How Do You Make Decisions?

We all make decisions every day, from simple decisions like what to wear or what to eat for lunch, to big, life changing decisions like who to marry or whether to take a job offer or not. My question to you is, how do you make decisions? What process, or what do you consider, when making decisions?

A lot of people use intuition, or a ‘gut feeling’ when making decisions, which, can be considered good because intuition is a combination of past experiences and personal values, and for the Christian, that is a good thing.
Some people use reasoning to make decisions; reasoning is using the here and now, or facts about the situation and disregarding past experiences, and personal values, which, for the Christian, may not turn out so well, if you are trying to stay in God’s will. Then there are those who use both, considering past experiences, here and now facts about the situation and their personal values. What about what God says about making decisions though? What are some things His Word says we should consider when we are making decisions?
How about, is it Scriptural? Has God already spoken about this in His Word? II Timothy 3:16 reminds us that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”.
Next, is this a secret decision? Would it bother you if everyone knew your choice? Proverbs 11:3 says, “The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.”
Ask yourself this, what if everyone followed my example? What sort of family would I have, or what kind of condition would my town, state or country be in if they followed my example? I Timothy 4:12 tells us to be the example of believers, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
When making a decision, are you people pressured or Spirit-led? Galatians 1:10 says we are not to be men pleasers, but God pleasers, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”
Do the choices you make cause other people to stumble? Romans 14:21 says “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.” And Proverbs 6:16-19 flat out tells us that sowing discord among the brethern is an abomination to the Lord, “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Do you pray about decisions before writing them in stone, do you base your decision on feeling at peace after praying about it? Philippians 4:6-7 tells us to

pray about everything;

not just the ‘big’ things, everything, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Will this decision help you to grow in Christ, or keep you from growing in Christ? We are supposed to be yielding to the Spirit and allowing Him to make us Christ-like. II Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
And finally, does this decision glorify God? I Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Note, the verse says, whatever we eat or drink and whatever we do, do it all for the glory of God – not just the ‘big’ decisions, but the ‘little’ ones too – glorify God in your clothing, in your speech, in your behavior – in ALL you do.
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord:

walk as children of light: Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

– Ephesians 5:8,10
Jenn