BIBLICAL DECISION-MAKING MODEL

STEP 1: Determine if you are willing to submit your will to God’s no matter what decision He may lead you to. It is helpful to get your heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Pray for his strength and help in unselfishly accepting his will no matter what the cost to you or your desires.

• Not my will, but yours be done – Luke 22:42
• Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matt 6:33

STEP 2: Pray for guidance and wisdom. Ask God to help you see His perspective on the problem. Remember, our intuition is often wrong.

• Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. – Prov 3:5
• A man is foolish to trust only himself. But those who use God’s wisdom are safe.
  – Prov 28:26
• If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. – James 1:5

STEP 3: Get the facts. (The Franklin Chart is recommended for this phase). Don’t make decisions out of ignorance. Find out all you can first. Seek the will of God in His word. In steps 1 and 2 you are seeking God’s will through His Spirit. In this step you are seeking the Will of His Spirit through or in connection with the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined.

• Every prudent man acts out of knowledge. – Prov 13:16
• How stupid to decide before knowing the facts. – Prov 18:13

STEP 4: Seek wise counsel. Seek out and ask for the advice of other Christian men and women. Talk to someone who has already taken the risk if possible. It is wise to learn from experience, but it is wiser to learn from the experience of others. If the decision will in any way affect your wife or husband, ask also for their counsel.

• For by wise guidance you will wage war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory. – Prov 24:6
• Without counsel purposes are disappointed; but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.Prov 15:22
• An intelligent person AIMS at wise actions, but a fool starts off in many directions.
  – Prov 17:24
• It is a trap to dedicate something rashly, and only later to consider your vows.
  – Prov 20:25

STEP 5: Consider the circumstances. Take into account the providential circumstances and all of the pertinent facts surrounding an issue. These very often indicate God’s will in accordance with His Word and Spirit.

STEP 6: Set your goal. Be sure you understand the reason and purpose for the decision you’re about to make. You can’t chase two rabbits at the same time.

STEP 7: Count the cost. This is called a calculated risk. Ask yourself: Is it necessary? What will it cost? Is it worth it?

STEP 8: Anticipate and plan for problems. Don’t ignore problems, they won’t ignore you.

• Be prepared. Don’t go charging into battle without a plan. ­– Prov 20:18
• A sensible man watches for problems and is prepared to meet them. The fool never looks ahead and suffers the consequences. – Prov 22:3

STEP 9: Face your fears. Fear is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of your humanity. Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the strength to move ahead in spite of your fears.

• Fear of man is a dangerous trap, but to trust in God means safety. – Prov 29:25
• So do not fear for I am with you; do not me dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10

STEP 10: Wait on the Lord and then go for it! It is extremely important that you have completed the process above and conclude that the Lord has conveyed to you His direction. If you are not confident at this point continue to rest in and wait on the Lord. If on the other hand you believe you have received adequate direction and are at peace with the decision, this is the point at which you must stop talking and start acting. Do not procrastinate. You must begin to put your plans into action.

• Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed – Prov 16:3
• Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. – Prov 3:5-6

STEP 11: Consider it all joy and in all things give thanks. As you implement based on your prayerful and informed decision, facing possible problems, trials and tribulations as well as successes, give thanks.

• Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have [its] perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. – James 1:2-4
• Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1Thes 5:16-18