I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20

As God speaks to the Israelites, He says, therefore choose life. Our freewill – our ability to make choices – is a gift from God, but it can be difficult to know which direction to move. God knew that there were so many choices that would lead to pain in our lives, so He gave us His Word and Spirit to guide us. You see, God wants only good things for you; He is a good Father and wants you to live filled with joy, peace, purpose, and fulfillment!

So how can you make life-giving decisions? First, fill your heart and mind with the Word of God. His will for your life can be found in His Word, and He asks us to seek first His Kingdom and He will take care of everything we need, Matthew 6:33.

Secondly, meditate on the Word. When you have put it in your heart, ask God to reveal it to you in your life. You may think the Word can be difficult to understand, but continue to ask God for understanding. Isaiah 55:9 says, His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. His truth is not hidden from you, but it is hidden for you. Understanding requires you to seek, meditate, and rely on the Holy Spirit.

Some people may understand meditation to be emptying your mind, but Biblical meditation requires you to fill your mind with God’s Word. Imagine how His Word applies to your life, and ask the Holy Spirit where He wants to move in your life. When the Word tells you to lay hands on the sick and they will be healed, imagine yourself in that situation and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in praying for healing.

Lastly, ask the Holy Spirit to renew your mind with God’s Word. Our feelings and reasoning can influence many of our decisions, but your emotions cannot direct you to the truth or a life-giving decision. When the Word is on the inside of you, you will hear God’s direction.