The end result of a process of reflection upon possible courses of action, informed and sustained by a concern to please God.
Factors that should affect believers' decision-making
Desire to know God's will
Psalm 25:4–5 See also Psalm 143:8; Hosea 4:6 Ignoring God's will leads to destruction; John 10:27, John 14:15–17
Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; all day long I wait for You.
Confidence in God's readiness to reveal his will
Psalm 25:8–9 See also Psalm 16:7, Psalm 25:12–14, Psalm 48:14, Psalm 73:23–24; Proverbs 3:5–6; Isaiah 30:19–21; Jeremiah 9:23–24
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.
Belief in God's overall plan for his people
Romans 8:28–30 See also Ephesians 1:3–14; Philippians 2:12–13; Hebrews 11:39–40
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
God's promise to guide believers in their decisions
Isaiah 58:11 See also Psalm 32:8–9; Isaiah 42:16, Isaiah 48:17; John 14:26, John 16:13
The LORD will always guide you; He will satisfy you in a sun-scorched land and strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Knowledge of scriptural principles
Mark 12:29–31 parallel Matthew 22:35–40 See also Deuteronomy 6:4–5; Leviticus 19:18; Exodus 20:1–17 parallel Deuteronomy 5:6–21; Matthew 7:12 parallel Luke 6:31; Romans 13:9–10; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8
Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
A willingness to trust God
Hebrews 11:17–19 See also Genesis 15:4–6; 2 Chronicles 20:20; Psalm 25:1–2, Psalm 31:5, Psalm 143:8; Isaiah 12:2; Luke 1:45; Romans 4:3, Romans 4:20–24; Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:20; Hebrews 11:1–39
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.