The Sacred Art of Decision-Making

The Sacred Art of Decision-Making

sacred decision-making

Do you avoid choosing? Do you push decision-making as far as possible? Or do you like everything settled, clear and precise? I guess that depends on your personality (Whether you are P or J in the Myers-Briggs type indicator). I’ve learned of myself that I would like to keep my options open until I am 100% sure that my decision is the right one. But rarely do we have that kind of certainty in life, do we? We have to choose even when we don’t have all the information in whether we like it or not. What to do then?

First of all, we need to acknowledge that avoiding decision-making don’t get us off the hook. Pretending there is no decision-making to be done don’t make it so. I know because I’ve tried. Difficulties won’t disappear just because we wish. Choices need to me made no matter how unqualified we feel to make them. What to do then?

Second, the most important decision we need to make – no matter whether we wish it weren’t so – is choosing Life or Death. The Bible is pretty clear about this, don’t you think? Either we choose selfishness that leads to death or we choose Jesus and eternal life. This is the last decision you should be putting off. You life depends on it. This life is not all there is.

I don’t think we need to pray about how many milk cartons we need to buy. That’s why we have been given reason and we should use it. If we start our days praying for guidance and wisdom, our everyday decisions like this are covered. We are led by the Holy Spirit.

My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of  selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence? (Galatians 5: 16-18, MSG, emphasis added,*)

But life can be overwhelming and sometimes we need to make decisions on the go. I’ve learned to turn to God in everything. Flash prayers (Help me, Lord! Have mercy, Lord!) welcomes God’s involvement. And God’s presence gives me courage to press on. And when I’ve prayed about the matters in hand, I proceed to pick the best solution trusting God will guide my decision.

In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. (Proverbs 3:6, AMP,*)

But, yes, more complicated decisions need more prayer and careful discernment. Hurry is not a good partner in decision-making. Here’s a simple pattern how I go about decision-making:

1) Sit in God’s presence and seek him and his will.
2) Pray for freedom from any earthly pressures. That nothing would hinder your ability to hear God’s voice in the matter.
3) Peace is the best guidance we can get. If a decision brings heartache for many, it usually is a wrong one. If a decision brings peace, it usually is the right one. And it is wise also to ponder which choice will produce most fruit of the Spirit.
4) When you have a tentative answer, ask for confirmation. The bigger the decision, the more confirmation you need.

The sacred art of decision-making is all about abiding in the Holy Spirit. We are meant to be led by the Spirit. That’s the natural state of a child of God. We need to slow down enough to allow God’s involvement in our lives and hear his voice. But when we are abiding in Christ, there is no reason to avoid decision-making. God has promised to guide us and be there for us. He will empower us to make wise decisions and bless us according to his plan for us.

 

Gracious God,
We bring to you all the choices and decisions we need to make.
We are overwhelmed and confused.
Give us clarity to see your will.
Give us patience to wait for your timing.
Give us peace to recognize your plan.
May your will happen in our lives.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: How do you make decisions? Have you mastered the sacred art of decision-making?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you securely walk hand in hand with God!

* [As you might have noticed, I enjoy reading the Bible in different translations and love comparing them. I have started linking the Bible verses to Biblegateway.com so you can easily read (and compare) them in the different versions I’ve used while preparing each post.]

Image courtesy of Chris Manfre. Linking up today with Faith-filled Fridays, Five Minute Friday and Faith Jam.

10 thoughts on “The Sacred Art of Decision-Making

  1. I am far from mastering it but I would add in that God’s leading is often not in a direction that we think of as “peaceful.” At least in the sense that it is often challenging, difficult and may cause conflict. We can certainly see this in Jesus’s decision making life.

  2. Oh, I so like to have certainty before I make a decision! But you’re right that we rarely have all the information we think we need. Decisions have to be made with what we do know and with Who we know.

    Flash prayers are wonderful things! Sending one up for you right now, my friend!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RSS
Follow by Email