Thoughts on decision making

    Our decisions define us. They set us apart from other people. The decisions we make don't just affect us, they affect everyone that has anything to do with our lives; therefore it is important to take responsibility for our decisions, whether good or bad.

    For example: You make a decision not to go to university, but rather to take that money and start your own business instead. People may see this decision as isolated, but no decision is isolated if you look at the bigger picture. At university you may have had the chance to meet people that could change the way you see the world and thus change the way you make decisions. You may have learnt something that could help you make better decisions and thus justify your time spent at an institution of learning. Had you decided to start your own business instead, the kinds of people you will meet would most likely be different. People with common interests in a common industry; maybe people who challenge you in a different way and thus changing the way you make decisions. You may learn from your mistakes and be wiser for it; a trademark of an entrepreneur. Both these scenarios will determine the kind of spouse you settle for and the differing types of expectation you have for life. In short, your definition of success will be different.

    The question then arises as to what is the wrong decision and what is the right decision? The answer doesn't lie in the philosophy of the post-modern relativity of happiness or contentment. It lies with God. The bible tells us that He has a plan for our lives (Jer 29:11) and a good and perfect will for our futures (Rom 12:2). By implication then, it means that you can be in God's will and you can be out of it. As the above example suggests, either  decision has it's merits, but which one is God's perfect will for your life; which one is God's best for you?

    Here is a guideline that I use to make decisions, it takes the pressure off of being right or wrong: If your heart and your will are sincerely submitted to God and His will for your life, then there is no such thing as making the wrong decision, only a better one. It is important to submit your decisions to God and trust that you are hearing Him speak to you when you make a decision. With this attitude God's grace allows us to do His will for our lives, even when we don't always make the best decisions.

    Our decisions have lasting consequences; what we sow we will inevitably reap (Gal 6:8). My hope is that as you sow into your future and into the futures of those around you, that you will sow good seed. Seed that will produce life and not death, seed that will help set people free instead of enslaving them to condemnation (John 8:36, Gal 5:1).

"Your decisions can change the world!"

So, How do we hear from God?

Pic by Chloe Lewis

     "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." - John 16:13 (NKJV)

     Just because so many people don't hear, or aren't able to discern God's voice, doesn't mean He isn't speaking. We can't lower our level of expectation of God to what we experience, but rather we should push for our experiences to live up to the standard of His Word. As seen in the previous blog, it is imperative that we hear His voice. The truth is that as His 'sheep', we are capable of recognising the voice of the 'Shepherd', as Jesus taught in John 10, in the parable of the Shepherd and the Sheep. But, practically, how can we discern His voice? How do we know it is God and not just our flesh pushing it's agenda?

     The first step is being assured of the fact that God does speak and is speaking to us. Once we are aware of this truth,we start to look at situations differently, we start to expect God to speak to and through us. This expectation immediately starts making us more sensitive to the different ways He is able to speak to us and for what purposes.

     I want to stress at this point that the language used in many cases and contexts may be different; for example someone might say, "I heard the Lord say ..." and someone else might say, "I felt in my Spirit" and still someone else could say, "I just knew it was the right thing ..." All these things are filtered through our vocabulary and 'christianese' language, but come down to the same thing. God is talking and you heard!

     The most consistent and readily available way to hear from God is through His word. 2 Timothy 3:16 says that "All scripture is God-breathed ...", another translation says that it was "given by His inspiration" This means that whenever we read His word, the Holy Spirit is able to apply the Word to your life, as though it is God speaking right to you; because it is God speaking right to you! Our part is to believe what we are reading to be true, inspired and relevant. We must believe God can speak to us through His word, for it to actually happen.

     But, what about when we don't have our bibles open, or if God is not reminding us of a scripture? What about when we are ministering to people, or are having to make a quick decision, what should we rely on then? The story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19, where the Lord wants to speak to Elijah, is a good example of what we experience today. The Lord was not in the powerful wind that tore through the mountains, He was not in the earthquake and He was not to be found in the fire. Instead, God spoke to him in a 'gentle whisper'. This is a great picture of how we hear God speaking to our spirits today. So often we expect the fireworks, like God writing on the wall (Daniel), shouting in a booming voice (Samuel) or sending a sign down from the heavens (Elijah). He can do all these things, but more often than not, He speaks in a gentle whisper to our spirits.

     When He whispers in our spirits we must be able to discern His voice. Often we get confused with our own thoughts and imaginations, however, there are some ways to discern His voice from all the other voices in your head. Firstly, whatever you feel is being spoken to you, does it contradict the written word of God. If it doesn't, but instead it aligns with what the bible says, then it could be from God. But, just because it's biblical doesn't mean you've heard correctly. For example, you may have felt that it was God telling you to talk to someone about their salvation, that's bible. But, it may not be the right time to do so, they might not receive what you have to say at that moment, but at a later stage they may.

     Ask yourself these questions: Does, what you think you've heard, bring peace to a situation? Will it bring joy to a situation? Does it speak life into a situation? Does it go against your natural inclination or flesh? Does it get you out of your comfort zone, in a good way? If your answer is, yes, to all of the above, then it is probably God speaking to you.

     These aren't formulas, they are just guidelines. At the end of the day we must practise hearing His voice. The more we practise it, the better we are able to discern it. Start with the small things, then when the big, tricky situations arise, your confidence for hearing His voice will be high.  Expect Him to speak to you in every situation, He is always speaking, but are you listening?

Why is it important to hear from God?

Pic by Chloe Lewis

Maturity

     Most people do not go through the effort of seeking God and the truth of His word, on their own. The majority of church-goers prefer to get told what to believe. This is both the fault of the church leadership and the individual too. But why is this a problem? Can't the pastor just hear from God and tell the people what he thinks God wants them to know?
     No, this makes for a vast segment of believers who don't know why they believe what they believe, making it impossible for them to replicate these beliefs in others. Our mandate on earth is to 'make disciples of all nations', insinuating that we should teach others and train them up in the faith. We can't do this if we don't have our own understanding on why we believe and why it is important to tell others about what we believe. It's not the paid pastors job, it is the responsibility of every mature believer to spread the good news.
     Immature Christians are ineffective for the kingdom of God, as their beliefs and revelations are from the outside in and not from the inside out, often causing more damage than good! We must allow God to speak to us, His words are truth and life, setting us free from the desception of immaturity.

Insecurity

     If you don't hear God’s voice on a regular basis, our only option is to be insecure. If you never hear God’s voice, there is no way you can confidently be about God’s business. No way you can know if you are in His will and no way of knowing whether the decisions you are making are the right ones. You are constantly in doubt, easily offended and easily swayed. Not the place you want to be. The church is rife with insecure Christians, always worried about popular opinion, happily letting their destinies slip through their hands due to the fear of rejection, which is at the root of insecurity.
     One word from God and everyone else's opinions seem trivial. Regularly hearing from Him will catapult your life into a life of passion and purpose. Knowing His heart for your life, in every situation, is when we really start to live!
    
    Practise hearing His voice, make it a priority in your life. Read His word as though it is Him speaking to you; ask the Holy Spirit to drop thoughts, ideas and unctions in your heart about situations, both present and future. Listen to your spirit-filled friends and leaders, open your heart and see what the Lord is saying through them! We can't afford to not hear His voice, we can't afford to be average: You were born for greatness!
His grace is sufficient for us!