What should I do?
It’s the question we face every day.
Our decisions range from inconsequential to substantial – what to wear, what to order at a restaurant, where to go on vacation, what job to pursue, how to handle parenting and family situations, how to discern God’s will, and more. Some decisions shape our lives, our future, and our relationships.
When making decisions, we often fall into different habits and traps. What are you prone to do?
- I delay decisions
- I overthink everything
- I let others decide for me
- I usually go with my instincts
- I just do what I’ve always done
- I sometimes cave in to peer pressure
- I often do what everyone else is doing
- I don’t think through my decisions enough
- I do what is comfortable and minimizes conflict
- I make decisions based on guilt or people-pleasing
If any of these sound familiar … you’re not alone. We all struggle with making the right decision!
But here’s the good news … God actually cares about the decisions you make. He doesn’t play “hide and seek” as you try to discern His will. Whether it’s a big decision or small one, God wants you to follow His guidance and not fall into traps like these.
If you’re facing an important decision, use the following 8 questions to guide your thoughts and ensure that the choice you make is honoring to God and good for you.
“We make it our goal to please him.”
(2 Corinthians 5:9)
8 Tests of Decision Making
Scriptural Test: “Has God already spoken about it in His Word?”
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
Secrecy Test: “Would it bother me if everyone knew this was my choice?”
“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity” (Proverbs 11:3).
Survey Test: “What if everyone followed my example?”
“Set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).
Spirit Test: “Am I being people-pressured or Spirit-led?”
“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).
Stumbling Test: “Could this cause another person to stumble?”
“It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall” (Romans 14:21).
Serenity Test: “Have I prayed and received peace about this decision?”
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7).
Sanctification Test: “Will this keep me from growing in the character of Christ?”
“Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6).
Supreme Test: “Does this glorify God?”
“Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
The more intimately you draw close to the heart of God and His Word, the more clearly you will know the will of God.
–June Hunt
