Decision Making With Confidence

I was talking to a friend recently who was weighing a difficult business decision. She explained, 'I have a tough time making decisions. I labor over them -- weighing their pros and cons, but then I'm never really sure which decision is right or whether the decision I finally make is the best one. Heck, I can't even select the toppings for my pizza!' This is a common problem for a lot of us. Some people can make decisions quickly and move on, while others take lots of time making a decision and then still aren't sure whether the choice they have made is the right one. Does it really have to take this long? Do we really have to walk blindly -- never knowing if the choice we made was really the best one? No! We can make informed decisions and walk forward in faith that our course is the right one. But, we have to lean on Him who knows the end from the beginning. He knows which path is right. He knows which course will lead us to the most happiness. As Proverbs 3:4-6 advises: 'Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.' This is not to say the God is going to give you the answer for every frivolous decision in your life like which outfit to wear today, or what topping to have on your pizza. But on important issues that affect your life, the Lord is willing and waiting for you to ask his opinion. But, he isn't going to just give you the answer either. God gave us our minds for a reason. He wants us to use them. In Luke 14:28 - 30, Jesus suggests we weigh the consequences of our actions, 'For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.' Study the pros and cons of any question in your own mind. Use your own logic; pay attention to any feelings or warning signals you may experience. If you have to, write these pros and cons down on paper. Come to your own decision. Then, go to the Lord in prayer and tell him what you have decided to do, and ask him if it is the right thing to do. As James 1:5-8 admonishes, 'If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.' Notice that James teaches that God is willing to give us wisdom and help when we ask him. But we have to ask in faith, nothing wavering. We can't be wish-washy, indecisive and tossed. Generally speaking, we should come to our own decision, then ask God if it is right. He doesn't like double mindedness. It's easier for us to get a clearer message from our prayers if we've put the thought and study into it and then go to him for a Yes or No answer. Ask God to give you a feeling of peace if it is correct or a bad feeling if it is the wrong choice. After you pray, listen closely for any feelings you may have. If you have feelings of peace, excitement, happiness or joy afterwards, then you know you've made the correct decision. If you feel depressed, unsure, uneasy or disturbed, you know it's not the right decision. Go back to the drawing board and start again. There are sometimes in your life when you'll make a decision and pray about it and feel nothing either way. Some decisions may not matter all that much in your life or in the eternal scheme of things. Either decision may be just fine. In these cases, the Lord will leave that choice up to you. The Lord is there for you. He has told us to ask and we shall receive, seek and we shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto us. Don't lean on your own understanding when a confirmation of your decisions is so easy to obtain. Ask God in faith, nothing wavering and you can go forward in confidence that your choices are right. Marnie Pehrson, a mother of 6, has been highlighting truth and talent for at least 15 years. Whether it's writing a novel that spotlights individuals who've made a difference in the world or helping a talented entrepreneur create a platform for his life's work, Marnie underscores truth and talent in innovative and compelling ways. To learn more about Marnie and her projects, visit http://www.pwgroup.com.