DISCERNING THE WILL OF GOD
By Steven W. Cornell
Practical Guidelines for Decision Making
In areas of life not specifically addressed in the Bible, we are responsible before God to make
wise decisions. We must view ourselves as stewards who have been entrusted with resources from God
for wise decision-making. Scripture informs us that we will give an account of ourselves to our Master
(II Cor. 5:9-10). God has not commissioned us to discover His decisions in these matters. Instead, God
has provided us with adequate resources for making decisions that please Him. Three steps will help us
in all decision making.
1. Yield
In Scripture, we are reminded that God "guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His
way" (Ps. 25:9). Furthermore, "God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble" (I Pet. 5:6). God
said He looks with favor on "the one who is humble and contrite of spirit and trembles at my word" (Isa.
66:2). This emphasis permeates Scripture and reminds us of the need to yield to God in all decision
making. We would do well to remember that an unsurrendered will is a serious obstacle to spiritual
growth (Romans 12:1-2). All decision making should begin with a yielded heart—a heart controlled by a
desire to please and honor God above all else.
2. Pray
Jesus said, "Ask and it shall be given to you" (Matt. 7:7). James wrote, "You have not because you ask
not" (Jam. 4:2). Yet sometimes, "you ask and do not receive because you ask with wrong
motives" (Jam. 4:3). Prayer is both an expression of our own inadequacy and our humble dependence
upon God. Prayer should not be used as an excuse for inaction where God has already spoken. For
example, the head of a household would be wrong to say, "I am praying to see if God wants me to work
and meet the needs of my family." Prayer, in this case, is not needed because God has clearly revealed
His will (I Tim. 5:8). Some decisions are made based on clear guidance already given by God; others are
more complex, causing us to feel the need for greater clarity. Accepting the responsibility to work and
provide is one thing; deciding between job options is another.
Note: We must understand that prosperity and freedom often increase our options. In some parts of the
world, a person is content to have any job to meet the family needs (whether it gives him a sense of
fulfillment and significance or not; see I Tim. 6:8).
Christians often have a tendency to overly "spiritualize" everything. This happens when we pray about
simple matters of daily routine (e.g. which clothes to wear, etc.). Another more harmful illustration
occurs when believers use prayer to avoid counsel from others. They say, "I've prayed and God has told
me." Such bold declarations imply that counsel from others is not needed. Again, prayer was never
intended to be an excuse for inaction or a basis for avoiding mature counsel.
Sometimes we lack adequate information for making decisions. We need to pray and allow God to shape
our thinking before hastily moving forward. The way God shapes our thinking is through Scripture,
counsel, and allowing us to observe things circumstantially.
3. Listen
Jesus contrasted two lives in Matthew Chapter 7. One life was built on an insecure foundation; the other
was firmly established. Both lives experienced severe trial and only one held strong. The key to stability
was an obedient response to Jesus' words. Jesus said, "everyone who hears these words of mine and acts
upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock" (Matt. 7:24).
We must have "ears to hear" what God has spoken. But (as James warns) we must also "be doers of the
word and not hearers only" lest we deceive our own hearts (Rev. 2,3; Jam. 1:22). Above all, we need
minds saturated with biblical truth and hearts eager to obey.
When making decisions, our first responsibility is to discover whether there are any direct commands in
Scripture either forbidding or demanding a certain course of action. If no specific statements can be
found, we must seek general biblical principles or examples that justifiably apply to the decision. In this
step, be very careful not to normalize every biblical example. Gideon's fleece for example, was never
intended to establish a normal pattern for guidance.
"Rather than being an example of a proper approach to receiving guidance, Gideon's demand for further
signs was really an expression of doubt and unbelief. God's instructions to Gideon were clear, as He
Himself indicated. Apparently, God graciously acceded to Gideon's lack of faith because of the severe
circumstances which tested him. As understandable as his fears might have been, Gideon's perpetual
testing of the Lord was not appropriate. For God's attitude toward those who demand signs in unbelief is
expressed in Christ's rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees (Matt. 12:38-39), and demonstrated in the
silencing of the priest, Zacharias (Luke 1:11-20). Gideon's apologetic tone in asking for the second
fleece sign shows that even to him it looked so like a peevish, humorous distrust of God and
dissatisfaction with the many assurances He had already given him.
"What we have seen, then, is that the practice of "putting out a fleece" cannot be established by the
scriptural passage on which it is based. For Gideon was not seeking a circumstantial sign, but a
miraculous one; he did not use the fleece to obtain guidance, but to confirm guidance already given; and
his motivation was not a desire to do God's will, but rather his reluctance to follow God's guidance
because of his own doubts." (Garry Friesen, Decision Making and the Will of God, p. 233.)
After discovering relevant biblical truth, it would be wise to seek mature counsel on some decisions.
Seeking godly counsel is repeatedly encouraged in Scripture: "Listen to counsel and accept discipline,
that you may be wise the rest of your days (Prov. 19:20). "The way of a fool seems right to him, but a
wise man listens to advice" (Prov. 12:15). It is a sign of conceit and immaturity to resist advice in major
decisions.
"Although one of the strengths of Protestant Christianity is its insistence on the `right of private
judgment', we must not imagine that this means we should make all our decisions alone. On the
contrary, God has given us to each other in His family. So we need to be humble enough to talk to
others, including our parents, in order to seek their counsel, for `wisdom is found in those who take
advice' (Prov. 13:10)." (John R.W. Stott, The Contemporary Christian, p. 131.)
Dr. Packer warns, "Don't be a spiritual lone ranger... draw on the wisdom of those who are wiser than
you are; take advice." (Knowing and Doing the Will of God, p. 401.)
If circumstantial signs or inner impressions fail to align with Scripture and sound counsel, discredit their
value! Subjective data (desires and signs) must always be determined by objective considerations. A
man, for example, may feel called to the ministry and believe God has "opened doors" for him to pursue
his desire, but the final test must be the qualifications for church leaders in the New Testament (see I
Tim. 3 and Titus 1). A man is disqualified from pursuing his desires and "opened doors" if he fails to
meet the qualifications for church leadership.
Yield, pray, and listen. These three guidelines will help Christians make wise decisions. God has given
each of His children certain gifts, abilities, desires and circumstances. We must maximize what God has
given to further the Gospel and be the salt and light that the world desperately needs.