How do we know whether to turn left or right when life tosses a difficult decision our way?
- Do we get all the facts and “reason it out”?
- Do we think about the implications and consequences of the options?
- Do we “phone a friend” and ask for their opinion and direction?
Of course! We do all of that and more because it’s the prudent thing to do.
But there is much more to our left or right decisions. Much more. In fact, the much more is the most important part:
Yielding to God for his direction and blessing.
Trying to make the important decisions of our life on our own is trying to play God…and it’s wrong.
Choosing to trust God when facing a left or right decision does not obviate our responsibility to be careful and prudent about how we live our lives. We don’t just roll over and play dead. We need to do our part in the process by making wise decisions. But in the end, God wants us to get our final direction and peace from him, not our “smarts,” not our money, not a person, not a career, and not a hobby. From him.
Christians have to believe God’s promise that “the Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Psalm 121:7-8) and that “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
THE WISDOM WELL
The Lord wants us to seek and claim his wisdom in prayer as we travel down the road of life. He wants us to pray for direction in advance as we pull out of the garage each day with him driving our car. He wants us to pray in advance for wisdom in every part of our life–health, family, church and business relationships, finances, our future, our hope—EVERYTHING! Why? Because there are left or right decisions in all of that!
Praying for wisdom in advance and putting our complete trust and devotion in God honors him. In fact, we are to “trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal” (Isaiah 26:4).
God has never let us down, and Scripture assures us he never will. God is trustworthy because he is unchanging.
When Moses told the nation of Israel he was no longer able to lead them, because of his advanced age, Joshua rose up. Moses said, “Do not be afraid or terrified . . . for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deut. 31:6).
God’s Word is clear that we need to give him our fears, worries, and doubts every time we face the decision to make a left or right turn.
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6
“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.” James 1:5
