Navigating Life's Decisions Through God's Guidance
Summary
Life is full of decisions—some small, some life-altering—and the way we approach them shapes not only our own lives but the lives of those around us. God’s Word is filled with stories of people making both wise and disastrous choices, and these examples are given to help us navigate our own paths. The heart of discerning God’s will is not about chasing after hidden clues or hoping for a sign in the sky, but about placing ourselves under the steady flow of God’s authority, submitting our hearts and minds to Him daily. God’s will is not a mystery to be solved, but a relationship to be lived out, where we untangle our desires from selfish ambition and align ourselves with His purposes.
We often look for shortcuts—flipping coins, seeking signs, or relying on feelings—but Scripture calls us to a deeper process. Our hearts, as Jeremiah reminds us, are deceitful and prone to wander. The first step is to obey what God has already made clear: to receive Christ, follow Him daily, pray, know His Word, share our faith, fellowship with believers, give generously, and forgive others. As we walk in these things, our hearts become more attuned to God’s voice and less entangled by our own will.
When facing major decisions, it’s wise to consider four “lights”: our circumstances, the impressions of God’s Spirit, the truth of God’s Word, and the counsel of godly people. No single light is sufficient on its own, but when they converge, we find clarity. Even then, we must ask diagnostic questions rooted in James 3 and 4: What is my motivation? Is my decision based on truth or pride? Is it pure and peace-loving, or driven by jealousy and selfishness? Does it promote gentleness and mercy, or is it rooted in worldly or even demonic influences? What are the outcomes—does it bear good fruit and promote peace? How does it affect my relationships? And ultimately, who is glorified—God or myself?
God is not a vending machine or an avatar to be manipulated. He is holy, loving, and desires an intimate relationship with us. As we daily surrender, seek His wisdom, and walk in obedience to what we already know, we can trust that He will guide us in the decisions that matter most.
Key Takeaways
- God’s will is not hidden or elusive; it is found by daily submitting ourselves to His authority and untangling our hearts from selfish ambition. The process is not about finding a secret answer, but about placing ourselves under the steady flow of God’s direction, allowing Him to shape our desires and decisions. [19:45]
- The foundation for wise decision-making is obedience to what God has already revealed: receiving Christ, following Him daily, prayer, knowing His Word, sharing our faith, fellowship, giving, and forgiveness. These practices prepare our hearts to discern God’s specific guidance in the bigger questions of life. [28:10]
- Wise decisions are made by considering four converging “lights”: our circumstances, the impressions of God’s Spirit, the truth of God’s Word, and godly counsel. Relying on only one can lead us astray, but when all four align, we find clarity and confidence in our choices. [35:18]
- Diagnostic questions rooted in James 3 and 4 help us examine our motivations, the foundation, the heart, the source, the outcomes, the relational impact, and the ultimate glory of our decisions. These questions expose whether our choices are driven by humility and peace or by jealousy, pride, and selfish ambition. [43:45]
- God’s guidance is relational, not transactional. He desires that we walk with Him, daily surrendering our will, seeking His wisdom, and trusting that as we do, He will lead us into decisions that bear fruit, promote peace, and bring Him glory. The journey is not about perfection, but about ongoing intimacy and obedience. [53:45]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Aircraft Carrier Church: Sending and Blessing
[03:30] - The Paralysis of Analysis in Decision-Making
[07:08] - How We Make Decisions: Culture’s Methods
[13:00] - God’s Will and the Reality of Our Hearts
[17:45] - Biblical Examples of Major Decisions
[22:30] - Submitting to God’s Authority
[25:40] - Untangling Our Hearts: Romans 12:1-2
[28:10] - Nine Things We Know Are God’s Will
[32:09] - The Four Lights of Godly Decision-Making
[37:00] - Personal Story: A Life-Changing Decision
[40:34] - James 3-4: Seven Diagnostic Questions
[43:45] - Examining Our Motivations and Foundations
[47:53] - The World, the Flesh, and the Devil
[51:19] - The Impact of Decisions on Relationships
[52:35] - Prayer and Surrender to God’s Will
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Discerning God’s Will in Our Decisions
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### Bible Reading
James 3:13–4:3 (ESV)
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
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### Observation Questions
1. According to James 3:14-16, what are the signs that someone is operating out of “earthly, unspiritual, demonic” wisdom rather than God’s wisdom?
2. In the sermon, what four “lights” did Pastor Randy say we should consider when making major decisions? [32:09]
3. What are some of the clear things that God has already revealed as His will for every believer, according to the sermon? [28:10]
4. What does James say are the characteristics of wisdom from above in James 3:17?
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does James connect jealousy and selfish ambition with disorder and evil practices? How might this show up in our own decision-making? (James 3:16)
2. Pastor Randy said that God’s will is not a hidden mystery, but a relationship to be lived out. What does it look like practically to “place ourselves under the steady flow of God’s authority”? [22:30]
3. The sermon described our hearts as “deceitful and prone to wander” (Jeremiah 17:9). How does this reality affect the way we should approach our own desires and feelings when making decisions? [17:45]
4. Why is it important to consider all four “lights” (circumstances, Spirit’s impressions, God’s Word, godly counsel) together, rather than relying on just one? [35:18]
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### Application Questions
1. Think about a recent or upcoming major decision in your life. Which of the four “lights” (circumstances, Spirit’s impressions, God’s Word, godly counsel) have you considered? Are there any you tend to ignore or overemphasize? [32:09]
2. Pastor Randy listed several things that are always God’s will—receiving Christ, following Him daily, prayer, knowing His Word, sharing faith, fellowship, giving, and forgiveness. Which of these do you find most challenging to practice consistently? What is one step you could take this week to grow in that area? [28:10]
3. When you face a big decision, do you tend to look for shortcuts (like “signs,” feelings, or flipping a coin) instead of going through a deeper process? Why do you think that is, and how could you shift toward a more biblical approach? [07:08]
4. The sermon encouraged us to ask diagnostic questions about our motivations, the foundation, the heart, the source, the outcomes, the relational impact, and who is glorified by our decisions. Choose one of these questions and apply it to a current decision you’re facing. What do you discover? [43:45]
5. Is there a decision you’ve made in the past that, looking back, was driven more by selfish ambition or jealousy than by humility and peace? What were the results, and what would you do differently now? [41:00]
6. How do you respond when godly counsel challenges what you want to do? Are you open to correction, or do you tend to seek out people who will agree with you? [35:56]
7. God’s guidance is relational, not transactional. What would it look like for you to daily surrender your will and seek God’s wisdom, even in small decisions? Is there a specific area where you need to practice this kind of surrender this week? [53:45]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for one another, asking God for wisdom, humility, and a heart that is open to His will in both big and small decisions.
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