Wise Decision-Making: Surrendering to God's Guidance
Summary
In life, we face numerous critical questions that shape our journey and define our purpose. Among these, five stand out: How will my faith influence my life? What will I do with my money? Who should I marry? What should I do when I grow up? And, humorously, who will I follow on TikTok? These questions guide our decisions and reflect our values. Over the past weeks, we've explored decision-making through the lens of what we already know, what aligns with Jesus, and discerning God's will. Today, I want to share a tool that has been invaluable in making wise decisions: asking, "What is the wise thing to do?"
Fear often clouds our judgment, making it difficult to focus. We may have all the information, yet still struggle to make wise decisions. As children, we learned right from wrong, but as adults, we need to ask what is wise. Wisdom is not just about knowledge; it's about applying it correctly. Andy Stanley's question, "In light of my past experiences, current circumstances, and future hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing to do?" is a powerful guide.
Through years of coaching and observing others, I've identified eight practices for wise decision-making. These include consistently asking God for wisdom, understanding that God's wisdom differs from the world's, seeking advice from those who love God, recognizing pride as a problem, and knowing that reflection fosters growth. Wise people also understand that God plays the long game, focusing on timing and faith, and they pay attention to the desires God places in their hearts.
As I transition from my role at the summit, I reflect on the warmth and growth this community has provided. It's a new season for me and my family, and while change is challenging, it is also an opportunity to trust God in new ways. The ultimate wisdom lies in surrendering our lives to Jesus, allowing Him to guide us and use us for His purposes. This is my final challenge to you: surrender your life to Jesus, for He loves you more than anyone else and has sacrificed the most for you.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Importance of Wise Decision-Making: Life's critical questions require us to seek wisdom beyond mere right and wrong. Asking, "What is the wise thing to do?" helps us navigate complex decisions with clarity and purpose. Wisdom is not just about having information but knowing how to apply it in our lives. [38:11]
2. Consistently Seeking God's Wisdom: Wise individuals consistently ask God for wisdom, recognizing that His guidance is essential in all areas of life. This practice requires humility and a willingness to seek divine insight, which often contrasts with worldly wisdom. [41:46]
3. The Role of Reflection in Growth: Taking time to reflect on past experiences allows us to assign meaningful interpretations that foster growth rather than hinder it. Reflection helps us learn from failures and successes, shaping our future decisions. [52:25]
4. Understanding God's Long Game: God operates on a timeline that often requires patience and trust. While we may desire immediate results, God's long-term plans are designed for our ultimate good, shaping us into who we are meant to be. [54:28]
5. Surrendering to Jesus: The wisest decision we can make is to surrender our lives to Jesus, trusting Him to guide us through life's uncertainties. His love and sacrifice for us are unparalleled, and He knows the best path for our lives. [01:03:48]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Five Critical Life Questions
- [03:15] - Decision-Making Insights
- [05:45] - The Role of Fear and Information
- [08:20] - Wisdom vs. Right and Wrong
- [10:00] - Andy Stanley's Wisdom Question
- [12:30] - Consistently Seeking God's Wisdom
- [15:00] - God's Wisdom vs. Worldly Wisdom
- [17:45] - Seeking Advice from Godly People
- [20:30] - The Problem of Pride
- [23:00] - Reflection Fosters Growth
- [26:00] - God's Long Game
- [28:30] - Timing and Faith
- [31:00] - Paying Attention to Desires
- [34:00] - Personal Reflections and Farewell
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. James 1:5 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."
2. 1 Corinthians 3:19 - "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight."
3. Philippians 2:13 - "For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."
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Observation Questions:
1. What are the five critical questions mentioned in the sermon that we all need to answer in life? [34:37]
2. How does fear impact our ability to make wise decisions according to the sermon? [36:50]
3. What is the significance of Andy Stanley's question about wisdom in decision-making? [39:03]
4. What are some of the eight practices for wise decision-making identified in the sermon? [40:13]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does consistently asking God for wisdom differ from relying on worldly wisdom, and why is this important for decision-making? [41:46]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that pride can hinder wise decision-making, and how can humility lead to wisdom? [49:29]
3. How does the concept of God playing the "long game" challenge our desire for immediate results in our lives? [54:28]
4. What role does reflection play in fostering growth, and how can it change our future decision-making? [52:25]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent decision you made. Did you ask, "What is the wise thing to do?" How might this question have changed your decision-making process? [38:11]
2. Identify an area in your life where you struggle to consistently seek God's wisdom. What steps can you take to make this a regular practice? [41:46]
3. Think of a time when pride may have influenced a decision you made. How can you cultivate humility in similar situations in the future? [49:29]
4. Consider a situation where you are impatient for results. How can you trust in God's long-term plan and exercise patience? [54:28]
5. What are some past experiences you need to reflect on to assign a new, growth-oriented meaning? How can this reflection impact your future choices? [52:25]
6. Are there any "dials" in your life that God might be adjusting? How can you be more attentive to these changes and align your actions with them? [59:50]
7. How can you surrender a specific area of your life to Jesus this week, trusting Him to guide you through uncertainties? [01:03:48]
Devotional
Day 1: Seeking Wisdom Beyond Knowledge
In life, we often face decisions that are not simply about choosing between right and wrong but require a deeper understanding of wisdom. Wisdom is not just about having information; it is about knowing how to apply it effectively in our lives. By asking, "What is the wise thing to do?" we can navigate complex decisions with clarity and purpose. This approach helps us align our choices with our values and long-term goals, ensuring that our actions reflect our faith and integrity. [38:11]
James 1:5-6 (ESV): "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind."
Reflection: Think of a decision you are currently facing. How can you apply the question, "What is the wise thing to do?" to guide your choice today?
Day 2: Divine Wisdom Over Worldly Insight
Consistently seeking God's wisdom is essential for making decisions that honor Him and align with His will. This requires humility and a willingness to seek divine insight, which often contrasts with worldly wisdom. By asking God for wisdom, we open ourselves to His guidance in all areas of life, trusting that His perspective is greater than our own. This practice helps us to discern His will and make choices that reflect His character and purposes. [41:46]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to seek God's wisdom today? How can you intentionally ask for His guidance in this area?
Day 3: Growth Through Reflection
Taking time to reflect on past experiences allows us to assign meaningful interpretations that foster growth rather than hinder it. Reflection helps us learn from both our failures and successes, shaping our future decisions. By understanding the lessons from our past, we can make more informed and wise choices moving forward. This process of reflection is crucial for personal and spiritual growth, as it enables us to see God's hand in our lives and align our actions with His purposes. [52:25]
Psalm 119:59-60 (ESV): "When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent experience that taught you a valuable lesson. How can you apply this lesson to a current situation in your life?
Day 4: Trusting in God's Timing
Understanding that God operates on a timeline that often requires patience and trust is crucial for spiritual maturity. While we may desire immediate results, God's long-term plans are designed for our ultimate good, shaping us into who we are meant to be. Trusting in God's timing means having faith that He knows what is best for us and that His plans are perfect. This perspective helps us to remain patient and hopeful, even when we do not see immediate outcomes. [54:28]
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV): "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you are struggling to trust God's timing? How can you practice patience and faith in this situation today?
Day 5: Surrendering to Jesus
The wisest decision we can make is to surrender our lives to Jesus, trusting Him to guide us through life's uncertainties. His love and sacrifice for us are unparalleled, and He knows the best path for our lives. Surrendering to Jesus means allowing Him to lead us and use us for His purposes, trusting that He has our best interests at heart. This act of surrender is a daily choice that requires faith and commitment, but it leads to a life of peace and fulfillment in His presence. [01:03:48]
Galatians 2:20 (ESV): "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Quotes
"So I believe that there are five critical questions that we all need to answer in life. Five critical questions. Five critical questions that we all need to answer in life. And maybe you've heard of some of these before, but just in case you haven't, I want to remind you of some of these. Number one, first critical question, how will my faith influence my life? How will my faith influence my life? Now, that means, am I going to kind of just have a Sunday faith or who I believe Jesus to be? Am I going to carry that into the other days of my life and really live out my faith, right? So how will my faith influence my life? Second question is, what will I do with my money?" [00:31:48] (44 seconds)
"And fear doesn't help you because what we often do is we catastrophize a situation and then we go, oh no, what if this happens? And oh no, what if that happens? And oh my gosh, what if this happens? And now we're all stirred up. We can't think straight. We're all emotional and fear can just really make it hard to focus in our life when we're trying to make big decisions. Second point here is information doesn't guarantee wise decision-making." [00:35:58] (29 seconds)
"Because I mean, yeah, you kind of know the wrong thing most of the time. You don't always know the right thing most of the time. And I think there's a better question to ask. And here's, here's the tool that I want to offer you. This has been super helpful for me. And it's been super helpful for a lot of you that have done this before. Here it is. What is the wise thing to do?" [00:37:52] (19 seconds)
"One gift that Andy Stanley gave to us years ago is this question right here. In light of my past experiences, current circumstances, and future hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing to do? When it comes to my relationships, my career, money, health, in light of my past experiences, current circumstances, and future hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing to do? What a gift he is. He gave us in decision making. I love, love that question." [00:39:06] (30 seconds)
"And what I did is I took all those notes and I took all those observations and I took all those patterns that I've kind of observed over eight years and I put them in a list and I'm calling it my eight practices for wise decision making. And so these are not necessarily, don't take my word for it. These are people that I've observed. They're not perfect people, but there are people who have made a lot of wise choices in their life. And I kind of took their playbook, their game plan of how they made those decisions. And I just wrote some notes down and I want to share them with you as a framework for how to make wise decisions." [00:40:47] (44 seconds)
"Grounded in humility, faith, and knowledge of God's purposes in scripture, genuine wisdom aligns with God's word and contradicts the opinions of the world. Worldly wisdom is based on human theories, reasonings, and pride and self-reliance that God has for us. God has a word that dismisses God. My favorite verse on this is this right here. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. Foolishness." [00:44:17] (31 seconds)
"The value of having friends and mentors and coaches that love God, it's like this. If you've a football game you understand the offensive coordinator or the defensive coordinator most likely is up in the press box and the reason that they're up in the press box is they can see the whole field they can see the whole field and they can they're on headsets and they're talking to the coaches down on the sideline and they're going hey listen next time we're running offense out on the field this linebacker has this tendency to do this on defense when we're in that formation or this safety has a tendency to creep up during this type of play so here's what we need to do or this receiver he tends to do this when he jumps off the line of scrimmage so here's what we need to do let's let's strategize and game plan around this but here's what I'm saying friends godly friends mentors and coaches they see your life sometimes from a bigger view we're in the details of our life or we don't always see the bigger picture because we are so granular in how we live and there's nothing wrong with that. That's just a thing thing." [00:46:23] (76 seconds)
"understand that pride is a problem. It's a problem. It's like what Jesus said, there's a log in our eye. It keeps us from seeing things realistically as they are. Pride is not your friend. To think more highly of yourself than you should, that's a problem. To resist advice and not ask for help, that is a problem. You don't know it all. You have a lot of blind spots and so do I. And we need help. I love this verse right here. Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. When people make decisions based on pride, it leads to disgrace. That's a principle all throughout scripture." [00:48:40] (49 seconds)
"Now, here's what I know about you and I. We live fast. We live fast. But here's what I also know about us is as people, emotional people, and how we process our emotions and feelings and thoughts, although we live fast, we need time. To process the things in our life that happen to us that are significant, whether they're really good or whether they're really bad or whether they're all over the place, whether we felt like we've gained something or lost something, we need time to process. I love this verse right here. I remember the days of long ago. I meditate on all your works, God, and consider what your hands have done." [00:51:09] (47 seconds)
"God is about the long game in your life. Some of the people you're praying for, some of the things you're trying to heal from, some of the situations that you are just asking God for a miracle, God is playing the long game in your life. He's playing the long game. There is something about the time under tension in your life that God is doing in you. It cannot be done any other way. I want to say that again. There is something about time under tension that God is doing in your soul that cannot happen any other way." [00:55:02] (41 seconds)
"um we'll be around and we're trying to figure out what that means and we're not exactly sure what that means yet but here's what i know when it comes to making wise choices the biggest question we've had to really think about the biggest phrase that we've really been praying about is everything comes back to surrendering our life to jesus we don't know the future but he does and we exist for him and our goal has always been to surrender our life to jesus and allow him to use us and put us where he wanted us to be and so that's my last challenge that i'm going to give you as i know you're processing big decisions i know you have a family and you love them and you've got stresses in your life and you've got things you're trying to figure out and i just want to if you forget everything i say i just want to offer you this last piece of advice the wisest thing you can do the wisest thing you can do everything comes back to surrendering your life to jesus and allow him to use us and put us where he wanted us to be and so that's my last challenge the wisest thing you can do the wisest thing you can do is surrender your life to jesus nobody loves you more nobody's done more for you nobody has sacrificed more for you than him let me pray for you heavenly father i love this church family it's my family this is an incredible church kernersville and oak ridge and those watching online this is an incredible spiritual family that you have blessed us with the ability to be a part of for 17 years we've seen so much change we've seen you move in so many incredible ways and my heart is full by allowing you allowing me to serve at this incredible place and serving these incredible people and i just pray ultimately god for my friends that under the sound of my voice that regardless of the choices that they're trying to make right now in their life i pray that it would come back to what choice do we need to make that demonstrates we are surrendering our life to jesus what is the wise thing to do and in jesus name we pray amen" [01:05:00] (138 seconds)
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