Making Decisions and the Will of God (Part II)
Believers sense on a regular basis that God has some sort of plan for their lives, and they genuinely want to be a part of this plan. Furthermore, many believers have been taught to seek out God’s individual will for their lives in order to participate in the Christian life. In Part II of this series (see Part I), we’ll look at some Biblical and theological considerations related to decision-making and the will of God.
Biblical Considerations
We can be thankful that Scripture is not silent on how prayer works in the life of every believer. Psalm 139 is one passage of Scripture that reminds the believer of the all-knowing and ever-present God. David reminds us in the first verse of Psalm 139 that God knows everything about us. God’s knowledge is relational. He knows everything we think, do, or say. His knowledge is so exhaustive that it includes our thoughts before they become words (v. 4). Indeed, we join with David in saying: “This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it” (Ps. 139:6).[1]
Believers, knowing that God is omnipresent, can take comfort in their prayers. David rhetorically asks, “Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to heaven, you are there” (Ps. 139:7-8). No matter where the believer is praying, God is there. No matter what decision the believer is working through, God is there. What if the decision is the most important a believer will ever make? God will still be there. Lastly, believers can also gain an understanding of their worth in prayer. David reminds us that God created us and that we are all “remarkably and wondrously made” (Ps. 139:13-14).
Scripture also instructs believers to ask for wisdom through prayer (Jas. 1:5). What, then, is wisdom, and why should believers ask for it? Proverbs 2:5 defines wisdom as “the fear of the Lord” and “the knowledge of God.” Wisdom and decision-making always involve morality. Believers, then, should seek wisdom and ask for it from God. Garry Friesen explains, “What the believer is to seek in non-commanded decisions is not a dot, but wisdom; not God’s individual will, but God-given wisdom . . . the pursuit of wisdom in decision making permeates the entire Bible.”[2]
Believers can take comfort in this task of asking for wisdom because James promises God will give it “generously and ungrudgingly” (Jas. 1:5). God does not withhold wisdom and leave us to ourselves to find His will for our lives. However, that does not mean that God will somehow exempt the believer from making the decision or remove him or her from a difficult situation. Wisdom rests in the promise that God will guide the believer through the decision-making process.
Additionally, Scripture promises that we can attain forgiveness through prayer. John writes, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9). Believers may feel discouraged during the decision-making process, but John reminds us that the Lord grants forgiveness if we confess our sins. The default mode of our hearts is always to drift toward sin. Jesus encourages us to pray even in moments of weakness that we won’t enter into temptation (Mt. 26:41).
Theological Considerations
Why should we pray if God is in control over all things? This is a natural question for the believer to ask. God does have a sovereign will that includes His master plan for the universe. If this is the case, then why even bother to pray? We should first note that God commands us to pray. First Thessalonians even encourages us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). This verse doesn’t explain the dynamics between prayer and the sovereignty of God, but it encourages believers to pray even when they don’t feel like it.
In further considering this question, believers should think through what prayer is designed for. Prayer is a means of grace. John Frame explains, “[P]rayer is a means of fellowship with our heavenly Father.”[3] Jesus explains this relationship in Luke 11:9-13:
So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?
Notice the attitude of the child and father in this passage. The child desperately needs something. He or she is trying to make a decision, and the father is willing to help. Believers should desire to have this type of relationship with the Lord.
Lastly, prayer and the sovereignty of God do not operate mechanically in nature. God desires to use the pinnacle of His creation to accomplish His will! God has ordained prayer as means for His plans to be accomplished. This same concept applies to the doctrine of vocation. God ordains crops to grow but not without the farmer’s help to plant the seed and to harvest the field. God ordains protection for a city but not without the help of law enforcement and firefighters. Similarly, God desires for His children to have everything they need but not without prayer.
Prayer not only fits into God’s sovereign will, but it also plays a significant role in personal sanctification as well. Donald Whitney refers to prayer as “second only to the intake of God’s Word in importance.”[4] Habits of Christian maturity are cultivated through prayer because we learn more about God and His love for us. Sins are brought to light through prayer.
Incorporating Biblical intake with prayer will be supportive. Psalms 46 and 121 are both bookmarked in my Bible for quick access. These two psalms are wonderful reminders of how God is our source of strength during our most difficult days. Both remind us that Immanuel is with us always, to the end of the age. This promise brings joy to a weary heart. Matthew even emphasizes this truth when he bookends his Gospel with reminders of God’s presence providing comfort (Mt. 1:23; 28:20).
With these promises in mind, why do believers struggle in praying, especially since the personal benefit towards Christian maturity is so evident? Donald Whitney answers, “Sometimes the problem is primarily a lack of discipline: Prayer is never planned; time is never allotted just for praying.”[5] Busy schedules and overcrowded minds can prevent a believer from praying.
Lack of discipline can certainly be corrected if believers expand their practice of prayer. Pray in the morning. Pray before bed. Pray with others during a lunch break. Read about how others in church history have prayed through the centuries. Keep a prayer journal that includes sections for praying for missionaries, government leaders, those who are sick, church leaders, and unbelievers. These practical steps will help believers see the urgency for prayer.
Conclusion
Prayer is a discipline all believers can improve upon. Sometimes we will not have the time to pray for certain decisions. However, most of the major areas of decisions we will make will require some time to think beforehand. Such decisions may include what church to join in the community and how to serve it effectively. Some decisions may include what type of car, house, or furniture to buy.
We need to look no further than to our Lord concerning prayer and decision-making. The Gospels record several times when Jesus spoke in prayer.[6] One notable occasion occurred before the raising of Lazarus (Jn. 11:41-42). This was one of the major events in Jesus’ life. The Lord displays His love for his friend Lazarus and the devastating effects of sin just before Lazarus’s resurrection (Jn. 11:35). Some were questioning the Lord’s motives and power since He did not come sooner (Jn. 11:37). Jesus then prays in the midst of this struggle, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me” (Jn. 11:41-42).
Perhaps the greatest event in which Jesus prayed was on the cross. Jesus offered up three prayers during this time: “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing (Lk. 23:34),” “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Mt. 27:46; Mk. 15:34),” and “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit (Lk. 23:46).” There are several other instances in which Jesus prayed before specific events. These include moments at His own baptism (Lk. 3:21), after healing people in the evening (Mk. 1:35), before walking on the water at the Sea of Galilee (Mt. 14:22; Mk. 6:46; Jn. 6:15), before choosing the twelve disciples (Lk. 6:12), and before teaching his disciples the Lord’s Prayer (Lk. 11:1).
These examples from Scripture give us a descriptive glimpse into how Jesus handled key situations and events in His life. Following the example of our Lord, believers too can pray during our own times of sifting through decisions and opportunities. Jesus spent time praying with others and by Himself. Believers, too, will find benefit in praying both with others and in solitude. These prayers in Jesus’ life also show us that He wanted to remain fixed on God’s will. Believers, too, will need to be focused on God’s will so they can accomplish His work in His kingdom.
In summary, believers can take comfort in the promise that God has revealed Himself in His Word. He does not leave us to our own devices or understanding in the decision-making process. Moreover, since God has revealed Himself in His Word, believers should then make every effort to base the content of our prayers on this revelation. We can still ask for discernment and understanding (Phil. 1:9-11). Furthermore, we find comfort and rest in the promise that there is no conflict between our prayers and the sovereign will of God when we pray His Word.[7]
God’s will for our lives has already been found and revealed in His Word. Could it be that we are delaying our doing God’s will for our lives because of pride? I feel like many people around me (myself included) have a desire to do something great. We often want to build our decisions on a foundation of dreams, visions, fleeces, impressions, open doors, and casting lots, instead of on God’s Word which is sure, steadfast, and immovable. Perhaps we should instead follow after the pattern of our Lord: Clean up the sawdust like Jesus did until He was thirty. Serve those who are often forgotten about in our communities. Seek first the Kingdom of God. These are how we do God’s will.
For Further Study:
DeYoung, Kevin. Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will. Chicago: Moody, 2009.
Foster, Richard. Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth. New York: Harper Collins, 1998.
Friesen, Garry. Decision Making and the Will of God. New York: Multnomah, 2004.
Jones, David W. Knowing and Doing the Will of God. Wake Forest: Veritas, 2017.
MacArthur, John. Found: God’s Will. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2012.
Willard, Dallas. The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives. New York: Harper Collins, 1988.
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[1]All Scriptural quotations and references come from the Christian Standard Bible.
[2]Garry Friesen and J. Robin Maxson, Decision Making and the Will of God (New York: Multnomah, 2004), 159-160.
[3]John Frame, A Theology of Lordship: The Doctrine of the Christian Life (Phillipsburg: P&R, 2008), 924.
[4]Donald Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Colorado Springs: Navpress, 1991) 62.
[5]Ibid., 65.
[6]See Matthew 11:25-26, Luke 10:21, John 11:41-42, John 12:28, John 17, Luke 23:34, Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34, Luke 23:46.
[7]Jones, Knowing and Doing the Will of God, 72.
July 1, 2018
Zach, I like how you made such a beautiful and clear connection between prayer as a “means of grace”– that God intends us to experience regularly–and learning to make decisions with His guidance. This is a very helpful article and I hope you find many ways to share these principles with others as you minister in different settings!