When you have to make a big decision, how do you feel? When I am in the flesh, I feel anxious, continually thinking through the realm of possibilities and outcomes if I make a decision one way or not. The bombardment of thoughts and the weight of which decision is best can be overwhelming – the pressure pushes me to escape from my present reality. Entertainment, such as movies and social media, distract me from taking my thoughts captive and bringing my feelings to God. 

While you may respond differently to decision making than I, one thing is definite – there are a right way and a wrong way to do it. The right way is obvious – run to God. However, that is easier said than done! When thinking about the direction you should take for your life, it’s time to battle the innate desire for control. There’s a natural inclination of needing to know what to do, when it is going to start (or finish), where you should go, and how to do it. And of course, you need to know this and know it NOW! Oh, what turmoil there is when difficult decisions need to be made, and critical direction needs to be revealed! 

Thankfully, we have a gracious Heavenly Father who answers us, a Savior who understands us, and the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us. The Lord cares about what we go through and Has a perfect plan for us. If you have not done so already, please read last week’s blog ( Knowing God’s Will) since this establishes the foundation for seeking God’s general will in our lives. We will continue this week by mentioning two aspects of determining His specific will regarding direction and decision making. 

1. SEEK THE AUTHOR ABOVE THE ANSWER

 “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” – Matthew 6:33 (NLT)

As a fitting segue from above, Jesus expounds this passage to His disciples to not worry – again… easier said than done! When we worry, we diminish our quality of life rather than making it better. Anxious thoughts redirect our thoughts from God to self, which perpetually feeds fleshly thought processes and breeds ungodly actions. Our great God wants to give us what we need, but we need to do one thing and one thing first: Seek Him.

We trust God for who He is. He is faithful, full of mercy, and complete goodness. It’s a matter of relationship as we want to spend time with the Creator rather than what we need by created hands. If God only gave into our requests with the relationship, He would be a cosmic genie, granting our ‘wishes’ whenever we desire. God wants more from us than our requests… He wants our hearts and our lives! If we truly know God and love Him, we want to spend time with Him and we have no guilt or shame with our requests. We know He cares enough to hear us and do something about it. We can trust Him when Jesus tells us, “He will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33).

2. WALK IN WHAT HAS BEEN REVEALED  

“The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” – 1 Samuel 16:1

When it comes to direction, it makes sense to have a destination. Yet when it comes to living a Spirit-filled life, we do not always know the destination initially, let alone have all the details! 

Take the prophet Samuel for example. God rejected King Saul, and He tells Samuel to anoint a new king. While the Lord spoke about the direction to take, Samuel did not know who the next king of Israel was. All he knew was to go to the house of “Jesse of Bethlehem.” That’s it. 

Imagine is Samuel said, “No Lord, I will not go until you tell me his name.” Well, we know Samuel wouldn’t be a God-fearing prophet of the Lord if that were the case! But Samuel obeyed his current revelation and trusted God for the next steps that had not been revealed. 

It was not easy either! Samuel arrives at Jesse’s house and has his sons pass by so the Spirit of God can reveal who the next king is. All seven of Jesse’s sons pass by and God says no. (1 Samuel 16:4-10). How confusing that must have been! 

It’s important to remember that God’s will is not only purposed through the destination but that He cares about your journey on the way. For Samuel, God did not reveal the next king’s name when his brothers passed by nor told him where David was. God was using this experience to draw Samuel nearer to Himself by teaching him how to hear God’s voice more clearly. To have Samuel trust Him amid uncertainties. He was working in Samuel while setting up the next King of Israel. 

Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” (1 Samuel 16:11). Jesse did not bring in his youngest son, probably because he seemed the most unlikely and unqualified. Thankfully, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7b). Sure enough, God told Samuel as David entered, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one” and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. (1 Samuel 16:12-13). 

As I wrap up this blog post, I will heed to the Holy Spirit’s direction to continue the other points for next week. For now, take the next step with what God has given you. What has He shown you so far? The Holy Spirit will provide you with the rest – whether further revelation or the next part of the plan – The Lord is working in you as you walk towards your destination. Spend time seeking God for who He is, not solely for what you need. He is willing to give to you, but He wants more than your requests… He wants all of you! Whether it is spending time in worship, reading the Scriptures, fasting, and prayer, there’s a variety of ways to seek God but do so because you love Him. May you experience unfathomable joy and unprecedented peace as you spend time in His presence. 

Have a blessed week!