Good Idea or God Idea? How Do I Know the Difference?

From the Word:

Click and read Psalm 32

Key Verse:

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. - Psalm 32:8 (NIV)

Do you have a list of New Year's resolutions made yet? How many have you broken already? : )

There is something about the New Year that ignites in me a desire for change. I organize closets, begin weight-loss programs, and start projects. It is in January I often make steps toward major life changes.

This January isn't any different. I have some plans for new projects, some weight to lose, and also some big decisions to make. Driving home from our Christmas vacation, I spent a lot of time daydreaming and planning.

So now the question is, "Do my plans, schemes, and dreams fit into God's plans and purpose for me?" How do I figure out what plans and ideas are God ideas and which ones may seem like good ideas but are outside of his will for me?

Last April, I attended our church's annual Leadership Conference and went to one of the breakout sessions taught by Pastor Rick Verdeyen from Calvary Chapel Corvallis. The title of the session was "Good Idea or God Idea? How Do You Know the Difference?" I really enjoyed the session and walked away with some practical information to apply to my own decision making.

As a pastor, Rick said he is constantly presented with new and good ideas people feel passionately about. "Pastor, we need to start a prison ministry." or "Pastor, we need to be more involved in missions and this is a great new program I just heard about." Although all of those are good ideas, one church cannot do it all, and he needed to learn how to discern the difference between a good idea and an idea God was really leading them into.

He came up with this five step process to "Get a HANDle on Decision Making." Using his hands to count them out, he goes through this process for figuring out God's will:

1. Ask yourself, "Have I been in the Word?":
Before someone can discern if a decision is a good idea or a God idea, they need to be studying the Bible. God has given us the Bible as a standard for direction and truth, so He will not give us direction to do something that is contrary to His Word. Plus, there are so many great examples to learn from and mistakes that people made in the Bible that we can apply to our own situations and avoid.

2. Have I prayed about it? And have I been persistent in praying about it?:
The Greek verb ask in Matthew 7:7 should really read keep asking. (Keep Asking) Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you - Matthew 7:7 It is about persistent prayer. Not because God wants us to grovel, but because His ways are different than ours and this may be an issue of timing. I may not be asking for the right thing yet. He may have something much bigger and better than I can imagine.

3. Do I have peace about the decision I'm about to make?:
When we are headed in the right direction in God's will, there is peace as confirmation. Colossians 3:15 says, "Let the peace of God rule in your heart." The Greek verb rule is the same word for umpire. Let His peace rule your situation and decision making.

4. I need to seek out wise counsel before I make this decision: This is not about asking everyone you know for their opinion. This will just lead to confusion because even if they are great, wise, people, we all have differing opinions. Instead, you need to seek out those people you know who will go through this process along side of you before they have an opinion.

Choose wise counselors, ask them to search God's Word for you and to sincerely and persistently pray for you and then see how they feel led in this situation and take into consideration their advice. Proverbs 15:22 says, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."

5. Then I need to WAIT:
Don't rush the decision. Wait until you are sure that you've gotten your answer from God. Don't get ahead of Him. Wait for His lead. This is the hardest part for me! I just want a decision made! I HATE waiting!

During the session, Pastor Rick shared a story of a lady in his church who trained horses. After a sermon on Psalm 32, she gave him her interpretation of this portion of the Psalm:

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
Do not be like the horse or like the mule,
which have no understanding,
which must be harnessed with bit and bridle. (NKJV)

She said she has some horses who know her so well all she has to do is look in a direction and they will follow the lead of her glance. That's how God wants us to follow Him. Know Him so well we don't have to be dragged around by bit and bridle in order to go where He wants to lead us.

That is where I want to be in my own decision making and planning for the new year. Instead of being in a hurry to start new projects and make quick decisions, I want to slow down, to spend time getting to know Him more, and to be persistent in praying about the areas of my life where I need more direction. I want to get to the place where He glances in a direction, and I joyfully walk in the way He would have me go.

Personal Application:

Do you have any decisions to make as you begin this new year? What about resolutions you've made or dreams you are dreaming about the future? Take some time to dedicate those things to the Lord. Ask Him if He shares those dreams with you and if your plans are in line with His will.

Are there people you can trust to be wise counselors? Talk to them about the decision you are facing or the dreams you are dreaming and ask them to be in prayer for you. Choose people who will seek the Lord on your behalf. Pray that God will lead you to people who can be godly and wise advisers in your life.

Lord,
I thank you for this New Year and for all that is ahead in it. I know that each day has already been ordained by you. You already know what lies ahead for me. I lift to you my dreams and plans for this year. Show me which of these you share with me and which of them you do not desire for me. Please bring me to people who can be godly and wise advisers in my life. Direct me this year and show me how to stay in the center of your will.

In Jesus' Name I pray,
Amen

Happy New Year!