One bad decision can get us going the wrong way waste our time and resources and cause heart ache and pain. While one right decision can bring happiness, shalom/peace and contentment as well as save us time and money.
Discernment gives us the ability to judge well and it is a gift from The Most High. One that we should ask for.Proverbs 1 v 20-23.. Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square;
21 on top of the wall[a] she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech:
Simply asking The Almighty to tell us what to do and doing what He says can have have great results.
Proverbs 1 v 20-23.:
22“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?
How long will mockers delight in mockery
and fools hate knowledge?
23
Repent at my rebuke!
Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
I will make known to you my teachings.
Hosea 14 v 9 Whoever is wise let him understand these things whoever is discerning let him know them. For the ways of The Most High are right and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.
Points to consider when making decisions
- We must acknowledge that we lack knowledge and need help to make the right decision. James 1 v5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask The Almighty, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
- That The Most High is all knowing and that He made us and had a plan for us when He did. Jeremiah 29 v 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Almighty, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
- That there are others who know more than we do either by virtue of knowledge or experience or both Proverbs 15 v 22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
- We must be teachable and humble while retaining the right to make our own decision. Mathew 5 v 5 Blessed are the humble, for they shall inherit the earth.
- Our values and priorities should be aligned with those of The Most High so that it will be easy for us to hear and obey Him.. Deuteronomy Hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe them, so that you may prosper and multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Almighty, the God of your fathers, has promised you.
- Take time to consider and do not rush to judgement. Luke 14 v 28 Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?
The wise are not arrogant
James 4 13-15 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Almighty’s will, we will live and do this or that. May we humble ourselves under The hand of The Almighty so that our plans will have good success, allowing Him to guide us.
I have found that since I have been waiting on The Most High for His directions I have much more peace and contentment and His divine providence is very real to me. The decisions I made based on my own confirmation bias seemed right in the beginning but did not turn out well. Whereas those I have made by listening and obeying have been very beneficial.