Life is full of decisions. Some are exciting, others can be difficult or even life-changing, but every one of them presents an opportunity to invite God into our lives. While He has given mankind a free will and the ability to make choices, He has also told us which choice is always best. He said, “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.

God first spoke those words long ago, but they still speak to us today prompting us to always choose life and to make decisions that bring life. God knew that there were many choices that could lead to pain in your life, so He gave you His Word and His Spirit to guide you. You see, God wants only good things for you; He is a good Father and wants you to live a life of joy, peace, purpose, and fulfillment.

So how can you make powerful, life-giving decisions?

Powerful Decisions
You may have believed that your decisions hold no real power, but that could not be further from the truth! There is an enemy of your faith who strives to keep you from the goodness of God, but the blood of Jesus has given you authority over the devil and his plans for your life. Your choices do matter—you get to choose life or death, blessing or cursing. That’s power!

Your heart is like a fountain that overflows—whatever is in your heart is what will spill out into your life. If your heart is full of anger and bitterness, you will likely go down the path of unforgiveness and revenge. But when your heart is full of the love of God, you can forgive and walk in all the goodness and blessing that He wants to give you!

God wants to help shape your destiny through your decisions. Think of it this way: your thoughts become actions, actions become habits, and habits determine your destiny. Is your destiny on a godly path? If the love of God in your heart is driving your decisions, not only will you be blessed but your life will point others to Jesus.

Following the Word
The first step in making powerful, godly decisions is understanding that God’s will for your life is revealed in His Word. Psalm 119:105 says, Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. As you sow His Word into your heart, you will receive God’s direction. Fill your heart and mind with His Word and it will overflow in your life. As you receive His direction, trust that it is for your good. The destiny in store for you is full of peace, purpose, and fullness!

In order to gain the most from God’s Word, you need to meditate on it. In Joshua 1:8 (ESV), God says, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” The world defines meditation as emptying your mind, but Biblical meditation is renewing your mind by filling it with God’s Word. As you read, imagine how His Word applies to your life, and ask the Holy Spirit where He wants to move. For example, when the Word tells you to lay hands on the sick and they will be healed, begin to imagine yourself in that situation, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in praying for healing.

God is the creator of all things including healing, relationships, forgiveness, and love, so when He gives His direction, you can know He is always right. Emotions and worldly reasoning can influence your decisions, but they cannot direct you to the truth or to a life-giving decision. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” It is so important to remember this: no matter what the world says, God’s ways are always better. So stop and ask Him to show you areas where your mind needs to be renewed.

Seek Counsel
No one wants to risk making the wrong decision on something of great importance, and there are times when it is a good idea—even a God-idea—to seek the counsel of others. Proverbs 12:15 says, The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise. Like Solomon, wise people will seek counsel in their decisions. Now, you cannot ask just anyone for advice; take care to seek out wise and godly people who care about you.

Everyone has blind spots in their life where they need guidance. It may be your marriage, finances, or your relationship with God. Proverbs 19:20 tells us, Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days. Don’t hesitate to seek out a mentor who can lead you toward godly decisions. If you need counsel in your marriage, look for a mentor with experience and success in that area—one who has a long, healthy, godly marriage. And when you seek counsel, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Proverbs 20:5 says, Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out.

Following His Lead
God will lead you one step at a time. He will not always show you the end result, but you can trust that He will always lead you in the right direction! Psalm 37:23 says, The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Most people want to know their end goal and take giant leaps to get there, but God asks you to take the step in front of you and trust Him with the future. As you rely on God for direction, stay plugged into Him and His Word, He will show you the next step!

Pay attention to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and He will guide you with His peace. That’s what Isaiah 26:3 means when it says, You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. When you have God-given peace about a decision in your life, you can be confident in following where He leads. The devil can try to lead you down the wrong path and show you ungodly ways, but he cannot counterfeit the peace of God in your heart. When God speaks to you, He speaks to your spirit with revelation, direction, and comfort through a still, small voice that you hear in your heart. Learn how to be still and listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Finally…
You may be at a crossroad in your life and want to follow God’s direction, but you are not sure where you stand with Him. Romans 10:9 says, If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. You can turn to Him or return to Him now by praying this prayer:

Dear God, I believe Jesus died on the cross, I believe His blood paid for my sins, and I believe He rose again. I recognize that I have been making decisions apart from You. Today, I give You all of my heart and all of my life. Help me to seek You first and hear Your voice clearly so I can follow Your leading in my life. Thank you for loving me and forgiving me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

If you prayed that prayer, we encourage you to read Pastor’s free book, Your New Life, to help you grow in your relationship with God. You can request it this link or by calling (800) 988.5120.

(All scriptures are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated.)