Decisions

Anchor Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:11–13 

For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.

The person with the Holy Spirit can know God’s heart. And when we know God’s heart, decision-making becomes easier. We can live in peace, trusting His promises, even in the face of adversity.

Adversity Doesn’t Mean God Didn’t Speak

The fact that God gave an instruction doesn’t mean there won’t be challenges. The Israelites’ journey from Egypt is proof of this. Along the road to fulfilling the long-term vision, there are short-term instructions — steps along the way that require our obedience.

Keeping God’s promises before us helps in difficult seasons when we begin to question things. And when we finally see the promise fulfilled, it strengthens our faith for the next journey.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is God in the believer. Cultivating our relationship with Him makes it easier to discern when God is speaking. Timing is also critical. We must know what God said and what God is saying now. Consider Abraham: God gave two different instructions about Isaac. If Abraham had stopped listening, his obedience would have been misunderstood.

Trusting God all the way is essential because He has our best interests at heart.

When You Haven’t Heard Clearly

What should you do if you’re trying to decide and haven’t heard from God? Think of a GPS — it won’t work if the vehicle is stationary. Move. Take a step. As you go, trust that the Holy Spirit will navigate you. Wise counsel also plays a role:

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. — Psalm 32:8 (NIV)

We often only see just enough light to take the next step — like a headlamp. Don’t wait for the full picture before moving. The presence of challenges does not mean God is absent.

Led from the Inside

You can be led by situations and circumstances from the outside, but the best way to be led is from within — by the Spirit.

• Romans 12:2 calls us to be transformed by renewing our minds.
• Philippians 4:6–8 reminds us to pray and focus on what is true and good.

Like learning a language, the more time we spend studying God’s word and fellowshipping with Him, the easier it becomes to understand His voice. Sometimes, when others confirm a leading, it’s because God had already “copied” you on the message.

God isn't an author of confusion. Whatever direction we receive must align with God’s Word. He gives us the grace both to will and to do His good pleasure.

Wisdom and Responsibility

Not every issue is a prayer problem — sometimes it’s a wisdom problem. Using medicine doesn’t make you an unbeliever. There’s a place for using our minds to process things, and there is a place for praying to God to equip us through books, training, and skills so we can handle the things God entrusts to us and make easier decisions. 

Being spiritual is not an excuse for laziness. God often reveals things that require a certain level of preparation to understand. This is why the Bible always feels fresh — as we grow in knowledge, we see more of what God is showing us. Wisdom is the principal thing. In all your getting, get wisdom. 

Hearing and Obeying

What happens when we hear and don’t obey? God isn't schizophrenic. He isn't moved by our behaviour. The faithfulness of the Father isn't premised on the behaviour of the sheep. God doesn’t stop speaking — we stop hearing. Prolonged spiritual infancy hinders us. Disobedience becomes a pattern that dulls our sensitivity to His voice.

Even when we make poor choices, His rod and staff still comfort us. Even when God was portrayed in the Old Testament to be bad, He wasn't really bad. It's His people that give Him a bad reputation because of their negativity.

We can grieve the Holy Spirit. But our fellowship with Him requires responsibility. We have a generation to reach. We have freewill, we need to yield. The ball is in our court to keep the fellowship going

Conclusion

Read the Old Testament through the lens of the New. Learn lessons, gain wisdom, and receive instruction. And as Paul prayed:

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. — Ephesians 3:14–19 (NIV)