“I have a decision to make and I have no idea what to do.”

Me neither.  At least, a whole lot of the time I don’t.

We encounter situations every day where we have to choose.   Not between a right choice and a wrong choice.  But between multiple potentially “right’ choices.   Only one of which is best.

How do we know what to do?   Which decision do we make?

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you  (James 1:5, NIV)

I’m glad that God gives wisdom “generously.”  “to all.”   “Without finding fault,” because I have plenty of faults to locate if God were to zero in on them.

God gives us wisdom.  If we ask.

It’s amazing how many people get frustrated at God for not answering a prayer they never really prayed.

I’m guilty of this too.

James 4:2b says:  “You do not have, because you do not ask.”  And to add a little clarification on one (but not the only) potential cause of unanswered prayer, the very next verse says:  “3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure”

This is difficult for me, because I’ve been waiting my whole life for a 100% pure motive.   But the larger point is that God won’t be manipulated by our prayers to further our wrong desires.

One of my consistent prayers each morning now is “God, help me make right decisions and follow up on them in right ways.”   From there I try to trust in God’s wisdom (feelings or no) and make choices on the fly . . .

This is partially because I’m unsure of myself sometimes in the face of 5 potentially “best” options.   And partially because–as dumb as I can be–I have enough sense to know God is always smarter than I am.   He understands things I don’t, see things I can’t, and comprehends past, present, and future as a single unit.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? (Matt 7:7-9)

“Daddy, I’m hungry.”  “Here son, have this rock.   Gnaw on that for awhile and then maybe I’ll answer your questions . . . .”

This is light years removed from how God actually is, but we still subconsciously view God this way.  He’s not.   We can trust Him.   Ask Him for help.