The Narrow Path Ministries

When it comes to the topic to finding God's will for a particular situation, I know many Christians rely on some kind of internal feeling or impression. Others have suggested to me that we should test God before making an important life decision. Casting lots (and Gideon with his fleece) seems to be a biblical norm. In the New Testament the 11 apostles cast lots to find out who should replace Judas. This is basically testing God, is it not? I'm curious how others "hear" from God before making important decisions. Do you test God in some manner or do you rely on feelings and impressions in your spirit?

Hi JC,

Dig the pic! Good to see another Dilbert fan out there.

Anyhow.. it could be argued that the 11 apostles casted lots as a type of 'last act' prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit in power. I'm not sure we read of anybody casting lots after that event. But, later in Acts the Spirit 'forbade' Paul from going somewhere (can't remember reference off the top of my head). I'm not sure exactly what that meant, but it gives me a the picture of the Spirit communicating to Paul to give him specific direction. Scripture doesn't say Paul didn't cast lots, etc.. but I guess my assumption is that it was a more direct communication.

Having said that.. I don't claim to 'hear' from God well. I mean, I am very hesitant to say 'God told me this or that' because I have to 'feel' very strongly that He has actually spoken or confirmed something to me.

I don't like to rely on feelings for major decisions. I do have them though. I think its wise to consult scripture when we can and to also be open to 'hearing' God through the advice of other godly people.

To sum it up, I sometimes do ask God to confirm things by casting a fleece or asking him to do what I think would be supernatural (i.e. rent our home for a full year in one day without advertising it was for rent, I planned to make 3 phone calls to people in our church who were renting, and after the 1st or 2nd it was rented as people were praying to get into a home - I didn't know that). But mostly, I rely on the wisdom I've gained over the years.

What about you/others?

Les

Very well put, Les

Hi JC & Les,

I'm quite surprised that this thread hasn't gotten any more replies. Surely we all have to make decisions every day so everyone has developed some way to do that. I learned a lot some years back by reading a book by Garry Friesen, "Decision Making and the Will of God."

He convinced me that there is no individual will of God for every decision. We go from here:

1. Where God commands, we must obey.
2. Where there is no command, God gives us freedom (and responsibility) to choose.
3. Where there is no command, God gives us wisdom to choose.
4. When we have chosen what is moral and wise, we must trust the sovereign God to work all the details together for good.

Jesus gave many examples of the necessity of wisdom. The parable of the "Two Foundations" (Matt 7:24-27), the two parables on "Counting the Cost" (Luke 14:25-32) and the parable of the "Ten Virgins" (Matt 25:1-13) are a few.

Paul many times seems to just use his head in making decisions. In 1 Thes 3:1 he says "Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good (best) to be left in Athens alone,... Similar wording is found in Phil 2:25 and 1 Cor 16:3,4--using the NIV here for more clairity--"When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem; and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me."

So we need wisdom to make good decisions. And wisdom is gained from God by those who seek for it.

"I (wisdom) love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me." (Proverbs 8:17). Such wisdom is not given to just anyone. It is granted only to those who value it enough to pursue it "as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures." (Proverbs 2:4,5). And James 1:5 should be familiar to everyone, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

About fleeces--Here, I'll just quote the book. First, Gideon's fleece was not simply a circumstantial sign, but rather a miraculous display of divine power. The reversal of the fleece sign further comfirms its miraculous nature.

Second, Gideon was not employing the fleece to ascertain guidance, but to gain confirmation of guidance already given by direct revelation. Gideon's own words confirm this: "then I will know that You will deliver Israel though me, as You have spoken." (Judges 6:37).

Third, Gideon's demand for a further sign is an example of doubt, not model decision making. God's instructions to Gideon were clear.

I think the casting of lots in Acts has to be taken in context as this happened before the coming of the Spirit inaugurated the church age.

To me, the way of wisdom is comforting. Say I needed a job and two employers were willing to hire me. I'd make a list of the perceived pluses and minuses for each job. If job A had more positives than job B, job A it is. If they were equal, either one will be a good decision because I will not be allowing any choice that is against God's moral will. In time it might become known that job B would have been a better choice because they are growing and employer A went out of business. If that ended up being the outcome, review point 4 and know that God is working and has something else in mind.

I hope that helps. Again, I'm not near smart enough to have figured all this out myself. I had a good teacher, all I did is listen and digest the message. And I thank the Lord for Steve Gregg and all his wonderful devotion to knowing God's word and using his gift to teach all who choose to listen.

Thanks for those insights, everyone. As for myself, I usually pray for wisdom and then act accordingly, based on that familiar quote from James. It's served me well when I actually follow this model, though I've asked for a specific sign in the past and recieved it, to my surprise! Things like that, I feel, are more or less to confirm that God is at work and it's not just my own intellect, but rather his wisdom working though me.

It's hard to distinguish between our own thoughts and God's wisdom sometimes. But asking God for wisdom in faith will produce the very thing you ask for (wisdom) according to the scriptures. It's a very clear promise in my opinion. The proverbs also give great importance to making wise decisions so if we are blind agents then that entire book would be unnecessary. So maybe prayer and the counsel of the scriptures could be the one-two punch needed in decision-making. I still don't know if "casting a fleece" would be completely out of the question in certain rare circumstances though. But I can't see it as the normative way for Christians to make decisions.