Proverbs 2:6
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.”

What if there was one question you could ask that would always help you make the best decision possible in any situation? According to Pastor Andy Stanley, there is – and I would have to agree with him.

In his message series Ask It, Andy Stanley proposes that in any and every situation we should ask, “What is the wise thing to do?” He expounds on this concept by saying, “In light of my past experience, in light of my current circumstances, in light of my current stage of life, and future hopes and dreams…what is the wise thing to do?”

I absolutely love this question! I have used it to guide countless personal decisions and am certain it will be a help to you as well.

The brilliance behind this questions is that it can help us make the best possible decision when there is no clear right or wrong answer. While a one-size-fits-all solution would often be helpful, the truth is that many decisions we need to make in life are unique to our personal situation and therefore have no clear-cut answer.

For example, should I buy or rent? Should I go back to school or apply for a new job? Should we move or stay put? When facing questions such as these, what is best for one may not be so great for another.

Asking “What is the wise thing to do?” consequently helps us assess our particular scenario and moves us past right or wrong, good or bad, and gives us a fresh perspective from which to approach our situation.

So how do we know what the wise thing to do is?

When asking this question, I would suggest we need to consider the following:

1. What does God’s Word say?  Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” When we are facing any decision, our immediate go to should be the Word of God. If our answer does not align with God’s Word, it is not wise. Period.

2. How is the Holy Spirit leading you?  James 1:5 tells us, “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.” When seeking to make a wise decision, ask God what you should do…and then expect an answer! Proverbs 2:6 says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Do you sense the Holy Spirit telling you what the wise decision is? If so, choose to be obedient to the Spirit’s leading, that is one decision you will never regret!

3. What does godly counsel advise? Proverbs 15:22 says, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” There are times when we will need to seek godly counsel to help us make a wise decision. Who in your life do you know you can trust to provide you with godly counsel? Are you willing to follow their advice even if it not what you want to hear?

What decision are you facing today that you need to stop and ask yourself, “What is the wise thing to do?” Read God’s word, pray for the Spirit’s leading, and seek godly counsel if needed. Always remember that making wise decisions today will keep you from having regrets tomorrow!

Blessings,
Lynne