Friday, June 5, 2009

Deciding at the crossroads


Life would turn to some new transition soon in the coming weeks or months it seems and it feels like many things are still left unanswered at the moment. It makes me want to scream with motions of pulling my hair out of my scalp if i could or would. But I'd pass up the opportunity of the hair pulling for now. I still love my hair so I'd leave that to my imagination instead. Right now I need to make some decisions and with any step I would choose to take there would be some kind of sacrifice and losing to be experienced.

At the juncture of uncertainty, how does one know God's will in terms of making decisions? What is God's will and how do we know which is God's will. Some say that we wait and pray and if we have peace on the matter of choosing a path that would be validated as God's will. There might be some truth in this. But others advise to just do something and God will guide. Like something I read from Erwin McManus. There is truth in this way as well.

But i would like to know how do you make decisions and know that if it is God's will for you?


3 comments:

Eilidh said...

decision making, hmmm. When I've got big decisions to make I tend to get as many people as possible to pray with/for me. A mistake I've made a few times in the past is to ask a lot of people their opinion as well, which is good sometimes but if you ask too many you end up with the wisdom of man and not of God. Everyone uses it, but it's still encouraging: Jeremiah 29.11. It's good to know that God knows exactly where you're going and what you'll do, though you're right, it's frustrating when we don't!!

I think you're right about pressing on with something and God guiding you, if you don't start then you don't get anywhere. I'm always really aware of the fact that I want to do God's will though, which sometimes makes it difficult to just get on with it, y'know?

Kurt Willems said...

First of all let me say that you picture that you use in this post is awesome!

Second, I know what it is like to be a crossroads in life. You know that I have made some big changes in my life in the last couple of months. Now, here is what I have learned through it all. God usually takes me into situations that are difficult (for whatever reason) and I get to a point where things are so overwhelming that I just wont survive much longer. Because of this pattern, in my spirit I have gotten to the point where I can trust (not without fear and frustration) that God is about to do something fresh in my life to change up the circumstances that are on the brink of consuming me. Then, the new option emerges and I have the crossroads moment. Do I take this new option or do I continue to wait? I then have to ask myself if I am drawn to this option because it is the easy way out or is it potentially God's way to something fresh for his kingdom? Then I begin to dialogue with wise counselors... (I agree with Eilidh that if we are not careful, our wisdom may not be from God but from human origin only) ...however I would add that in my experience that God uses fellow members of his family that know me intimately to speak wisdom into my situation. Finally, I pray like crazy seeking a sense of "peace" from the Holy Spirit. This is not necessarily a clean answer from God, but a peace that tells me that it is time to take the next step in faith in a direction past the crossroad. There may be unknowns ahead, but God knows how to direct my path towards his dreams for my life.

I will continue to pray for you bro as you discern what is next…

Tremonti said...

EW,

"A mistake I've made a few times in the past is to ask a lot of people their opinion as well, which is good sometimes but if you ask too many you end up with the wisdom of man and not of God."

How true! Yes we need godly opinions from people but as you said asking too many muddles your sights. And the thing about wanting to know God's will, it's something that i want to do and seek to do but i'm getting to a point that knowing that exactly is not something that we will know in a 100% accuracy. But i would not say that is always the case. I think what's important is the desire to do and wanting to know God's will. Thanks for your views!!!!

Kurt,
Cool picture huh...i thought so too!

What you said here really strikes me

"Because of this pattern, in my spirit I have gotten to the point where I can trust (not without fear and frustration) that God is about to do something fresh in my life to change up the circumstances that are on the brink of consuming me."

That type of trusting only comes when we live and experience it. Knowing God's will, doing waiting and discerning direction and to attain a trusting relationship with God cannot be conjured up in an instant. I wish there were shortcuts through them though. Thanks for your comments and sharing how you deal with knowing God's will!

Hopeful Theo

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I'm a student of Theology (currently and will always be one). I'm a student of culture and a student of music as well. I guess you could say life is a never ending journey of learning. Because of that we never stop being students. Just a little something about this blog: Deconstructing The Monkey is all about being a safe space for emerging conversations