Making Wise Decisions
By Erin Baumgaertal
Every day, we face decisions—whether it’s what to wear, where to go to college, how to find a job, or how to build relationships with others. I often hear Christians talk about listening to God’s voice when they make decisions. But, how can they be sure it is really God speaking?
The Problem: As Christians, we want to make decisions that honor God. But sometimes, listening to God can be confusing. Many people rely on personal feelings instead of clear biblical guidance. The problem is, feelings can be influenced by many things—your mood, the people around you, hunger, stress, or even the influence of Satan. So how can we be sure that what we’re hearing is really from God? Sometimes, people who claim to hear from God end up making wrong choices. For example, Joseph Smith claimed to receive revelations from God and started a religion, called Mormonism, that is not biblical and does not offer true salvation. Another example is a girl I knew in high school who thought God told her she was supposed to marry a guy in her youth group—but that never happened. Instead, it ended up making things really awkward.
The Purpose: If you’re reading this, you probably want to know how to make decisions in a way that honors God. The goal here is to help you understand how God speaks, so you can learn how to listen to His voice and be equipped to make choices that align with His will.
God Speaks Clearly Through His Word
God is a good and loving Father who has given us everything we need to navigate life’s decisions. "Listening" to Him doesn’t mean waiting for a voice or a feeling; it’s primarily about reading what He has already written. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, we’re told, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" [italics added]. In other words, God has already given us everything we need to make wise decisions—if we know how to listen to Him. Sometimes, the Bible doesn’t directly address a specific decision we face. Here are three reasons for this:
First, the Bible was written for all people, in all cultures, and for all times. While our choices—like what we wear, what we eat, or how we approach relationships—might change over time or differ across cultures, the Bible offers timeless principles that apply in any context.
Second, God cares about your motives even more than your actions, even when a choice is not right or wrong in and of itself. For example, you could choose to have fruits and vegetables for dinner, or you could indulge in chips and ice cream. Neither choice is sinful in itself. But if you eat with an ungrateful attitude or if you consistently eat in a way that ends up harming your body, that can become sinful.
Third, know that God desires a relationship with you, not just a checklist of rules. He wants you to engage with His Word and come to Him in prayer about your specific decisions.
So, how do we take the truth God provides and apply it to our choices? Simply knowing God’s commands isn’t enough—we also need the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit. Thankfully, every believer is given the Holy Spirit. He will help us take what we know from the Bible and apply it to our lives.
How to Listen to God
Since we know God has spoken through His word, let's look at six basic and clear commands He gives to discover how we can listen to God even in matters that are not specifically covered in the Bible:
God wants everyone to be saved from the punishment they deserve for their sin (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). If you’re not yet saved, maybe today is the day you’ll choose to repent of your sins and place your faith in Jesus, our Savior. Once you are saved, the Holy Spirit is given to you. He will help you obey God, even when you’re tempted to sin. You can do this by looking to Jesus, surrendering your desires to Him, and asking for His strength and guidance.
God tells us to be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18). The Holy Spirit lives in us, but it’s easy to ignore Him and try to rely on our own strength. We ignore the Spirit when we neglect regular Bible study and prayer or choose to sin. So, when you're facing a decision, it’s important to be willing to surrender your own desires to God’s greater plan for you.
God also tells us to be grateful (Eph. 5:19-20). Everything we do should be marked by thankfulness for what God has done in saving us and giving us a future with Him. We don’t always have to be thankful for hard circumstances, but we are called to be thankful in those circumstances. I remember a time when I struggled with poor health and became very depressed and angry. I wasn’t thankful for what God had done for me, and it made everything feel so much harder. But a few years later, when my mom unexpectedly passed away, I was able to practice thankfulness in the midst of my grief. While I was still sad, I didn’t fall into anger or depression because I had learned to be grateful, even in tragedy. Thankfulness truly changed my heart toward God and attitude in life.
God calls us to be loving (Eph. 5:2, cf. Rom. 12:10). We are to love God and others the way Jesus loves us. He sacrificed His perfect life for us when He didn’t deserve to die. How much more should we be willing to sacrifice our own desires for the sake of others?
God also calls us to be pure (Eph. 5:3; 1 Thess. 4:3). This means living a life that reflects God’s holiness by turning away from sin and choosing to honor God with our bodies and minds.
God calls us to be different (Rom. 12:1-2). God doesn’t want us to live like people who don’t know Him. They follow after their own desires without thinking about God. Instead, we’re called to be transformed by renewing our minds—something we do through reading the Bible, praying, and keeping our focus on God.
So we know that God wants us to be saved, filled with the Spirit, grateful, loving, pure, and different from the world. These six commands are repeated throughout Scripture and give us a strong foundation for making decisions that honor God. Now let’s dive deeper into applying these truths.
How to Make A Wise Decision
When you're trying to listen to God and make wise decisions, it's important to test everything you hear or feel against what Scripture says. As 1 Thessalonians 5:21 tells us, "Test everything. Hold on to the good." This means that while we might hear different voices or feel certain things, we need to measure them against God’s Word. God will never lead you to do something that contradicts Scripture.
The following questions can help you make your decision:
Does my decision align with Scripture? When you’re making a decision, keep the clear truths from God’s Word in focus. If you feel like God is telling you something, but it doesn’t align with Scripture, you can be sure that voice isn’t from Him.
Have I prayed for wisdom? James 1:5 promises that if we ask God for wisdom, He will give it generously. So, ask God specifically for wisdom in your situation.
What are my motives in making this choice? Take time to consider what you want and why. Make sure your motives align with God's will and not selfish desires. God is interested in the outcome of your choices, but He’s even more concerned about the motive of your heart. Even a good decision can be made with sinful motives, so it's important to examine why you're making a particular choice.
Will this decision help me be filled with the Holy Spirit? Will it bring me closer to God, or will it lead me away from Him? If the decision pushes you toward sin or causes distance between you and God, it’s likely not the right choice.
Will this decision help me honor and obey the authorities in my life—like God, my parents, and my pastors? God has placed authorities over us to guide and protect us. Any decision that disregards or disrespects that authority should be carefully reconsidered.
How will this decision affect others? Consider how your choice will impact your friends, peers, or those who look up to you. As Christians, we are called to live in a way that benefits others, not just ourselves.
Have I sought counsel from wise believers? It’s always wise to ask for guidance from mature believers—people who know God’s Word and can offer godly advice. Talk to your parents, a trusted mentor, or someone who has walked with God longer than you. Proverbs 15:22 reminds us that “plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Don’t make important decisions in isolation.
If you’ve asked these questions and sought guidance but are still feeling uncertain, it’s okay to wait before making a decision. God is not a God of confusion, but a God of peace (1 Cor. 14:33). If you’re feeling confused or don’t have peace, now may not be the time to move forward in your decision. Trust that God will give you the peace and wisdom to decide when the time is right.
Make Your Choice
After you’ve tested everything, prayed for wisdom, and carefully considered these questions, it’s time to make your decision. Trust God with the results and give up control to Him. Sometimes, we can be afraid of making the wrong choice, but remember, God is sovereign, and He will guide you as you trust Him. Even if things don’t turn out the way you expect, rest assured that God is working all things for your good (Romans 8:28).
Conclusion
Making decisions can be hard, but when we follow these biblical principles—testing everything against God’s Word, praying for wisdom, considering our motives and the impact on others, and seeking counsel from wise believers—we can have confidence that we’re listening to God and making decisions that honor Him. And when we trust God with the results, we can move forward in faith, knowing He’s in control.
REFLECTION
If you haven’t already, go through and read all of the verses referenced in this post in your Bible. Write down any that are especially meaningful, encouraging, or convicting to you.
Look at the first list and ask yourself “is this how I make decisions?” If not, consider what areas you need to grow in and write down some thoughts.
Look at the second list of questions to ask and consider if you follow these steps when making decisions. Write down one or two of the questions that you feel most challenged by and reflect on how you could incorporate this process into your daily life.