The Lord wants you to make the right decision in every circumstance. He isn't trying to keep His will secret. However your attitude about God's guidance makes all the difference. His instructions are reserved for those who fear Him (Psalm 25:12) and express true reverence for His holiness, power, and authority. When you acknowledge that He alone has the right to direct your choices, He'll give you wisdom.

A Pattern for Making Decisions:

Clear the pathway.
In order to hear the Lord's voice, you must remove all obstacles by clearing your heart, you can't expect to hear from the Lord if your tolerating sin in your life. Any wrong attitude or action must be removed before you can proceed because sin clouds your mind. Ask God if there's anything in your life that doesn't fit who you are as follower of Christ. If He reveals a specific sin, confess and repent of it immediately.

You must also bring you desires to a point of neutrality. There will be times when what you want in a situation is not in line with what the Lord desires. The only way you'll receive His guidance is by submitting to Him. When you can honestly say that you desire His will to done more that your own, He'll provide the clear direction you need.

Exercise patience. 
 Some decisions are urgent, at least from a human perspective. However, demanding an immediate answer from God is a sign of distrust. Patience requires a wiliness to trust the Lord and submit to His timing. Instead of jumping ahead and making a rash decision, slow down and evaluate your situation from God's perspective. Does this choice fit the principles of Scripture? Does it look like something the Lord would choose? Psalm 25:3 says that those who wait for the Lord will not be ashamed. Your patience may appear foolish to others, but during the delay, God is working out all the details.

Be alert to pressure. 
Instead of giving in and making choices that are in conflict with God's will, fill your mind with His Word. That way, you'll be able to discern if the advice aligns with His desires. If you don't have clarity from the Lord, its always best to wait.

Other times, pressure to make a decision is internal. Fear of losing an opportunity may cause you to get involved in a harmful situation instead of waiting on God's guidance. Or the dread of rejection or criticism may prompt you to make a choice based on emotions rather than His will. The truth is that anyone who lives a godly life will be excluded or misunderstood at times. God may lead you to a decision nobody else will understand, but if you take the first step of obedience, His blessings will follow.

Persist in prayer.
Just because you don't receive an immediate answer from the Lord, it doesn't mean He isn't listening. The purpose of persistent prayer is not to force God to do what you want but for you to see the situation from His perspective. As you wait, He deepens your relationship with Him and deals with the issues in your life that are preventing you from growing spiritually or your being prepared for what He has in mind.

Rest in God's promise.
 In order to discover what the Lord wants you to do in a situation you must believe in His promises. He assures us He'll always answer the prayers of those who ask, seek and knock (Matt. 7:7). And if you faithfully read the Word each day, the Holy Spirit will lead you to verses that can guide you in any situation. If you don't know where to look, begin by asking God to speak to your heart and begin reading in psalms and proverbs. Remember, His word is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Ps. 119:105) If you fill your mind with the Lord's thoughts each day, you'll be able to make any decision.

Wait for Christ's peace.
He will tell you whether or not you're "safe" in your choice, and there will be no doubt about it. When the direction is from God, His peace will enter your heart and mind (Col. 3:15). The evidence that you are following His path is that there are no longer worries or struggles to deal with just confident assurance.

To conclude.

When you are faced with a decision and don't know what to do, remember God's word is His primary method of speaking to His people. When you patiently wait to hear His voice and heed His instructions, you can make a confident decision knowing that God has given you clear direction. Though others may not understand your choice or argue against it , you can face them with Christ's perfect peace in your heart.

Life Principles Notes by Charles Stanley