how can i know what god wants me to do - cma · pdf filehow can i know what god wants me to...

CONTENTSFleeces, Fasting,And Flipping Coins. . . . . 2How Can I Know What To Do?

Go To The Lord . . . . . . 5Understand His Principles . . . . . . . 11Investigate Your Options . . . . . . . 16Discuss It With Others . . . . . . . . 20Express Your Freedom . . . . . . . 23

Quiet Nudges . . . . . . . 28God’s Will And My Will . . . . . . . . . 32

HOW CAN IKNOW WHATGOD WANTSME TO DO?

WWill He send me a clearsignal? Will I get somekind of special feeling?

How much should I rely on goodold common sense? What if the Bible doesn’t seem to haveanything to say that applies to thematter? Why does God seem toleave me hanging in limbo when I want so desperately to hear adirect word from Him? And whatabout those times when thereseem to be several good options,or perhaps no good option?

This booklet offers biblicalguidelines to help us sort throughthe confusion and move aheadconfidently through life. It is ourprayer that you will discover whatGod wants you to do and that youwill find great joy in pleasing Him.

Kurt E. De Haan Our Daily Bread Managing Editor

Managing Editor: David Sper Cover Photo: CameriqueScripture quotations are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by ThomasNelson, Inc. Used by permission.All rights reserved.© 1987,1998,2003 RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan Printed in USA

© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

FLEECES,FASTING, ANDFLIPPING COINS

IIt was 5:30 a.m. andFrancis Schaeffer had anagonizing decision to

make. Before his fatherwalked out the front door togo to work, he wanted tohear what his 19-year-oldson was going to do.

Francis was a year out ofhigh school and strugglingto know God’s will. He hadput his trust in Christ asSavior the year before, andthat decision had turned his life upside down. Hisparents wanted him to stay home and become a mechanical engineer—something Francis hadwanted to do as well—butnow his heart was pullinghim in another direction. He sensed God leading himto go away to college toprepare for ministry.

He told his father that heneeded a few more minutes

to think, then he went off tothe cellar to pray. He weptas he asked God for help.Finally, in desperation hetook out a coin and said,“Heads, I’ll go.” It washeads. Then he pleaded,“God, be patient with me. Ifit comes up tails this time,I’ll go.” It was tails. “Oncemore, God. Please let it beheads again.” It was heads.

Francis went backupstairs and told his father, “Dad, I’ve got to go.” Although later he said he would never adviseanyone else to use the same method of findingGod’s will, Francis felt thathis decision was right (TheTapestry by Edith Schaeffer).

That decision was acrucial one in the life of Francis Schaeffer(1912–1984), who went on to become a pastor, the founder of L’AbriFellowship, a philosopher, a lecturer, and an author of 24 books.

2© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

The anxiety isunderstandable. Evengrocery shopping can befrustrating. Other decisions,like whether to rent anapartment or buy a home,seem more important. Stillother actions, like selectinga college, choosing a career,picking a church to attend,and deciding who to date orwho to marry, cause greateranxiety.

Then there are theheartwrenching decisions.What should you do whenyour spouse admits toinfidelity? When a youngmother is told that theinfant in her womb will beseverely handicapped, doesshe have any options? Whatshould an employee dowhen he is told that if hedoesn’t overlook anunethical business practicehe will lose his job?

Our lives can be changedforever by one decision. Addto that the tension of wantingto please God—of desiring to

make the most of our livesfor Him. No concernedChristian wants to choosesomething other than God’sbest. Is there a way to findout what God wants us to doin a particular situation?

The methods havebeen many. People havetried all kinds of tactics todetermine what God wantsthem to do.

• fleeces (asking God for a supernatural sign)

• fasting (giving up food to seek out God)

• flipping coins (leaving it up to the toss)

• feeling (obeying feelingsin spite of logic)

• floundering (fishingeverywhere for answers)

• defaulting (letting eventsdecide)

• dipping (random Biblereadings)

• delegating (letting othersdecide for us)

• dreaming (asking for avision or a voice)

• drawing straws (letting 3


the length decide)• sitting (procrastinating)• sliding (taking the path

of least resistance)• thinking (using logic and

ignoring feelings)The confusion has

been multiplying.The consequences of ourdecisions are often complex.Therefore, we need to gain aclear understanding of howGod expects us to find ourway through life. Andbecause the Bible doesn’talways give a clear answerto every question, we haveto be careful how we seeksolutions. But one thing issure. We will find nothingbut desperation, frustration,guilt, and uncertainty if weresort to mere humanmethods in our attempt tofind God’s will for our lives.

Some people have theidea that God has their livesall mapped out, but Hewon’t show them the way.Other Christians feel guiltyfor past mistakes, and they

resign themselves to whatthey think is a second-ratelife. Some people tiptoenervously through life as ifthey were on a tightrope.With every step theywonder if they are going tocontinue to receive theapproval of God.

The solution isliberating. God does notintend for us to be foreverfrustrated and defeated, nor to have a “tightrope”mentality. There is a betterway. The Bible shows usthat as we do what God hasclearly told us to do, Hewill, in His own time andway, make sure that we donot miss what He hasplanned for us.

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“In our quest forGod’s guidance, webecome our ownworst enemies.”

J. I. Packer


HOW CAN IKNOW WHATTO DO?

HHow do you knowthat what youthink you should

do reflects God’s wishes and not your own humandesires? It can getconfusing. Doing God’s willisn’t something that comesnaturally. In Galatians 5:17the apostle Paul wrote:

For the flesh lusts againstthe Spirit, and the Spiritagainst the flesh; andthese are contrary to oneanother, so that you donot do the things that you wish. Some of our confusion

could be because we do notunderstand how God guidesus. We could be giving upour own responsibility, or wecould be underestimatingGod’s involvement in ourlives.

This booklet will showthat we can know as much

of God’s will as we need toknow, if we focus ourattention on five basicprinciples. If we truly desireto know what God wants usto do, we cannot afford toignore them.

GO TO THE LORDBegin right. Don’t wait untilyou are desperate or hurtingbefore you do the mostimportant thing. Proverbs3:5-6 tells us, “Trust in theLord with all your heart,and lean not on your ownunderstanding; in all yourways acknowledge Him,and He shall direct yourpaths.” The phrase “Heshall direct your paths” can

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be translated more literallyas “He will make your pathsstraight.” To understandwhat that means, we needto look at the surroundingverses. The context (vv.1-10)describes what God will dofor the person who trustsHim and follows Hisprinciples for living. Verses5 and 6 promise that if weare living in dependence onthe Lord, He will make surethat we keep on course andreceive His approval.

In Psalm 5:8, Davidprayed, “Lead me, O Lord,in Your righteousnessbecause of my enemies;make Your way straightbefore my face.” Davidknew that God was able toshow him what to do.

Why do we have toacknowledge God? Toooften we may foolishly thinkwe are competent to makewise choices without God’shelp. We reason, “If Godgave us brains, why is it soimportant to ask Him for

help in making decisions?”The answer becomesobvious as we understandwho God is. Because Hecreated us, He knows usbetter than we knowourselves (Ps. 139:1-16). He knows everything about everything, and Heunderstands what we willnever understand (Isa. 55:8-9; Rom. 11:33-36; 1 Cor.1:25). He is in control ofeverything that happens (Ps.115:3). He is all-powerful(Jer. 32:17), and He holds usaccountable to Him for ouractions (vv.18-19). He wantsto help us and will help usas we honor Him (Ps. 37:3-6,23-24,28). He will provideall we need now and in the life to come if we havesought Him first (Mt. 6:33).He will judge all those whothought they did not needGod (Rom. 1:18-32).

How do weacknowledge the Lord? Do we have to liveat the top of a mountain,


shave our heads, live in amonastery, or pray for 8hours a day to show Godthat we recognize who Heis? No, but there are somespecial ways we canacknowledge that He is incontrol of life’s situations.We acknowledge God whenwe demonstrate trust,practice submission, giveourselves to prayer, and livein obedience to Him. Let’slook at each of them.

What does it meanto trust Him? Trustmeans that we will notdepend on our ownunderstanding (Prov. 3:5). A 2-year-old child doesn’trealize how wise his parentsare. He may think he knowshow to operate the kitchenstove. He may wonder whyMom and Dad don’t let himdetermine his own bedtime.But his parents “knowbetter.” As the child growsup, he would be wise to askfor their advice.

King David realized the

value of trusting God whenhe wrote, “The Lord is myshepherd” (Ps. 23:1). Like asheep whose life and safetydepend on the shepherd,David saw that his life wasin God’s hands. David knewthat as he followed like asheep, the Lord would leadlike a shepherd.

What is this aboutsubmission? We could usethe words humble, reverent,or fearful to describe theattitude we should possess ifwe want to be confident thatGod is leading us in ourdecision-making. Proverbs1:7 reads, “The fear of theLord is the beginning ofknowledge, but fools despisewisdom and instruction.”Psalm 25:9 says, “Thehumble He guides in justice,and the humble He teachesHis way.” The person who iswilling to be taught will learnto please God with alldecisions.

Submission is alsoshown through a voluntary


giving up of our own desiresin favor of God’s desires.Romans 12:1-2 states:

I beseech you therefore,brethren, by the mercies of God, that you presentyour bodies a livingsacrifice, holy, acceptableto God, which is yourreasonable service. And donot be conformed to thisworld, but be transformedby the renewing of yourmind, that you may provewhat is that good andacceptable and perfect will of God.This “sacrifice” of

oneself is the practicaloutworking of an innerattitude of submission toGod. The believer who fears God will recognize His lordship over all areasof life and will relinquishany claims to self-rule. The“transformed” mind thinksin line with God’s thoughtsabout right living. Such atransformation takes placeas a believer fills his mind

with the truths of God’sWord. The resulting lifeproves that God’s way is the best way to live.

How can prayerhelp? The believer whotrusts God and is submissiveto Him recognizes his needfor divine help in makingdecisions. The apostleJames, when talking abouthow to handle difficultiesand trials, said this:

If any of you lackswisdom, let him ask ofGod, who gives to allliberally and withoutreproach, and it will begiven to him (Jas. 1:5).James recognized that it

is not easy to know what todo when the going getsrough. So he explained thatwe must ask God for theneeded wisdom. Decisionsare often necessary as ourfaith is tested or as weendure a trial. In a widerapplication, James 1:5promises that God will givehelp to all who ask Him.


Failure to ask for God’sdirection can be a sign ofarrogance. Although we mayfeel confident in ourselves,God knows the biggerpicture. The danger of notconsulting God is illustratedin Joshua 9. When Israelwas in the process ofconquering the land of

Canaan, the Gibeonitestried to trick Israel intomaking a peace treaty withthem. Israel rushed into adecision without askingGod. Verse 14 states thatthe men of Israel “did notask counsel of the Lord.”They didn’t think theyneeded to ask God aboutsomething that seemed to

make so much sense—yetthey were wrong. Theyended up making a treatywith people the Lord hadordered Israel to kill.

An example of the valueof prayer in seeking God’swill is found in Colossians.The apostle Paul prayed forthe Colossian believers,asking that they “may befilled with the knowledge ofHis will in all wisdom andspiritual understanding; that[they] may walk worthy ofthe Lord, fully pleasing Him,being fruitful in every goodwork and increasing in theknowledge of God” (1:9-10).

God does reveal His willto us. Through His Wordand through the indwellingSpirit we have all theresources we need. But first we must pray.

What if we don’t dowhat we know weshould? Why should Godgive a person guidance onsome specific situation inlife if that person shows

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“Don’t expect Godto reveal His willfor you next weekuntil you practice

it for today.”Alan Redpath


contempt or disregard forHim in another area of life?The central issue is whetheror not we are walking inobedience to what wealready know God wants us to do. Why should weexpect God to show—through circumstances,people, or the inner work of the Holy Spirit—what Hewants us to do, if we do notfully intend to obey Him?

Consider the example of Jonah. He was clearlytold by God to go toNineveh, but he ran theother way. Would youexpect God to give Jonahdirection on a new careerchoice? I doubt it.

What can we expect if weacknowledge Him?We can certainly expectGod to honor His promiseto help us. He will give useverything we need in orderto know what to do. Thatdoesn’t mean God will spellout everything for us when

in fact He has already givenus the scriptural principlesto use in making ourdecisions. Or He mayexpect us to use our abilityto reason as a guide inchoosing a path that wouldbe in keeping with Hisgeneral guidelines. In anycase, we can expect God to give us the direction weneed. He is in control of allof life (Eph. 1:11). As weseek His will, He will workout His plan through us(Phil. 2:13).

Even if we have failed to acknowledge Him in thepast, we can fulfill His willfor us today and tomorrowas we learn to acknowledgeHim in our lives.

What does the Holy Spirit do for us?Jesus promised that theSpirit would live withinbelievers (Jn. 14:15-18;16:7-15). But what is theSpirit doing to lead us in our decision-making? Hismain role is to help us


understand what God hasalready revealed in the Bible(see 1 Cor. 2:6-16).

There are also severalNew Testament examples of how the Holy Spirit can work through innerimpressions (Acts 8:29;11:28; 13:2; 21:11; 1 Cor. 14:30). A word of warning, though, isneeded. Impressions can be deceiving. Andimpressions can come from questionable sources:our selfish desires, mentalbaggage from the past, oreven satanic delusion. Sowe can’t put all our hope for guidance on subjectivefeelings. That’s why it is so important to look forbiblical principles that theSpirit can use to give usunmistakable direction.

Thinking It Over.Have you acknowledged the Lord in all areas of your life? Why would it befoolish to ask God to guideyou in making an important

decision if you are currentlyignoring what He has saidabout some other matters?If in the past you have notprayed as you know youshould, begin right now totalk to God and requestwisdom from Him.

UNDERSTAND HISPRINCIPLESIf you didn’t know how to play a board game likeMonopoly, how would you learn? You could asksomeone to explain it toyou, or you could go directly to the rulebookyourself, because rules can be misinterpreted orforgotten by other players.

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The final word is always the rulebook, written by the inventor of the game.

But what aboutsomething much morecomplex—like life itself? Asthe Inventor of life, God hasspelled out how we are to“play the game.” And wearen’t allowed to make upour own rules to fit our ownpreferences. In life, therulebook is the Bible, and itcovers all the big issues. Itcontains everything we needto know about right thinkingand right living (2 Tim. 3:16-17). But it does not speakdirectly to many issues thatcome up as we encountercomplex situations. So what do we do? We need to understand (a) what theBible clearly says, and (b)how its principles can applyto all situations of life togive us guidance. But wehave to be careful that wedo not misuse God’s Word.

How is the Biblemisused? A classic story

is told of one way the Biblehas been misused to findguidance. It’s about theyoung man who used the“flip and point” method ofreading the Bible. One daywhile wondering what to dowith his life, he flipped hisBible open and pointed toMatthew 27:5. He read,“[Judas] went and hangedhimself.” He thought maybehe should try again. So heflipped and pointed, thistime landing on Luke 10:37,“Go and do likewise.” Hetried flipping one more timeand arrived at John 13:27,“What you do, do quickly.”We may laugh at theabsurdity of such a methodof trying to determine God’swill, yet we are often guiltyof treating the Bible in a similar way. The Bible,however, is not a ChristianOuija board.

Most of the favoritemethods of Bible misuse fallinto the general category oftaking verses out of context.


Whether the method isflipping and pointing, taking for yourself messagesdirected toward someoneelse, or the more simple“reading into the text” amessage that is not reallythere, the problem is thesame—mishandling theScriptures.

What does the Bible clearly say? Toomany times we are guilty of not considering what theBible says on an issue. Forexample, you don’t have towonder if God wants you toleave your spouse to marryanother person you findattractive. Jesus said thatmarriage is a lifetimecommitment (Mt. 19:6).

God has spelled out allwe need to know. The OldTestament people of Godwere told, “The secret thingsbelong to the Lord our God,but those things which arerevealed belong to us and toour children forever, that wemay do all the words of this

law” (Dt. 29:29). TheIsraelites were not to occupytheir time trying to find outGod’s secrets about Hisfuture plan and purposes in the world, but they wereresponsible to obey whatGod had clearly revealed.The same truth can beapplied to us. We cannotknow or understand all thatGod is doing in our world.But we can understand ourresponsibilities before Him.Those duties are spelled outin God’s Word. The Bibleclearly tells us:

• Worship God, not idols (Ex. 20:3-4).

• Honor your parents(Eph. 6:1-3).

• Do not murder (Ex. 20:13).• Do not commit adultery

(Heb. 13:4).• Do not lie (Ex. 20:16;

Eph. 4:15,25).• Do not covet (Ex. 20:17;

Rom. 7:7-8).• Do not lust (Mt. 5:27-28).• Forgive others (Mk.

11:25; Eph. 4:32).13


• Love God and yourneighbor (Mk. 12:28-31).

• Be holy (1 Pet. 1:16).• Do not marry an

unbeliever (1 Cor. 7:39; 2 Cor. 6:14-15).

• Help a brother in need(1 Jn. 3:16-19).

• Don’t take a Christian to court (1 Cor. 6:1-8).

• Do not steal (Eph. 4:28).• Be reconciled quickly to

the person with whomyou have a dispute (Mt. 5:23-24).

• Tell the truth (Prov.12:22).The list could go on and

on, but the point is this: TheBible is full of God’s clearcommands that offer usdirection for most of life’sdecisions. The more weknow of God’s writtenWord, the more quickly wewill know what God wantsus to do.

Ephesians 5:17 states,“Do not be unwise, butunderstand what the will ofthe Lord is.” The Lord’s will

is clear, as Paul stated in the preceding verses: “See then that you walkcircumspectly, not as foolsbut as wise, redeeming thetime, because the days areevil” (vv.15-16). God’s clearwill for our lives is that welive for Him and obey Himin all we do. We are not tolive as unbelievers but aschildren of God who obeyHis commands for holyliving (Eph. 4:17–5:17).

What if the matterisn’t so clear? Manyareas of life are notaddressed by the clearcommands of God’s Word.The Bible doesn’t tell uswhich television programsare acceptable viewing. Itdoesn’t tell us what kind ofmusic to listen to. It doesn’thave a command that tellsus what to do on Saturdaynights. There isn’t a specificcommand that says, “Don’tbuy lottery tickets.” If youare looking for guidance onwhether to buy granola or


jelly-filled donuts, the Bibledoesn’t say which to buy.And it doesn’t tell usspecifically how to spendour paychecks. But thatdoesn’t mean that we areleft entirely on our own. It isin those areas that Godoffers general guidelines inHis Word. For example, theBible offers these principles:

• Don’t try to get richquick (Prov. 28:22).

• Put your treasures inheaven (Mt. 6:20).

• Don’t follow the crowd(Rom. 12:1-2).

• Be subject to authorities(Rom. 13:1-4).

• Choose the best (Phil. 4:8).

• Work for God, not your boss (Col. 3:23).

• Be faithful (1 Cor. 4:2).• Don’t be enslaved

(1 Cor. 6:12).• Treat your body as God’s

temple (1 Cor. 6:19-20).• Glorify God in everything

(1 Cor. 10:31).• Live by grace, not

legalism (Gal. 5:1-6).• Don’t give Satan

opportunity (Eph. 4:27).• Use your tongue

to edify (Eph. 4:29).• Seek the good of

others (Phil. 2:3-4).• Work hard

(1 Th. 4:11-12).These are only a few of

the many principles thatcome from God’s Word.Personal study and learningfrom gifted teachers willhelp us discover the biblicalguidelines we shouldimplement in our lives.

Thinking It Over.Brainstorm some additionalexamples of God’s clearcommands and principles.What are some specificbiblical guidelines you haveapplied to your life duringthis past week? Are you“feeding” your thoughts with God’s Word? If you are not already doing so, set aside a daily time tosearch out instruction from the Bible.


INVESTIGATE YOUR OPTIONSImagine that you areenjoying a peaceful swim in the ocean when yousuddenly see a shark’s finmoving in your direction.You have several options.You could ignore it. Youcould swim toward it andtry to kill it with your barehands. You could head forshore, trying not to draw its attention. Or you couldtry to pet the shark andbecome its friend.

Obviously, some optionsare not too wise. Trying tokill the shark, attempting tobe its pal, or ignoring the

approaching jaws probablywouldn’t work. The bestoption would be to headquickly for shore withoutattracting its interest.

Granted, in such asituation you wouldn’t taketime to list all availableoptions, even the absurdones. But you would quickly assess the situationand determine an escapeplan based on your existingknowledge of sharks.

Knowing your options is important for making all kinds of decisions.Although the first optionyou come across may seem right, other choicesmust be considered. First impressions do not necessarily give you an accurate picture (Prov. 18:17).

What are theconsequences of eachalternative? It is notenough to lay out theoptions. We must alsoconsider the probable

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results of each action. If theproblem is an approachingshark, the consequences ofeach alternative would helpdetermine your decision. In other matters, like tryingto decide what college toattend or what job to take,listing the implications ofeach choice can be veryhelpful. For example, ifchoosing one job meanshaving to move away fromfamily and friends or meansa dramatic pay cut, thatmay be a significant reasonto pursue another jobopportunity. And don’tforget to consider thespiritual impact yourdecision will have on youand those around you.

How can God useour minds? It may notseem as spiritual to say thatyou chose job opportunity“A” over job “B” because ofsocial and financial reasonsas it is to say “the Lord ledme” to job “A.” But it isprobably just as true—and

a little less presumptuous.God often does lead usthrough the use of goodjudgment. After all, He didgive us a brain to use and alot of available information.If you already have theinformation close at hand,why should God drop aroad sign from the sky?

For example, if you are trying to decide whatkind of shoes to buy, Godexpects you to use yourhead. It wouldn’t be wise towaste money on shoes withan inflated price, nor wouldit be wise to buy shoes insome wild color that youwould never wear. Youwould be wise to chooseshoes that are comfortable,durable, and affordable.

A biblical example of this principle can befound in the life of the earlychurch. In Acts 6:2-4, Luketold of the apostles’ wisedecision to look for help in taking care of fooddistribution when the task


was distracting them fromaccomplishing their Christ-appointed ministries. Itmade sense to choose godlymen who would be able toshare the workload.

In 1 Corinthians 2, theapostle Paul spoke of howthe Spirit of God works inthe minds of believers togive them the ability tograsp God’s truths. In verse16, Paul said of believers,“We have the mind ofChrist.” The Spirit guides usin understanding the Bible,but He also transforms us in action and thought to be more like Christ. We canbe sure that as we obey theLord and depend on Him,

the Spirit of God will assistus, even in developing agodly common sense about life’s decisions.

Good judgment, then, is a tool God expects us touse in making decisions,whether simple or complex.When joined with a dailydependence on the Lord,our God-given reasoningability can be a helpfulguide as we choose between alternatives.

What are theunique aspects of yoursituation? No two peopleare the same, nor are thesituations in which theymust make decisions.Granted, in those areas of life spoken to directly by the Bible’s commands, it doesn’t matter who youare. The right choice isalways to obey what theBible says to do. But inthose decisions of life about which the Bible does not clearly address the issues, and when the

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“God gave you an awful lot ofleading when He gave you your mind.”

Dawson Trotman


principles don’t seem toapply, a different approachis necessary. In thosesituations it is important to list the options andalternatives and to take note of the unique aspectsof your situation. Forexample, Joe may havedecided to ask Marianne to be his wife, but thatcertainly doesn’t mean Bobshould too! Simply becauseFred thought State U. wasthe best place for him to goto school does not mean itwould necessarily be bestfor Sam or Sandra. Justbecause a mature Christianyou highly respect haschosen to attend aparticular church does not mean you should go to that church as well.

Every person is unique.If we fail to recognize that,we will make decisions on the basis of what others have done instead of what would be wise for us to do.

What are yourabilities, gifts, talents,and weaknesses? If youhave never learned how touse a typewriter, would it bewise for you to apply for ajob as a typist? If you havenever driven a car over 55miles per hour, would it beadvisable to apply as adriver for the Indianapolis500? If you break out inhives when you have tospeak in front of people,would it be smart for you to run for political office? If you don’t know thedifference between a socket wrench and aspatula, would it be smartfor you to interview for a job as an auto mechanic ora chef? If you have a weightproblem and have difficultyrefusing the temptation ofchocolates, should you takea job in a candy-bar factorywhere employees can eat allthey want? Or if you don’tenjoy teaching the Bible or counseling, should you


pursue a church pastorate? The answer to all these

questions is no. It onlymakes good sense that what God wants you to do He has equipped andprepared you to do. For example, a person who does not fit therequirements of 1 Timothy3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 andshows no evidence that hehas been divinely equippedby God to be a pastor-teacher (Eph. 4:11) shouldnot think that God wantshim to be a church pastor. Likewise, in anyopportunity that comes your way, evaluate yourabilities, interests, and even your weaknesses tofind good information fordeciding what God wantsyou to do.

Thinking It Over.Evaluate a major decisionyou have made. List each of the alternatives and theirconsequences. Did yourdecision violate biblical

principles? Did it violategood judgment? Whichalternatives would havemade a positive impact onyour spiritual well-being?Which of the remainingones would you be inclinedto select? Why?

DISCUSS IT WITHOTHERSDriving a car through amaze of unfamiliar streetscan be unsettling. But it canalso be a challenge to one’sego and a test of thestrength of a marriage orfriendship. Many drivers(including me) dislikestopping and asking forhelp—even when it is

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obviously needed. Often,though, a passenger (wife,husband, or friend) pleadsthat the driver stop and asksomeone for directions.Many headaches, manyextra miles, and manystrained relationships couldbe avoided if the driversimply followed good adviceand asked for help. Thesame is true spiritually.

Why do I need tolisten to others? Theanswer seems obvious, but we often fail at this very point. Whether it is an overinflated ego, overconfidence,“adviceophobia,” or simplyfailure to understand thewisdom others have to offer,we foolishly refuse to ask fordirections. And we suffer theconsequences. We can learnso much if we are justwilling to listen to others.

What can I learnfrom other people?First-time home buyers canexperience much anxiety

trying to decide what hometo purchase. What is a gooddeal and how should it allbe financed? A personwould be foolish to buy the first home he saw listedin the newspaper withoutseeing it, or without gettingsound advice from experts in home sales. In such adecision, the advice ofothers is invaluable. It canmean the difference betweengetting stuck with highmortgage payments for apiece of decaying junk andbuying a well-constructed,affordable home that willincrease in value.

Solomon wrote, “Theway of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he whoheeds counsel is wise”(Prov. 12:15). Others cansee what we cannot, andthey can be more objectivein their evaluation of issues that to us are highlycharged. They can point outerrors in our judgment andadd valuable insights.


Do I have to takeadvice when it is given?Of course not. Humanadvice is not a commandfrom God. Some advice isbetter than others. Somepeople who give advice aremore knowledgeable. Andsimply because more peopleadvise one course of actionover another is not enoughreason to move in thatdirection. Many otherfactors may be involved. In fact, we may receivecontradictory advice. Thenwe have to decide who isworth listening to.

Whose adviceshould I seek? If youwant some tips on how tonavigate a submarine, itwouldn’t make much senseto ask a person who hasnever even seen one. And ifyou are trying to decide howto choose a marriage partner,you don’t ask someone whohas been divorced 10 times.We need to seek out thosepeople who have reliable

information. Not only do we need information, but wealso need godly counsel frompeople who are in tune withGod, who are sensitive tothe spiritual issues, and who know how to apply theLord’s wisdom to the manyaspects of life.

The first two verses ofPsalm 1 remind us of theneed for the right kind ofadvice.

Blessed is the man whowalks not in the counselof the ungodly, nor standsin the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of thescornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law hemeditates day and night. Rehoboam was the

grandson of David, Israel’sgreatest king. He shouldhave learned from hisgrandfather where to go foradvice. When his fatherSolomon died, Rehoboambecame Israel’s king. Butinstead of following the wise


and mature counsel of hisfather’s friends, he wentalong with the advice of hisyoung contemporaries wholacked the godly wisdom ofthe elders (2 Chr. 10). As aresult, Rehoboam lost a largepart of his kingdom. Hemade the mistake of lookingfor someone who agreedwith his opinion instead oflistening to wisdom. Peopletoday continue to make thesame kind of mistake.

When we seek outadvice, we must do so with an openness to beingcorrected or to having ourinitial choice rethought. Itdoes little good to ask foradvice when our mind isalready made up.

Thinking It Over.Why would it be dangerousto base your decision on a majority vote of youradvisors? Have you madewise use of counsel in thepast? Do you take advicewell? Why would it beprofitable to do your own

research first before seeking out the suggestions of others?

EXPRESS YOURFREEDOMShould you be deeplyconcerned about whetheryou wear red socks or blue?Is it necessary to pray aboutit, search for a biblicaltheology of colors, and seekthe advice of your pastor? Ifyou say yes, your life mustbe miserable! God did notintend for us to be frozen inanxiety each time we haveto make a choice.

How free are we?God gave freedom to useour own heads to decide

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what to do. Consider Adam,for example. God put him inthe Garden of Eden and toldhim to name the animals(Gen. 2:19-20). Did Adamget all flustered and say,“But Lord, I want to makesure I name them exactlywhat You think they shouldbe named”? No, God gaveAdam freedom to choose thenames that pleased Adam,and it was fine with God.

Another example fromGenesis 2 was Adam’schoice of food. God had said that Adam could eatfrom any tree he wanted,except for one. That gaveAdam great freedom—eventhough later he and Eveoverextended their freedomand disobeyed God. Andtherein lies the key. OurGod-given freedom extendsto those decisions that God’scommands and principleshave not addressed.

For example, a fish inthe ocean is free to swimanywhere it wants to flap its

fins. But if it chose to flip up onto land, the decisionwould be fatal. As humanbeings, we have freedom tochoose among good optionsthat conform to God’sstandards and His ideas of wisdom. Once we “jumpout” of God’s standards,however, we make a majormistake.

How does this workin real life? Will it violatea biblical principle if I buy aCadillac instead of a Ford?It would if I trampled allover my wife’s feelings onthe matter (violation of theprinciple of Ephesians 5:25-33), or if my decision meantthat my children wouldn’thave food on the tablebecause my loan paymentswere too high (violation ofthe principle of 1 Timothy5:8). On the other hand, mychoice of cars could be anarea in which I have a greatdeal of freedom withoutviolating a biblical principle.There could be several good


choices that meet God’sstandards and reflect a wiseuse of my God-given mentalability.

If in doubt, is it wise to wait? If you are standing in line at a fast-food restaurantwondering whether to have a hamburger or acheeseburger, the outcomeof your decision isn’t likelyto be life-changing. Butwhen the person behind thecounter says, “May I helpyou,” you have to come upwith a decision or else getout of line. It would beridiculous to agonize oversuch a choice. But whatabout bigger decisions like proposing marriage,choosing a vocation,deciding whether or not to have risky surgery, ordetermining how to care fora relative who is terminallyill? At times it may be wiseto wait—if you have theluxury of extra time and ifwaiting will allow you to

find valuable newinformation or allow for a better analysis of factsalready available. Haste isnot a virtue (Prov. 21:5).

If we are extremelyuneasy about a decision, we should take time toevaluate why we feel thatway. In some cases, suchlack of peace may indicatethat our choice is “not from faith” and is a sinfulviolation of our conscience(Rom. 14:23). Or a lack ofpeace may indicate that wehave not expressed our trustin God to meet our needs(Phil. 4:6-7).

We should remember thatalthough God can use ourfeelings to direct us, what we“feel” may be a result of ouremotional makeup ratherthan a message from God’sSpirit. And watch out for the paralysis of analysis, a decision-crippling disease affecting those who procrastinate or whocontinually fear that some


bit of information is yet to be found that will help themknow what God wants themto do.

Could I flip a coin?In some cases, yes. Does that sound a bitunspiritual? It isn’t if youhave acknowledged theLord, looked for principlesin His Word, used commonsense, and listened to goodadvice. Flipping a coin,though, or making anarbitrary choice should be a last resort, and only whenyou are choosing betweengood options.

In Proverbs 16:33,Solomon said, “The lot iscast into the lap, but itsevery decision is from theLord.” Casting lots, drawingstraws, or flipping a coin fallinto the same category. Inthe Bible, God workedthrough such techniques to reveal what He wanteddone. For example:

• Aaron cast lots on theDay of Atonement to

select a goat to sacrifice(Lev. 16:8-10).

• Nehemiah used lot-casting to distribute work responsibilities(Neh. 10:34).

• Solomon said thatcasting lots could stoppeople from fighting(Prov. 18:18).

• Jonah was discovered as the villain when aship captain cast the lot(Jon. 1:7).

• Matthias was chosen bylot as an apostle when areplacement was needed(Acts 1:23-26).When all available

information yields no cleardirection and a decision isneeded, use your God-givenfreedom of choice or, ifparalyzed by indecision,simply flip a coin. God canuse either choice for Hisglory. He is in control andHe is at work in the lives ofthose who earnestly desireto please Him.

It is God who works in 26


you both to will and to do for His good pleasure(Phil. 2:13).Thinking It Over.

What kinds of decisions do you make every daywithout prayer and study tofind out what to do? Whatkinds of decisions give youthe most anxiety and tendto paralyze you? Are you exercising your freedom responsibly and in dependence on the Lord?

How does our freedom fit into thebigger picture? It’simportant that we see ourfreedom of choice in thecontext of all that God has

offered to help us knowwhat He wants us to do. He hasn’t left us out in themiddle of a wildernesswithout a compass. Heoffers help to all who willacknowledge Him as Lord.He has given us reliableguidance in His Word. He has given us rationalthinking power to evaluateour options. We haveinformation in the form of advice from people wecan trust. And He gives usfreedom to choose when the decision lacks any clearadmonition or prohibitionfrom Him.

God loves us. He wantsus to live for Him. If wedesire to honor God, we canbe sure that He will notleave us in the dark whenwe want to know what Hewants us to do. Even if we have been foolish ordisobedient in the past, wecan know and do what Godwants us to do—today andtomorrow.

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QUIET NUDGESby Philip Yancey

IIhave thought throughsome of the key eventsof my recent life,

searching for threads ofguidance. I refer to them not as examples of yetanother technique, but asillustrations of the quietnudges God can use toguide us withoutoverwhelming us.

I have a confession to make. For me, at least,guidance becomes evidentonly when I look back,months and years later.Then, the circuitous process falls into place and the hand of God seemsclear. But at the moment of decision, I feel mainlyconfusion and uncertainty.Indeed, almost all theguidance in my life has been subtle and indirect.

I think, for example, of a major crossroad in mycareer. While working for

Campus Life magazine,I felt the constant tugbetween two irreconcilabledirections. One pulled me toward management,business, marketing,budgeting; the other towardeditorial directing andwriting. For many months, I tried both, unable todecide. Each field offeredministry opportunities,similar rewards, and equalappeal. I enjoyed both roles. Most advisorscounseled me toward themanagement role because of the organization’s needs.I often prayed about thedecision but never receivedany concrete guidance.

Over time, I began tonotice a trend, however: a battle with insomnia.Externally, I handled thepressures of managementwell and stayed healthy toall appearances. But often I would have bouts ofinsomnia, so severe that I would get only 1 or 2


hours of sleep at night. It took me almost a year to notice a further detail: I slept well when I workedon writing projects; I couldnot sleep when I worked in management. I tried toignore the signs for anotherfew months, but theybecame almost comicallyevident (if insomnia canever be considered comical).

For a time I would workone full week on writingprojects, then one full week on management. Itwas true. I slept like a baby (truthfully, more like acolicky baby) during writingweeks and slept hardly at all during management

weeks. Could this be divine guidance? Iwondered. I had heard of God speaking throughdreams, but throughinsomnia?

The situation neverchanged, and finally Iconcluded the message ofinsomnia was as direct aform of guidance as I wouldget. Now that I look back onit, it seems startlingly direct.

I also think of thecircumstances that led tosome of the books I havewritten. Where Is God When It Hurts? came out ofa rejection. Back in 1975, I had what I thought to be a wonderful idea for abook. I had just discoveredDevotions, by John Donne, ameditation in 23 parts,written while Donne laywith a terminal illness. The concepts were superb,but the King James-eraEnglish made the contentimpenetrable to manymodern readers. I wrote

29

For me, guidancebecomes evidentonly when I look

back months and years later.


several publishers,proposing to do forDevotions what Ken Taylorhad done for the King James Version—a LivingDonne, perhaps, or JohnDonne Redone. I spent longhours working up samples.Everyone judged the ideafine as a literary exercisebut totally unmarketable as a contemporary book.

My boss at that time had a suggestion. “Theproblem,” he said, “is notjust the dated language, butthe dated context and evendated way of thinking. Whydon’t you do your own bookon the problem of pain andsuffering, using modernexamples?” Where Is GodWhen It Hurts? was born.

While researching for that book, I met PaulBrand, a world authority onthe subject of pain. I cameto know him “by chance,”when my wife cleaned out a supply closet at thewarehouse of a Christian

relief organization. “There’s an article on

pain in this internationalconference report that Ithink you’ll like,” she toldme. Dr. Brand’s uniqueperspective in this report so fascinated me that Iarranged for a meeting assoon as possible. Duringour conversations, Iultimately learned of ascruffed-up transcript ofsome devotional talks hehad kept in a file drawer for20 years. That transcriptbecame the genesis ofFearfully And WonderfullyMade.

As I look back, the hand of God seems evidentin those and many otherchoices. They fit togetherinto a pattern. But at thetime, they seemed no more extraordinary thanany other event in my life: a rejection slip on a bookidea, a musty book from a supply closet, a set ofdevotional talks given in


India by a stranger 20 years before.

This pattern has recurredso often (and clear guidancefor the future has occurredso seldom) that I am aboutto conclude that we have abasic direction wrong. I hadalways thought of guidanceas forward-looking. We keeppraying, hoping, countingon God to reveal what weshould do next. In my ownexperience, at least, I havefound the direction to bereversed. The focus must be on the moment beforeme, the present. How is myrelationship to God? Ascircumstances change, for better or worse, will I respond with obedienceand trust?

For me, guidancebecomes clear only as I look backward. At themoment, my future is a bigblur. My present is a dailystruggle to crank out morewords and a desire to growin relationship with God.

A picture is beingpainted, for me, for all who are called the sons and daughters of God. Yet

it does not take shape untilenough time passes for meto stand up and look backon what colors and designshave been laid down. If Isaw the pattern in advance,a sort of schema for “paint-by-numbers,” that wouldleave no room for faith. Andbesides, God does not paintby numbers.

Taken from the Vital Issuesbooklet Guidance, ©1983,Multnomah Press. Used bypermission.

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The focus must beon the momentbefore me, the present. How is my relationship

to God?


GOD’S WILL ANDMY WILL

TThis booklet does notclaim to offer all theanswers for the

complex decisions of life.But it does offer a plan forfollowing what God wantsyou to do. Your answers tothe following questionsshould help you evaluateyour ability to make a God-honoring decision whenfaced with difficult choices.❏ Have I asked for God’s

help?❏ Do I show that I trust

God in every area of mylife, not merely in thisdecision?

❏ Do I obey God’s clearlyrevealed will?

❏ Am I operating on thebasis of good reasonsrather than changingfeelings?

❏ Am I filling my mindwith God’s Word so that my mind is beingtransformed?

❏ Are there biblicalcommands or principlesthat apply to my specificsituation?

❏ What are the alternativesand consequences of eachpossible option? How dothese fare when evaluatedby what the Bible says?

❏ Do my abilities andweaknesses have abearing on the decision?How?

❏ What decision will glorify God, build me up spiritually, and edifyothers?

❏ Have I sought outworthy advisors?

❏ Have I carefullyevaluated the advice, not merely accepted orrejected it?

❏ Is this decision a matterof my own freedom?

❏ Do I have peace that my decision is right?

❏ Would waiting beprofitable or detrimental?

❏ Am I determined to obeyand please God?


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