Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Today you will make scores of decisions. Some decisions are perfunctory. (Open your eyes; get out of bed; brush your teeth) Other decisions bring consternation. (Who do I marry? What job do I take? How do I manage this crisis?) Why can’t every decision be easily made?
The Word of God is not silent on the matter of the decision making. The wisdom writer, inspired by God, wrote this in Proverbs 3: “... and he shall direct thy paths.” Decision making gets easy when God directs my path. His direction removes the burden of failure or stress that comes with our constant re-thinking or hesitation when we make unilateral decisions.
There are three principles that brings ease to decision making. They are found in the oft-quoted yet neglected passage, Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Trust only one source. Trust in the Lord. My ability to make decisions is directly related my heart’s confidence in God. It is a wise believer who places his confidence in God exclusively. When I trust Him, what He says becomes easy to do. Any other source of wisdom is imperfect.
Take only one lifeline. “Lean not unto thine own understanding.” The popular game show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” inserted a phrase in our vernacular. “I’ll use a life line now.” The show offered three life lines: Phone a Friend, 50-50, and Ask the Audience. The believer should use only Phone a Friend. That friend must be the Lord. If you use the other two, “50-50” or “ask the congregation,” you will only find frustration.
Turn only to one person. “In all thy ways acknowledge Him.” Acknowledging Him is the process of outsourcing my decisions to God. It removes stress and possibility for failure. God’s Word is the place where I acknowledge Him. Anytime I replace His wisdom with mine or another’s, I am destined for stress and second-guessing myself. I must have one source for decision making; it must be God. Anything less leads to poor decision making and its inherent stress. Our friends and leaders are imperfect people with biases. It is time we look to the only One who is always available and right. He is the only One who will make right decisions for me.
Is a tough decision yours to make today? Any decision based on your own understanding will lead to frustration and failure. Today, outsource your decisions to God and His Word. You will find the peace mentioned in 3:2. Isn’t it time that peace follows all your decisions?
