Making Good Decisions

Amberly and I used a six-step process to discern God's will for lives before and during this transition. Here are the six steps:

1. Pray for Guidance (Proverbs 28.26)

For the Christian, the first step and the ongoing step in the process is to pray. In bigger decisions, Amberly and I like to add fasting to the regular prayer time. The key is to not stop listening before God starts talking.

2. Get the Facts (Proverbs 13.16)

Every decision has a set of facts that anchor it. The important thing to remember is to get the facts for yourself. In big decisions, you can't depend on other people to spy out the land for you. You've got to get the facts. And, don't be afraid of the facts--even if they seem to go against the decision you want to make. Facts are your friends.

3. Ask for Advice (Proverbs 24.6)

It's good to hear from people who have been down the road you're wanting to travel before you head out on the highway. The key is to get advice from the right people. If you want to soar like an eagle, you can't take advice from turkeys. In this decision, I sought advice from key mentors who have made these types of transitions before.

4. Calculate the Cost (Luke 14.28-29)

Even good decisions come with a price tag. Having a baby comes with a price tag--financially and in the amount of sleep you get. The key is to count the cost before you make the decision so you aren't surprised after the decision.

5. Prepare for Problems (Proverbs 22.3)

While you expect the best, it's best to prepare for problems. For example, in this transition, I'm praying for my house to sell quickly, but I'm preparing financially if it does not. It's not a lack of faith to anticipate what problems may arise and develop a plan to handle those issues before they explode. It's always easier to handle a BB than an atom bomb.

6. Face Your Fears (Ecclesiastes 11.4)

Often, the decision we need to make will put us squarely in the face of one of our biggest fears. I have found that often God uses that fear to catapult us to a new level of relationship and dependence on him, as well as advance the vision he has for our lives.