Biblical Principles for Making Decisions

Isaiah 28:10, “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:”

Psalm 119:45, “And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.”

I will not make such a major decision when I am down spiritually, emotionally, or physically.

• Matthew 26:41, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
• Romans 8:8, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
• 1 John 2:11, “But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.”
• “Don’t make a decision when your decision-maker is broken” – Dr. Jack Hyles
• “It will be difficult for God to guide you if you are not in a position to hear His voice.”

I will not make such a major decision in haste but will be patient and prudent.  I will not make a change when I cannot take adequate time to seek and determine God’s will.

• Psalm 37:7, “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.”
• Psalm 40:1, “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.”
• Proverbs 14:8, “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.”
• Proverbs 21:5, “The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.”
• Proverbs 22:3, “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”
• Proverbs 29:20, “Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.”
• “It is much better to proceed forward slowly than to try and go backwards to undo what you did before you should have done it.”

I will not make such a decision without much prayer, fasting, and searching of God’s Word.

• Ezra 8:23, “So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.”
• Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”
• Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
• Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
• James 1:5, “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.”
• “God’s will never conflicts with God’s Word.”
• “God will not give you step by step directions if you never even open the map.”
• “To determine your next turn in life, use your GPS– Godly counsel, Prayer, Scripture!”

I will not make such a decision without seeking counsel from my pastor.

• 1 Samuel 9:6, “And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.”
• Proverbs 11:14, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”
• Proverbs 15:22, “Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.”
• Proverbs 19:20, “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.”
• Proverbs 20:18, “Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.”
• Jeremiah 5:5, “I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.”
• Hebrews 13:7, “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.”
• Hebrews 13:17,”Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”
• “In Ezekiel, the preacher is called the watchman on the wall.  Even if you think your pastor may not be smarter than you, he does have a different vantage point.”
• “If God gave you a shepherd, there is a reason!”
• “Seeking counsel from your pastor is not so much based on what he personally knows, but rather WHO he knows personally.”
• “If God’s Book has the answers – and it does – it may do you well to seek counsel from those who know it well.”
• “If the preacher tells you his personal opinion – that is probably good advice.  If he tells you God’s opinion – that is indisputable counsel.”
• “For the Christian, every decision is a spiritual decision, so you ought to seek spiritual direction.” 

I will not make such a decision without getting all the facts and weighing all the pros and cons of the situation.

• Proverbs 14:15, “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.”
• Proverbs 18:13, “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.”
• Proverbs 18:15, “The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.”
• Proverbs 22:3, “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”
• Luke 14:28, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?”
• “It is impossible to make an informed decision without the information and it is improbable you will make a good decision without good information.”
• “Every decision will have pros and cons.  Your job is to gather them and choose the best direction based on them.”