How do we know God’s will? When faced with big decisions, how do we know what God wants us to do? Is there only one right answer? What if there are multiple good options?
Many of us have asked these questions. We are faced with decisions all the time, some trivial and some significant. Sometimes decisions need to be made out of necessity, and other times we have the luxury of deciding between many good options. How do we know if we are honoring God in our decisions?
Here are three questions you can ask in order to make sure you are on the right track. This is a good starting point to make sure you are thinking wisely about a major decision:
Is it in line with God’s priorities as seen in scripture? This is the most important question. If you find that a decision is not aligned with God’s commands or priorities, then it is obviously the wrong choice. Test your options against scripture. Pray about them. Ask God to reveal which option is best aligned with what God cares about. A good place to start is Micah 6:8: “…And what does God require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Do you want to do it from the right motivations? This question is about your heart. God cares about your motivations. You can do the right thing for the wrong reasons. You must check your heart. Read Isaiah 58 and Amos 5 to hear about how strongly God feels about your heart being aligned with your actions.
Are you being wise with your resources/time/energy/responsibilities? This question is practical and assures that you use discernment. Sometimes decisions are complicated. You will need to ask yourself if you are being a good steward of your resources and if you are following through on your responsibilities. God has given you resources and responsibilities that require wise management. Sometimes you need to make a decision that protects the well-being of others in your care or employs a resource that you have for the good of others. Pray about how to use the gifts God has given you for His glory.