5 Scriptures for Making Decisions

5-scriptures-for-making-decisions

So Many Decisions to Make

How many decisions have you already made today?

Some experts say we make 35,000 decisions every day.

For most of them, we breeze through without even thinking.

But occasionally one choice will paralyze us. We want to pick the God-honoring decision. If we only knew what that was. 

We’re stuck. What to do next?

5 Ways to Improve Your Decisions

Here are five truths from scripture to help us make better choices.

1. Tune out distractions to tune in to God

But [Jesus] would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
Luke 5:16

The world shouts at us all day. The internet, texts, Facebook, music, podcasts—they can all drown out God’s voice.

So first, turn down the volume. Get quiet.

Then revamp your hearing by listening to God for spiritual principles that apply to your dilemma (Romans 12:2). Use reference tools to study Bible verses in full context. Look for God’s character in the stories you read and see how you can best mirror his character through your choices.

2. Seek godly advice from others

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.
Proverbs 19:20

After listening to the Word for yourself, listen to godly people around you. Who has God placed in your life you can consult? Have any of your spiritual friends already walked this path? Is there a mature believer in your family who can advise you?

Seek help also from experts you’ve yet to meet—maybe in person, maybe in print—who can give you additional information.

Look for similar threads in the advice they give. You may have initially overlooked something that they can point out. Be open.

3. Narrow down your choices

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
James 4:1

Do certain choices appeal more to you than to God? Cross out options that are least compatible with your goals. Then circle the options that could bring God the most glory.

Hone in on who you want to be after the decision is made. Use that image of “future you” to help purify your motives in the present.

If certain choices are time-contingent, and the pace seems wrong and out of God’s timing—either too rushed or too prolonged—discard those options as well. While waiting on the Lord may be difficult (Psalm 27:14), he can build up your strength during the wait (Isaiah 40:31). God’s outcomes are worth waiting for.

4. Do something

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 1:22

On the other hand, if you’re only waiting because you’re too scared to act, step out in faith and do something (Joshua 1:9).

After seeking God through prayer, Bible study, godly counsel, and appropriate pacing, quit delaying your decision. Just make it! Trust that God is true to his word—if you ask in faith for wisdom, he generously supplies it (James 1:5-6).

God is even more invested than you are in accomplishing his works through you (Philippians 1:6).

5. Give thanks for the results God will bring

The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
Psalm 28:7

Instead of second-guessing the decision you’ve now made, give thanks for it. Look forward to how God will bless it.

Believe that God will work good out of your choice (Romans 8:28). Even if you mess up, he can redeem it. His grace is big enough. Trade in the pressure for peace; he sends rest for your heart and mind (Philippians 4:6-7).

As you enhance your spiritual sensitivity to God’s guidance, let it grow your confidence in what the Lord does, not just what you do.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

* * *

What helps you stop wavering and just make the decision? Please share in the comments.

Read more for making better decisions:

revised from the archives
originally posted at Do Not Depart

29 thoughts on “5 Scriptures for Making Decisions

  1. Linda@Creekside

    Good Morning, Lisa! To see these steps in blue and white makes the whole decision making process so much more streamlined. And sometimes that’s exactly what we need. I especially love #1 … it’s hard to walk through #2 – #5 when everthing else is pulling us in all directions.

    Thanks, friend. This is a keeper! {And you are, too!}

  2. Debbie

    Thank you for these Scriptures to help in making decisions. I learned a valuable lesson from teaching little children to float this past week. I wrote about it today so our posts share some similarities; love that we are on the same wave length Lisa.

    Blessings and love,
    Debbie

  3. Holly Barrett

    This is an awesome post, Lisa! Thanks for pointing us to those scriptures and giving a process to help in decision making. How to make decisions is one of the questions I hear most from other people!

  4. floyd

    Great post, Lisa. Wise words, sister, ones that we all need to be reminded of regardless of where we are in our journey. Thanks. “Get quiet”. I like that.

  5. Michelle

    Thank you for this post.

    My favorite time of day to get quiet and commune with God is first thing in the morning.
    My boys are adults now, so this is much easier to do.
    However, it’s important to do at any stage of life.

  6. ceil

    Hi Lisa! I just wrote a post on being quiet in prayer, so I really appreciate your first point about listening to God. It’s a hard exercise for me. I’m used to ‘yakking’ in prayer…but I’m willing to keep at it.
    Listening to friends and family’s advice is a great point too. God not only talks to me himself and in Scripture, but also through his children.

    Monday Blessings!
    Ceil

  7. Jody Collins

    Lisa–SO RIGHT ON this post. I’d click ‘like’ if I could–like 3 times.
    Thank you for these great reminders–it is always Jesus and the word first. He is so faithful.

  8. Barbara H.

    Years ago when my husband faced a possible job change that would require a move, he talked with our pastor. We were weighing the options of both staying and leaving, but didn’t feel a clear direction as to which way to go. Our pastor shared with my husband Proverbs 16:1: “The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.” He said that when we’re earnestly seeking the Lord’s will, we can trust that the answer He gives us whenever the answer is required is from Him. I’ve also prayed Psalm 37:23 for my husband when those kinds of decisions come up: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.”

  9. Sharon

    Lisa, you have hit every verse that I turn to when I have decisions to make. Maybe I would just add the passage from Philippians 4:6-7:

    “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

    I tend to be a second-guesser, and I always seem to worry about how things are going to turn out. So, these verses bring me great comfort after I’ve made a decision!

    GOD BLESS!

  10. Betty Draper

    Great reminder Lisa on the way God wants us to make decisions. Thanks for doing the work of research and putting it in order to make it easy for us who read to grasp. It’s a list I will copy and file for future use.

  11. ~ linda

    You are my neighbor at SDG and the title just drew me in! Well, so did you!! : ) This is a fine post and the references are worthy of my journal. Thanks for walking us through these steps, Lisa, for they are so so very important to walking this Christian life.
    Caring through Christ, ~ linda

  12. Beverley

    lovely post again Lisa.

    I think we need to realise that it’s a perpetual thing, asking for God’s help, instead when in time of need if we already feel we have a connection we can go ahead and ask for whatever it is that we need.

    I served as a family history missionary for 2 years and mainly i was answering calls from panicked people about something that had gone wrong and sometimes the answer wasn’t apparent, yet a simple prayer would always lead me to either a web page where i could find the answer, the right question to ask the person or even the right person to ask on the team missionaries, but the answer always came.

  13. laura

    I was convicted recently of making decisions without seeking God’s voice so this is very timely for me, Lisa. Thank you for these good verses and this precious reminder. It always amazes me that the older I get, the more I understand that I understand very little of God’s ways. I need reminders like this one 🙂

  14. Kelly Chripczuk

    I appreciate how you close, Lisa, with turning it back to God and God’s part in everything, all decisions are made within the context of God’s love and that itself is our greatest assurance. Thanks for linking with Unforced Rhythms.

  15. Pingback: Decision Making 101 - Our Life Right Now

  16. Beth Steffaniak

    Such great wisdom, plucked from and ripe with biblical truth, Lisa! I love it! It’s also great that you included time to thank God for the results “He” brings from our decision and efforts. Too often we think that our decision must result in something we envision, when God’s vision is so much higher and better than ours. Thanks for this, my friend! Pinning!

  17. Yvonne Chase

    I’ve been wrestling with a decision lately and over the weekend while reading the Bible during my quiet time, it was written in black and white on the pages so now it’s up to me to do something and see how God leads. Either way, it will work together for my good because that’s what God’s word says and he does not lie.

  18. Laurie

    We have so many decisions we must make every day. Each one has its perils! I love the verse from James that tells us to narrow our choices. Thank you for this wonderful guide. Giving thanks to God is the perfect way to end each decision!

  19. Leanne | www.crestingthehill.com.au

    I’m a big fan of looking for God’s view on the things I choose. The old WWJD slogan still comes to mind – it’s all about having “the mind of Christ” and making decisions that are in keeping with my faith and foundations. I also think that the more you tune into God’s will, the easier the decision making process becomes.

  20. Joanne Viola

    Lisa, every one of these steps is wise when making decisions. It’s good to be reminded not to make a snap decision as those are the ones I usually regret. But when I take the time and let it be a process, it usually leads to the best and right outcome.

  21. Carlie

    Such great advice here, Lisa! I tend to over-analyze and then hesitate when making a big decision, but I love your advice to trade in pressure for peace and trust the Lord to bring good out of my decision. He is still in control.

  22. Patsy Burnette

    Thank you so much for this, Lisa!!! I needed this today! We are about to move out of our home for 6-8 weeks and have some extensive remodeling and additions done. We have so many decisions to make in the coming weeks and we need wisdom from God to make these. These Scriptures will be written out today. Thank you!

    Pinned, tweeted and will share to the InstaEncouragements Facebook.

    Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!

  23. BettieG

    Dear Lisa,
    These are such great Scriptures and thoughts in the decision making process. This especially touched me, as it’s been a lesson that He’s made more clear to me through the years: “Even if you mess up, he can redeem it. His grace is big enough. Trade in the pressure for peace; he sends rest for your heart and mind.” I’m still learning to release that pressure to Him, because it is so much better to walk in His peace!

  24. Denyse Whelan

    Interesting perspectives Lisa and from your words and that of commenters, ones which bring comfort to others too.

    Thank you for linking up for #lifethisweek. Next week’s optional prompt is 4/51 Australia 27.1.2020. Hope to see you there too. Denyse.

  25. Jo

    what if you are looking to stepping down from offices you hold in a church that you enjoy but the church members forced the pastor out and use you as a liaison till the pastor is officially done

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