We have to declutter our minds. If you are like me, you are constantly processing stuff in your mind.
Right now, some of you are thinking about what you have to do later today or tomorrow. Some of you are thinking about some pretty girl or hot guy, or what you saw on Tik Tok or Instagram. Some of you are thinking that you are looking really good and you are wondering when someone is going to notice your new outfit or your new hairstyle or the fact that you brushed your teeth and wore deodorant today.
If you want to hear from the Holy Spirit of God, you have to get away from the TV and get away from your phone and just be still before God and ask Him to share with you what He wants you to do. You cannot hear God’s voice if you’re surrounded by noise. That’s why we’ve got to find a quiet place.
Listen. God will never tell you to do something that is the opposite of what He has already told us in the Bible. So I'm sorry to say God isn’t going to tell you to kill your brother or sister. God isn’t going to tell you to talk behind someone’s back or watch something inappropriate on your phone.
God’s Word is our true north, so if God’s Word is clear and you think God is asking you to do something other than what is clearly written in scripture, you are not listening to the Holy Spirit but probably you are listening to the lasagna you ate last night.
3. God leads us through the advice of Godly friends and leaders.
Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.”
Proverbs 19:20 says, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.”
The key is to make sure that you are seeking advice from people who are in the word of God and who are seeking God diligently in their own life. So be choosy on who you ask advice from because if they aren’t seeking God they might lead you down the wrong path.
Personally, I need the advice of others in my life. All of us have spiritual blind spots. We can’t think through every scenario of every decision we are going to make. We need the help of trusted friends to come alongside us and pray for us, and that is why I am always telling you to get into a small group. Get a group of people around you who love you and look out for you as you look out for them.
God wants to guide us, and if we let Him guide us we will have the time of our life. But if we don’t take Him seriously, if we ignore His guidance, chances are we will never live the life God has for us to live. God doesn’t want that for you and neither do I.
©2024 Sagebrush Church
