Life is filled with decisions. Some are small and insignificant, while others are major and life changing. The task of making wise decisions can be especially daunting in a nation that offers so many choices.

Unwise decisions can ruin your life. On the other hand, wise decisions can be an eternal blessing, such as your choice of a spouse or career path. For example, the wisest decisions I’ve ever made were (1) becoming a Jesus follower and (2) marrying my lovely wife. Both of these wise decisions have been eternal blessings.

Needless to say, God wants us to make wise decisions. Hence, He has provided a four-step method in the Bible to help us make decisions. His method is outlined below:

Pray first. The first step in making wise decisions is to pray. That should be a no brainer. Shouldn’t common sense tell us that the Heavenly Father is the best source of advice since He knows everything and sees the end from the beginning? Yet, many Jesus followers make major decisions without praying first. Someone aptly said prayer should be our first response not our last resort. Here’s what the Bible says:  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 your paths straight. Proverbs 3:3-5.  Also, the scripture tells, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

Bible second. The second step should be to study the Bible. Above we said pray first, but remember, God usually directs us to His Word for the answer. Notice what King David, the Psalmist, said about the ability of the Word of God to lead us:  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalms 119:105

The Bible is, among other things, life’s manual. It shows us how to live wisely so we can get the best results. There are principles in it that will help us make wise decisions every time. A great way to learn those principles is by reading a chapter of Proverbs daily, preferably in the mornings, for the rest of your life. Trust me, that’s a small commitment for such a great payoff.

Counsel third. Only after we’ve prayed first and studied God’s Word second should we seek human counsel. Plenty people approach decision making in the opposite order, i.e., they seek human counsel first then they pray and study the Word of God. This backward approach puts man’s wisdom above God’s wisdom and that can be a formula for disaster.

My point is not to discourage you from seeking godly counsel from seasoned people. The Book of Proverbs repeatedly encourages us to seek counsel.

  • Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14
  • Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. Proverbs 15:22
  • For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety. Proverbs 24:6

Although we should seek godly counsel, I recommend that you do so from a mature and trustworthy Jesus follower who knows the Word of God, has a proven record of integrity, knows the voice of the Holy Spirit and are concerned about your best interest.

Peace fourth. If, after doing the three steps above, you’re still unsure, then do what gives you peace in your heart. As a matter of fact, doing what gives you peace is God’s preferred method of leading us. The scriptural support for this last step is Colossians 3:15, which says:

…let the peace of God rule in your hearts. Colossians 3:15

Here’s how this simple scripture will help you make wise decisions. God will withdraw His peace from your heart when you are contemplating an unwise decision or have already embarked upon an unwise course of action.

Conclusion. This four-step method of making wise decisions will keep you from ruining your life. You may not need to exercise every step because you may get your answer in steps one or two. Moreover, most decisions are not major and wise decisions can be made from godly morals, common sense and good logic. I pray this helps you make wise decisions in the future.