GETTING GUIDANCE

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:5-6 NKJV)

Decisions—decisions!  How many of them do we face each day—from something as insignificant as what to eat for breakfast to perhaps taking another job requiring a move across the country.  Some things seem pretty trivial and we don’t ponder them a long time.  Others we wrestle with because we know there are big implications.  Sometimes the results send ripples and at other times shock waves reaching way beyond all expectations.  Church and their leaders make decisions—and can be of eternal significance. Life is filled with such dilemmas—dilemmas enough to drive us bonkers!

What do most people do when facing what they know to be a major crossroad?  Some act on impulse—they have an intuitive sense or they choose what feels best.  Others reason through things and based on their best thinking—maybe even with research—weigh the options and do what they think best.  Then there are those that seek and heed the advice of experts, friends, family, professional counselors, and such, and do what others recommend as best.  While none of these are all bad, and sometimes pursuing one or the other may yield good—there is a fatal flaw.  Sometimes the path of least resistance and that which feels good is wrong.  Our reason is not dependable for we neither have all the facts nor always correctly interpret them—we can reason our way to the wrong conclusion.  When you listen to other people—they may not have your best interest at heart and so deliberately seek to deceive you or they may just be wrong and unintentionally mislead you.  Even the “experts” often disagree!

So what do you do?  It is bad to make faulty decisions, but it is also faulty to allow indecision to prevail in your life—the paralysis of analysis.  Here’s God’s plan, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Prov. ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV)‬‬. Seek Him in prayer.  James says to ask God for wisdom.  He is eager to give it—to move you from dilemma to decision—the right decision!  What a difference it would make if the church and her leaders sought God’s guidance in their decisions!

We are to look to the Lord, lean on Him and listen to Him. 

Yours in Seeking His Will,

Dennis Thurman, Mission Strategist