Pray First. Decide Second.

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Every day each of us are faced with numerous choices. Decision-making can be difficult. There is often a lot at stake. Our decisions have the power to change our lives for the better or for the worse. Making a decision often means taking a risk. They can be hard choices that deserve a great amount of thought. We may fear not succeeding, experiencing disapproval from family or friends, or being ultimately disappointed by our choice. Regardless of the consequences, we still have to make decisions.   

So the question is: How do we choose wisely? What criteria do we use to evaluate, to discern the best course of action? Gathering all information necessary to make a wise decision is essential. We need the kind of wisdom that comes from above and that wisdom begins with prayer.

We know that God is sovereign. God is above all things and before all things. He is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. He is present everywhere so that everyone can know Him. God created all things and holds all things together, both in heaven and on earth.  God knows all things past, present, and future. God knows everything completely before it even happens. God can do all things and accomplish all things. Nothing is too difficult for Him, and He orchestrates and determines everything that is going to happen in your life, in my life, in Panama City, in Florida, in the U.S. and in the world. Nothing is impossible with Him. That being the case, God can help us with our decisions if we ask him in prayer. In his timeless plan, God has conceived all possible scenarios and has thought of every possible contingency. There has never been an event that took God by surprise, and there never will be.

That should be comforting to every follower of Jesus faced with a decision. Pray and tell God that you are worried about a decision. Pray that God would give you a heart of wisdom. Pray that you will make wise choices; and when two paths seem to be equal, pray God will help you to trust even as you make the decision. Pray  if the decision is the right one that God would open the door wide. And if it’s not what God has for you, that God would close the door tightly.  And at the end of this decision, pray for continued guidance. 

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you believe every decision should begin with prayer? Why or why not?
2. We will plan, but we trust God to order our steps. What does that mean to you?
3. What can we do to make prayer an integral part of the decision-making process?