Decisions, decisions, decisions… it seems that high school years are jam packed with important decisions. Some are more trivial than others like “Should I take regular chem or AP chem?” or “Is eating the cafeteria’s sloppy joes a good idea before gym?” Other decisions we make have far more lasting ramifications like what to do after high school, or which college to attend, or which career path to pursue. It can definitely feel like you are barely treading water in a sea of choices.
1. Digging In (God, Show Me!)
Wouldn’t it be nice if someone could just give you a road map for your future with step by step directions? While I am not aware that such a document exists, God’s Word tells us that when we seek His wisdom and plan for our lives that He will make our “paths straight.” That actually sounds like a pretty good road map!
Read the following Scriptures and consider what these verses reveal to us about how seeking God’s wisdom might help you with some of those big decisions. You may want to print these passages out and underline any instructions or insight that would be helpful in decision making.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Psalm 139:13-16 (NIV)
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Matthew 6:33-34 (NIV)
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
2. Taking it Inward (God, Teach Me!)
Take a moment to write out three big decisions that you have to make soon.
1.
2.
3.
Use the questions below to mark how much you’ve sought God’s guidance in these decisions. You’ll notice that the suggested responses progress from good to bad. Think of them as a scale. Chose the response that represents where you fall on the scale. These questions aren’t meant to create guilt, but simply to create a baseline for improvement.
How well have you surrounded these decisions with prayer?
I’ve asked others to pray about this decision with me.
I’ve prayed some.
I’ve prayed little about the decision.
How well have you sought guidance from God’s Word?
I’ve spent time meditating on God’s Word.
I’ve consulted God’s Word a little bit.
I’ve barely looked at God’s Word for answers.
Take a look at the three decisions you wrote out. Run each decision through the filter of the passages you’ve just read. What does each verse say to you about each decision? Write down your thoughts as you read the verses in light of your decisions. Every verse may not apply to every decision, but at least one verse will likely give you uncanny insight into your decisions.
Now write down one thing on each “question scale” above that you can do to move “up the scale”—something that displays your trust in God’s wisdom and guidance
3. Seal the Deal (God, Change Me!)
Perhaps some of the anxiety we experience when making big “life” decisions stems from feeling like we are on our own. But if we seek God and His guidance, we have the assurance that we are far from alone. In fact we are getting direction from the One who is actively writing out the story of our lives. What better place to get guidance about those big decisions?
God has given us His Word as a guide for all aspects of our lives, including our future. The highlight of the story is this, “we can trust God with our futures.” We get into trouble, however, when seeking God about these big decisions is more of an afterthought, if He’s even a thought at all.
Seeking God’s guidance is a spiritual discipline to develop. It’s like many other things in our lives, the more we practice it, the more natural it becomes. As we practice, we find that the more we do, the less stress we encounter in the decision making process. The natural result of this is that we find comfort in relying on God and His direction.
Final Challenge: take this week to fully lift to God the three decisions you wrote down. Spend time praying over these decisions; include others in praying for this as well. Remember that listening is an important part of any conversation and talking with God is no different. Take time to disconnect from all distractions and meditate on God’s Word. See what impact this makes in your decision making process.
Note: Many people love to use a prayer journal to record times in their lives where they have sought God’s guidance. It’s awesome to later look back at those journals and see how God was faithful in leading!