The Decisions of Life

8/10/2019 The Decisions of Life

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the

decisionsoflifeAND HOW TO FIND

THE WILL OF GOD FOR THEM

HAROLD J SALA


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2013 by Harold J. Sala

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced ortransmitted in any form or by any means without written permission ofthe publisher.

Cover design and page layout by Amor Aurelio B. Alvarez

Published by Guidelines International Ministries, 26076 Getty Drive,Laguna Niguel, CA 92677, www.guidelines.org.


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CONTENTS

NATURE TEACHES ORDER AND PRECISION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

HOW MAY WE EXPECT TO FIND GODS WILL? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

1. THE WILL OF GOD AND THE BIBLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

GODS WILL AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM . . . . . . . . . . .13

GODS WILL AND SEXUAL PURITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

GODS WILL AND OUR OBEDIENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

2. THE WILL OF GOD AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

THE WILL OF GOD AND CIRCUMSTANCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE STILL UNCERTAIN? . . . . . . . . .23


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THEDECISIONS OFLIFEAND HOW TO FIND THE WILL OF GOD FOR THEM

When the Apollo 8 space capsule was streaking back to earth from the moon some220,000 miles away, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration inHouston asked, Whos driving up there? meaning, Who is responsible for

piloting the craft? Major Bill Anders responded, I think Isaac Newton is doing mostof the driving right now. What he meant was that they were simply demonstrating thelaws of physics defined by Sir Isaac Newton some 300 years ago.

In his day Newton wrote, Just give me the mass, the position of the system of theheavenly bodies at any given moment, and I will calculate their future position andmotions by a set of unerring mathematical calculations. Newton was positive that theposition of the heavenly bodies was a matter of mathematical precision and could be

accurately predicted in the future. Many scientists believe that the moon shots, andnow the unmanned probes to Mars and Jupiter, are only proving the accuracy of thelaws that control our universe which were put in operation by God at creation.

NATURE TEACHES ORDER AND PRECISION

Have you ever paid much attention to the order of nature itself? Every 24 hoursthe earth rotates on its axis, giving us day and night. Te seasons are the direct result ofthe 231h-degree tilt of the earth on its axis. Te atmosphere surrounding earth is in theexact proportion necessary to sustain human life80 nitrogen and 20 oxygen. If the

atmosphere had more oxygen we would burn up; if it had less we would be dead on ourfeet. A ratio of four parts nitrogen to one part oxygen is just right, but had there been aratio of two parts nitrogen to one part oxygen, then the atmosphere would be laughinggas, something not so terribly funny. wo parts nitrogen and two parts oxygen wouldproduce nitric oxide, and humanity would quickly die from its deadly fumes.

Te probing mind of the scientist demonstrates that nothing happens by chance.Te universe is governed by laws of cause and effect which accurately control the eventsof nature. Te universe demonstrates that there must be a divine blueprint, a planordered and controlled by God Himself.

Now if this is true, if God has a plan for the universe around us, why should itbe thought strange or unusual that God should have a will for us who are the highestorder of Gods created universe? It takes a cruel sense of humor to suggest that Godcreated the earth, put man on it, then turned his back and left man to his own fate.

Jesus pointed out the lilies of the field and the flowers that grow wild and asked thequestion, Are you not worth much more than they?


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Life is full of decisions, as I am sure you have discovered. Our world today demandsthat you make decisions. Attempting to avoid making decisions is like hiding yourhead in the sand. Refusing to make decisions is the decision to let life make decisionsfor you, and decision making by default is often a disaster.

How interested is God in the everyday world of ours anyway? Does He really careabout the decisions that confront you day by day, or is God disinterested and out oftouch with the details of your life, leaving you pretty much on your own? Notice howthis affects the process of daily living.

A middle-aged couple has been setting aside a small amount of money each monthfor retirement, but the interest on their money market account has been steadilyfalling. Teir stockbroker is convinced that they are losing money and suggests thatthey put their money into bonds which are tax-free. rue, the bonds would producemore money, but it seems that they are somewhat speculative. Does God give directionin such a situation?

Here is a homemaker, and she is concerned because her daughter doesnt play verywell with the neighbors girl. Tere is no one else with whom the girl can play. Shouldthe mother talk the situation over with the neighbor or just hope it improves? o whatextent does God have a will involving the everyday affairs of life?

A college student has the opportunity of taking a class taught by a very popular

teacher, but he also could take a class that would count towards his major, one that istaught by a not-so-popular professor. Does Gods will extend to mundane situations asthis? Does it matter to God?

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE

Te fuzziness in our thinking regarding the will of God has given rise to a host ofmisconceptions which create confusion in our lives, and where there is confusion ormisunderstanding, we are bound to make mistakes. o illustrate this fact, look at thefollowing statements which are commonly believed by people, and see if you agree ordisagree.

1. If the majority of people do something, then it must be the will of God.Howwould you rate that? rue or false? For untold centuries people have fallen into thetrap of thinking that might makes right. If enough people do something, then it must


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be okay Jesus did not believe that. He said, Enter through the narrow gate. For wideis the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter throughit. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it(Matthew 7:13, 14). Te person who determines to do the will of Godwhether he isa teenager who refuses to cheat on his exams or an honest employee who is governedby principleswill often walk alone. He may stand apart from the crowd, but he willstand in the shadow of Jesus.

2. If you are uncertain of the will of God, you should always move ahead, choosingwhat appears to be best for you. rue or false? I say false. When you are uncertain,

waiting for clarification is usually the best step. Pray for direction and perhaps seek

advice from an older, more mature friend. Haste is the parent of nine-tenths of ourmistakes. Remind yourself of the promises of Scripture such as Proverbs 3:5-6 whichreads, rust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path (NKJV).

My father-in-law, Guy Duffield, reminds the Lord in prayer that Jesus said, Hewho follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life Ten hesays, Lord, I believe you will give me the light I need to make the right decision, andhe says that he has never been disappointed.

When George Mller, a man of prayer who proved the promises of God, faceddecisions and he was uncertain of the future, he would often take a sheet of paper anddraw a line down the center. On one side he wrote, Reasons for doing this and onthe other side, Reasons for not doing this. Ten he would begin to list the reasons fordoing something or not doing it, as the case might be. Mueller then placed the paper inhis Bible and prayed about it day by day, evaluating the pros and cons of a decision. He

waited until he was reasonably certain that one course of action was definitely betterand then proceeded without delay. When you are uncertain, wait until God has given

you direction.

If you are facing a deadline and you must make a decision, then waiting may notbe an option. An example of this is a student who faces a deadline for registration andmust make a decision on which classes to take. Having prayed and sought counsel, inthat case, you have to make a decision trusting God for guidance. However, in mostcases when we get ahead of God and make wrong decisions, it was not because we didnot have time, but we disregarded thoughts as to what would be His will.


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3. When things are not going well for you, it is probably an indication that you arenot in the will of God.How would you rate that statement? rue or false? Again, I amprone to say, false, but give yourself credit for that one if you said true.

If the Apostle Paul was out of the will of God when things were not going well forhim, we would have to conclude that he was out of the will of God most of the timebecause Paul constantly found himself in constant conflict with public authorities.

At Lystra, the crowd turned on him and stoned him. At Philippi, he was beaten andthrown in jail. In Jerusalem, there was a plot on his life, and it almost succeeded.

When Paul went to a town, he didnt need to make hotel reservations, but he couldhave checked on the accommodations at the local jail because sooner or later that is

where he usually ended up. Tings didnt always go well for Paul. He didnt alwayshave a nice day, as people tritely say, yet he was in the will of God. You can expectthat on occasion, life may even be more difficult because you are on track with the willof God. Remember that the Christianwhether he is a youth or a mature mother orfatherholds beliefs that run contrary to what is often done.

A young man attended a Christian college and took a class in accounting. Whenit came time for the exam, the professor passed out the test questions and left theclassroom. As soon as he was gone, several students took out their cheat sheetslittle pieces of paper with the answers. Because the teacher graded on a curved scale,the students who refused to be dishonest and cheat were penalized and received lowermarks on the exam.

A godly government official in India wrote to me recently as the result of havingheard my radio program and said, Ive lived an honest life and havent taken bribes,but now I have no money for my daughters dowry. What shall I do?

In both cases, integrity appears to have penalized those who wanted to do the rightthing. Te student received a lower mark for his honesty, and the government official

who wouldnt take bribes took home less money in his paycheck.

God never promised that doing His will would always result in being at the head of

the class or having more money, but He did promise His presence, and the assurancethat eventually, some day, He would right the wrong.

4. God has a will for big decisions, but not for smaller ones.Definitely untrue. Manypeople believe that God has a will for the big things in life such as the person you marry,or your occupation (in spite of the fact that the average person changes occupations


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five times in his or her lifetime), but they are totally unconvinced that God cares whenit comes to the little decisions in life-the ones that I call the rice and fish or thepeanut butter decisions of life.

Some people will ask God for direction when it comes to a major decision, butnever contemplate how God would have them respond when it comes to the ordinaryevents of daily living. But the fact is that life is an ongoing series of daily decisions

which taken collectively have long-term consequences in how we live.

Tey remind me of a couple who agreed that when they married he would makethe big decisions, but in 40 years of married life there had been no big decisions. IfGod is not concerned with the little things, He must have no concern for us at allbecause it is the little decisions that lay the groundwork for the big ones.

Some folks, and I think rightly so, get very upset when a marriage goes bad. Teyrant and rave about how terrible it is that so and sos marriage didnt make it. Isnt thatawful? they say, and Im not for a moment making light of the hideous consequencesof a marriage failure. Perhaps, for a very long time, that marriage had been going badand nobody cared or noticed.

Surely God is equally concerned about all of the little things that have been wrongwhich eventually led to the collapse of a home. Te real problem was the series ofrelational failures to which nobody paid any attention. Its like a horse that is dying

and nobody notices until the vet pronounces the horse dead; then everybody becomesupset.

Let us go back to the analogy of the rocket that goes to the moon. If a designer likeWerner von Braun had been concerned only with the outer form or structure of themissile, it would never get there. All the hundreds and hundreds of little parts within arocket have to function perfectly for the rocket to reach its destination.

One scientist said that if a missile were 99.999% accurate, there would still be518 working parts subject to failure. One flight was aborted in space because of themalfunction of a little part that cost less than one U.S. dollar. Jim Irwin, one of the 12

men who walked on the moon, once told me about returning from the historic moonwalk to the lunar module only to find fragments of glass floating in the air. Jims heartsank.

If it was only the glass on the covering of the instrument that had shattered, theywere okay, but if the instrument itself had failed to function, there was no way they


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could ever get back to planet Earth. Te little instruments, as well as the little things oflife, are equally important with the larger ones. Do you believe that?

Te Bible contends that God is not only interested, but that He has a will for ourlives and what we do. Te Bible says this in no uncertain terms. o the Romans, Paul

wrote that we are to demonstrate or to prove what is that good and acceptable andperfect will of God. o the Ephesians he wrote, Do not be foolish, but understand

what the Lords will is (Ephesians 5:17). In that same book or letter he wrote that Godworks out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will (Ephesians 1:11).God has a will for His children just as a natural father has for his offspring.

John wrote, o all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gavethe right to become children of God (John 1:12). Adoption into the family of Godis not a birthright. It comes as a person receives Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

While God, indeed, wills that all men come to a knowledge of His Son, Jesus Christ,His will goes far beyond that when it comes to those who by faith have been broughtinto the family of God.

Tink with me for a moment, of the practical application of this great truth. Asour children were growing up, we got to be quite good friends with a number of otherchildren who were in the neighborhood. My childrens friends would often come toour house, or to our yard to play. Now, while we were very good friends with someof those young people, I never gave them direction and guidance the same way that I

would with my own. I have often told people, If you really want to know the bottomline of my advice, it is what I tell my own children. You know why, dont you? I carefor them. Tey are my flesh and blood. I would literally give my life for them, andbecause of the love that I have for them, I dont want them to make mistakes that

would cause destruction and pain in their lives.

Of course, I have a will for themhow they live, how they talk, where they go toschool, the kind of people that they marry, and what they do with their lives. Maybeyou are thinking, Id hate to be your son or daughter. I can tell you were a real dictator!No! Not at all. And I think my children would tell you that fairly. Each one has a will oftheir own. As they were growing up, I taught them right from wrong so that when theday would come that they were responsible for themselves, they would choose right.Tis was still my will, even though they were old enough to go against my will andexert their own will. So is it with the will of our wonderful Heavenly Father. He has a

will, and becoming His son or daughter through faith in Jesus Christ brings you intoa relationship whereby He has a special, direct will for your life.


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You may acknowledge the fact that God has a will for you, but deep down in yourheart, you wonder if you can really trust Him. You may secretly fear that if you do thewill of God, you may sit around wearing black, drinking vinegar, and become a socialrecluse or a business failure. Forget it! Nothing could be further from the truth.

Going back to the illustration of my relationship with my children. Suppose thatmy son came to me as a little boy and said, Daddy, I want to do what you want me todo. Nice words! Actually, I never recall having heard those words, but would a father

who loves his son say, Okay, son, go get all of your toys including your baseball batand your bicycle. Lets lock them up to prove that you want to do my will?

Of course not. No loving father would say that! Paul says that Gods will is good,acceptable, and fully complete (Romans 12:2). His will has to be better than my willbecause He knows the end from the beginning. He loves me and can be trusted.

In the event that you have never thought much about it, settle it in your mind onceand for all-God is not indifferent to the small decisions of life.

Alright, we can acknowledge that God has a will for our lives as His children. Wecan even go one step further and admit that His will is good, but the issue still remainsto be solved, How can I, as a mortal human being with all of my faults and failures,find the will of God in my personal life? Tat is the real question.

HOW MAY WE EXPECT TO FIND GODS WILL?

In days of old, God revealed His will to men in different ways, using differentmethods. Moses was in the Negev Desert tending his father-in-laws sheep when hecame upon a bush that was mysteriously burning and was not consumed. From theburning bush, Moses heard the voice of God giving him direction for his life. Should

we expect to hear the audible voice of God today saying, Tis is the way, walk in it?

Tis is the job offer you ought to take.

No, dont marry that woman; marry this one over here!Put your money in this investment and avoid that one because I happen to know

it will be in big trouble next year!

Should we expect God to give us specific direction as this?


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When God gave direction to a man by the name of Gideon, He sent an angelwho gave him instruction. Should we, who are alive in the afternoon of the twentiethcentury, expect an angel to appear to tell us what to do when we face decisions ordifficult circumstances? Is it too much to expect God to send an angel who wouldvisibly appear and tell us how to get back on the right road when we have missed theturn?

Following the resurrection of Christ, the disciples decided to replace Judas as oneof the twelve apostles, and cast lots to determine who was to be Gods choice. Shoulda young man follow their example and flip a coin when he is quite fond of two young

women and wants to know which one is Gods choice for his life?

Apostle Paul was on his second missionary journey when he and Silas decidedthat they would turn to the northeast and go into Bithynia to preach the Word. Hadthey done so, they would have eventually made their way into what we know today asRussia, and there they would have proclaimed the Gospel, but God closed the door.

During the night, Paul had a vision of a man from Greece saying, Come overand help us, so Paul and his companion turned to the West instead of to the East (See

Acts 16:9). Can we trust our dreams for direction? (On the personal side, Im neverquite sure whether it is indigestion or worry that causes some of my dreams to turn tonightmares, and Id hate to blame God for some of the thoughts I dream).

Since God revealed His will to Paul through a vision, should we expect God toreveal His will to us in visions? Vance Havner used to quip that the problem today isthat people watch so much television that they cant really tell a vision when they seeone.

I have just mentioned four different ways God in bygone days revealed Hisdirectionthrough an audible voice, by means of angelic messenger, by casting lots,and by a vision. Please notice carefully what I am writing lest I be misunderstood. Whoam I to limit God and say that He no longer could speak to you using one of these

ways? Nonetheless, on the basis of what the Bible says, I conclude that God has chosenother ways which He generally uses today to reveal His plan for our lives. As the writer

of Hebrews puts it, In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets atmany times and in various ways, but in the last days he has spoken to us by his Son,

whom he appointed heir of all things (Hebrews 1:1, 2).

Many years ago, F. B. Meyer was crossing the Irish Channel on a dark night. Hestood on the deck of the ship as it came through Hollyhead Channel almost at full


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speed ahead. Meyer turned to the captain of the ship and asked him how he knewHollyhead Channel so well. Do you see those lights ahead? asked the captain as hepointed them out with his hand. As Meyer nodded the captain said, When thosethree lights all line up in a row, I know that I am in the center of the channel.

elling of the experience, Dr. Meyer used to say, When we want to know Godswill, there are three things which must always concur: the Word of God, the trend ofcircumstances, and the inward impulse of the Holy Spirit.

While God could choose different ways to reveal His direction to us today, generallyGod uses three means of showing us His will: the statement of Scripture from the Bible,the trend of circumstances as a door may shut and another open, and then the inward

witness of the Holy Spirit, the still quiet voice of God saying, Tis is the way, walkye in it. Te Bible is, of course, the objective revelation of Gods will to us while theother two are more subjective.

1. THE WILL OF GOD AND THE BIBLE

At this point in our discussion, I would like to make a statement so sweeping in itsimplications that you will probably have to stop and think about it for a while beforeyou can nod your head and say, Yes, I can accept that.

Here it is: Te Bible gives direction to us either in principle or in precept (either a directstatement of Gods will or a moral and spiritual framework which provides a principle) forevery decision that you will ever make in life.

Does the Bible have anything to say about marrying that wonderful person who isnot a Christian?

Is it His will for you to live with someone whom you love very much although youare not married to that person? Is it His will for your son to come to Christ? Shouldyou keep your aged parent on a life support system when there is no hope of a recovery?

When you cannot have a child of your own, should you consider artificialinsemination, adoption, or just assume God wants you to be childless?

In the Bible you will find many specific statements about subjects such as the kindof person you marry, how to treat your husband or wife, how to relate to each other,

what to do about solving conflicts with other people, how to find peace of mind, howto treat your employees, and what to expect in the future.


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But, obviously, you cant check your concordance in the back of your Bible and findclear answers to some of the questions I just posed. You wont find a pointed referenceto abortion listed under the letter A. But in searching the pages of Scripture, you

will discover many statements affirming the reality of life in the womb which thengives direction regarding the will of God and the issue of abortion. It is here that yougo beyond the statement of Scripture to the principle or the application of statements

which are clear. Te Bible wont tell you whether you ought to eat hamburgers orhot dogs, but it will tell you that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and thatyou ought to eat the kind of food that is good for your health. aking a deeper lookat the whole counsel of God makes it quite clear that this grand and glorious bookanticipated the moral and practical issues that God knew we would face even today.

GODS WILL AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM

May I suggest several areas of life for which God has indicated His will quiteclearly? First, as I discussed briefly, Gods will is that you become His child throughfaith in Jesus Christ. Tis is not the same as joining a church, or going to mass, orbeing a good person. It speaks of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ wherebyyour sins are forgiven and, in the words of Scripture, you are born again. John 3:16says, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoeverbelieveth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (KJV). Ten 2 Peter 3:9says so clearly, God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to

repentance (KJV). Paul wrote to imothy that God will have all men to be saved andto come to a knowledge of the truth (1 imothy 2:4, KJV). And it is right here thatGods direct will begins to unfold for your life.

Could I ask you, friendhave you made that wonderful decision that I have justtalked about which very clearly is Gods will for you? Have you confessed Christ asyour personal Savior and invited Him to come into your life as a living person? Tatsthe point at which you enter into a new relationship with God and He begins to workHis will in your life.

GODS WILL AND SEXUAL PURITY

God has also revealed His will regarding our faithfulness to each other in amarriage relationship. Words could not be plainer than these which Paul wrote to theTessalonians, It is Gods will that you should be holy; that you should avoid sexualimmorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holyand honorable (1 Tessalonians 4:3,4).


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Te words used here (sexual immorality) can be applied to premarital andextramarital sex. God says He wants each of us to keep ourselves pure, free from sexualsins which cause us to live a lie and defile our bodies. Is God a cosmic killjoy who sitsin heaven thinking up ways to keep us miserable? Te answer clearly is negative. Hemade us. He knows what is in the heart of every person, and He also knows how wecan best find real happiness in life.

Is it possible that you once believed what I have just shared with you, but youhave thrown it aside? You have followed the philosophy of if you arent with the oneyou love; love the one youre with. You know in your heart that if you stood in thepresence of God, your heart would be filled with shame and guilt. You know that if

your husband or wife knew everything you had done in the last 30 days, you wouldonly hang your head in shame. If this is your life, if I have described the feelings ofyour heart, come to your senses and seek Gods forgiveness and begin to follow His will.

GODS WILL AND OUR OBEDIENCE

It is the will of God for you to walk in simple obedience to the Word of God. Doingthis eliminates the vast majority of the problems that crease our brows with worries andput tears on our pillows at night because of broken hearts and lives. ake, for example,the book of Ephesians, and trace the phrase, the will of God in relationship to how

we are to walk and order our lives. You discover that the bottom line is relationships

with people that involve not only our morality but our ethics and our attitudes. I canthelp but think of Peters words summing it all up as he says, His divine power hasgiven us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him whocalled us by his own glory and goodness (2 Peter 1:3).

You may think, Its too late for me. Id like to believe what you said, but Im toofar gone. Dont believe it for a minute. You have done no sin so great that you cannotfind His forgiveness if you will turn your back on wrongdoing and come to Him. Jesusstill says, Whoever comes to me I will in no wise cast out.

Tere is one more thought, and a very important one, that I want to share withyou at this point which may help you see this in perspective. Have you ever had the

experience of taking a trip by car? You were driving, and your spouse had the map.In the back seat, your children were getting pretty restless. Tey wanted out of thecar to romp and play. Possibly they were ready for a stop at the golden arches ofMcDonalds. You were listening to the radio to keep your mind focused and to blockout the distractions. All of a sudden you see a road sign telling you that you are almostto a certain city, which is not where you thought you were headed.


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It hits you. You missed the turn in the road a long way back and you are really inthe wrong place. You dont like it and immediately want to blame your spouse for nottelling you where to turn. So, what do you do? You cant just wind the clock back acouple hours and start over. You take a look at the map and say, How do we get to

where we want to go from here? Tats the issue with your life as well.

You dont go back to where you were ten years ago. You dont eliminate a bad choiceof a marriage partner by saying, Its your fault we are on the wrong road. You have to

wake up and say, How do we get to where we want to go from here. Te very goodnews that I want to share with you is that Gods will begins afresh every day. Okay, youmissed the turn in the road and went the wrong way. Acknowledge it, ask for Gods

forgiveness, but dont just sit there and blame circumstances or other people. Find thedirection in which you need to go, and change the course of your life. Tat is exactlywhat the word conversion means. You change your direction and get back on theright roadGods road. Its the only way to go.

2. THE WILL OF GOD AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD

Earnest Christians seeking guidance often go about it wrong, writes J. I. Packer,a man of God and a person of no small intellect. He says, Teir basic mistake is tothink of guidance as essentially an inward prompting of the Holy Spirit, apart from

the written Word J. I. Packer, Seeking the Guidance of God, Te 1987 GreatCommission Handbook, p. 72). Yet the fact remains, one of the ways in which God doesgive direction to us is through the inward prompting of the Holy Spirit.How do we knowwhen what we want to do is of the Holy Spirit which indwells our hearts, or merelyour human spirit?

In striving to discern between the human spirit and the Holy Spirit, we need tosee the difference. Obviously, I have a will-thats my spirit. But just who IS the HolySpirit anyway? Many people have a hidden or secret fear of the Holy Spiritpossiblybecause of the translation we find in some Bibles referring to Him as the Holy Ghost,and the word ghost conjures a Halloween spook image. Nobody wants a spook

residing inside their body, but there is nothing spooky about the Holy Spirit.

Te Holy Spirit is simply God. He is the third person of the rinity, and whenyou receive Christ as your Savior, He comes to activate your soul spiritually and tomake your body His dwelling place. He is like the radio receiver that will give you thedirection you need to keep you on the right pathprovided you hear His voice.


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Ephesians 2:1 says, As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. Temost illuminating passage is found in Galatians 4:6 where Paul says, Because you aresons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, Abba,Father. Te Spirit of His Son is the Holy Spirit who will guide you into all truth, justas Jesus said He would do.

Many Christians though, are almost deaf to the voice of Gods Spirit. Tey do nothear His voice, nor follow His teaching. Some of you reading this listen to my radioprogram, Guidelines. Your radio has a volume control which you can either turn up,turn down, or turn off completely. Question: Are the programs still broadcasting whenyour radio is turned off?

Yes, just the same. Te program is still broadcasting, but you, by choice, cannothear it or profit from it.

In a real sense, that is the way it is with the direction that comes from God throughHis Holy Spirit. Te voice of the Lord is a sensitive one, and we have to tune our earsto listen for it.

Te disciples clearly knew the voice of Gods Spirit and subsequently were led by it.Let me give you a few examples of what I mean.

Philip, a common ordinary layman and father of five daughters, was in the desert

between Beersheba and Gaza. Here are the words of Scripture; Te Spirit told Phillip,Go to that chariot and stay near it. Ten Philip ran up to the chariot. (Acts 8:29, 30a).

Peter was at Joppa when he had a vision. While Peter was still thinking about thevision, says Acts 10:19, the Spirit said to him, Simon, three men are looking for you.So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them

Paul and Barnabas were considering taking a missionary journey. In the words ofActs 13:2, Te Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work towhich I have called them.

Suppose that you are a father, and you realize the uncertainties of life and the

multitude of voices that can lead your children astray. God is just as interested inshowing you what to do as He was in guiding a father of five, whose name was Philip,years ago. Why do I believe this? Te Bible says that God never changes. He is the sameyesterday, today and forever.


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1. Do I really want God to show me what to do in this matter?Tis question is reallybasic. Understand that God doesnt force His will upon you. On the authority ofScripture, I think I can safely say, If you really want to know the will of God for yourlife, you can know it. Jesus said, If anyone chooses to do Gods will, he will find out

whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own (John 7:17).

Early in this booklet, I mentioned George Mller as being a man of prayer, yetin his youth, Mller was an intellectual who did not believe the Bible. Following hisconversion, Mller decided that he would put the promises of Scripture to the testthrough prayer. Did it work? Te simple fact that God answered prayer in ways that

were absolutely beyond human explanation, not only proved the truth of Gods word

to Mller, but also gave him a new direction for his life. He became the founder oforphanages in Britain, and in the course of his lifetime, he never asked for help apartfrom asking God to honor the promises of His Word and send in the needed resources.

Writing on the subject of how he found the will of God for the everyday decisionsof life, Mller said, I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it hasno will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people ishere. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do theLords will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a littleway to the knowledge of what His will is

2. Have I honestly put aside my own will?Can you truthfully say, Lord, thy willbe done? In answering that question, it is best to remember that God knows us for

what we really are. Our friends and families know us for the image we project, butGod knows even the thoughts of our hearts. So often we play games with God. Whenyou can honestly say, Yes, I know in my heart I am willing to set aside my will in thismatter and follow Gods direction, you are on your way to the solution.

3. Have I determined that I will accept His direction in my life, even though it may bedifferent from what I would chose to do?

May I be very blunt? It is easier at times to walk out of a marriage than to try tomake it work. (Besides, you are tempted to justify it since the other woman prays

with you and talks about the things of God.) It is easier to cheat your way throughcollege than to study hard and pass your exams. It is often easier to be dishonest andmake a little more money than to tell it like it really is. It is easier to look the other

way when somebody needs help than to get involved. When we are serious about our


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commitment to a loving Heavenly Father we can fall back on the promise, I willinstruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watchover you (Psalm 32:8).

Gods will is usually different from ours. His will may not always be the easyway out, but with His will comes the power to do what He wants us to do. Do youremember Pauls pointed words, Terefore do not be foolish, but understand what theLords will is? (Ephesians 5:17). Making the decision to accept the will of God is a bighurdle and you can be reasonably sure that God will guide you into His will when youdecide you want to know His will for your life.

4. Is the guidance I feel in my heart in accord with the direction of the Bible?Be sure ofthis one thing-there will be times when what you feel in your heart will be contrary tocircumstances (which are dictated by logic) but never contrary to what God has alreadyrevealed in the Bible. Look at Abraham when God called him to leave the land of Urand go to a place that He would show him. Can you imagine the consternation thathis father, erah, must have felt when his son told him this? Yet God was leading him.

An interesting thing about the Bible is that God has given directions to us whichare applicable to every culture and race, but quite often that direction is counter-cultural, or contrary to what we want to do, or what everybody does.

I am thinking of a tribe I visited in Northern Luzon, Philippines. When young

people begin to court each other, if they are serious with each other, they begin havingsexual relations together. When the girl conceives, the couple then go to the witchdoctor who says that he thinks their marriage will be fruitful and they should marry.

Tats little different than their European or American counterparts: couples livetogether, and after the onset of a pregnancy, eventually marry. Gods will may becontrary to your culture, and certainly the trends of our day, but it will never becontrary to what He has revealed in His Word, the Bible.

5. Is the guidance which I feel is prompted by the voice of Gods Spirit confirmed by godlypeople who are neutral in the whole matter?When another believer, especially a mature,

godly individual, concurs that God is leading you, it helps to confirm the directionyou sense in your heart. Not every decision that you make has to be confirmed by aspiritual overseer, but the wisdom of saints, with the experience you may lack, ofteneliminates uncertainty and gives you confidence to trust God through difficult times.It also helps to prevent some of the stupid things that people have done as they blamedthe Holy Spirit for what the flesh dictated.


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Tis conviction of the Holy Spirit, suggests Paul Little, is quite different fromthe gung ho emotion which prods us today to get on a plane to Hong Kong, andtomorrow to move to Chicago. When the Holy Spirit begins to move in our hearts,one conviction deepens and, while we recognize other situations, we sense that this isthe will of God for us (Paul Little, Affirming the Will of God, HE 1992 GREACOMMISSION HANDBOOK, p. 2:5).

Seeking godly counsel will help you recognize the voice of Gods Spirit and avoidself-deception which leads to decisions you later regret.

THE WILL OF GOD AND CIRCUMSTANCES

One clear way that God reveals His will for you is by closing doors of opportunity thatyou had your heart set on, and opening others.ake for instance, David Livingstone, thegreat missionary pioneer in Africa, whose remains rest among the worlds greats in

Westminster Abbey in London. Livingstone left his native England, intent on going toChina as a missionary, but things didnt work out. Instead, he turned to Africa, wherehe traversed 30,000 miles through jungles and uncharted regions, bearing the goodnews of the Gospel. God had a better plan.

Adoniram Judson, who became the father of Christianity in Burma, had his heartset on going to India, but God had other plans for him. When India closed its doorsto Judson, he took his young wife and set sail for Burma. Tere he faced opposition,

but was eventually able to translate the Bible into Burmese and plant the Church ofJesus Christ.

When I think of the way God uses circumstances to both protect us and guide usinto the path of His will, I think of Jim Vaus. Jim, a wire-tapper for gangster MickeyCohen, was converted to Jesus Christ and began giving his testimony as to how Godchanged his life.

Jim had accepted a speaking engagement at a little church when an invitation wasreceived from Billy Graham to share his testimony at the New York Crusade on thesame night. What an opportunity! Tousands would hear him at the Graham Crusade;

only dozens at the small church. But Jim had made a commitment, and passed on thelarger opportunity.

Only days later, as Jim approached his home, FBI agents stepped out of the shadowsto question him regarding his whereabouts the night a crime had been committed verynear the location of the Billy Graham Crusade. Tis was the very night Jim had been


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invited to share his testimony. Had Jim accepted the Graham invitation, he wouldhave been a suspect. But having spoken at the small church, he was far from the sceneof the crime.

When a door of opportunity closes in your life, you must look at it as an indicationthat God has something elsesomething much better for your lifewhich will openup in the future. And until then you must learn patience, learning that God can giveyou grace equal to your need.

You can learn to accept a closed door as an indication of the will of God just asyou do when you get exactly what you want. Why? Because a sovereign God knowsbest! Paul affirms this saying, In him we were also chosen, having been predestinedaccording to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purposeof his will (Ephesians 1:11). Tis means we can give thanks in all circumstances, forthis is Gods will in Christ Jesus (1 Tessalonians 5:18). Give thanks even whendoors closewhether it is a job you wanted to have or a college or university you

wanted to attend. Yes, most definitelyIn everything give thanks!

Earlier in our discussion, I mentioned that even the Apostle Paul had doors closedwhen he had his mind set on doing something. In Acts 16, we find the Apostle Pauland his companion, Silas, on their second missionary journey. Tey were intent onturning northeast into Bithynia, but the Spirit stopped them. Luke puts it, theytried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to (Acts 16:7).Tat means God said, No, dont go!

How did that happen? Was it a feeling in their hearts? Was it that they justcouldnt get their visas? Was it that travel plans didnt come together? We arent certain,and it is just as well, because we would probably expect God to close doors the same

way with us today, when God may stop us from our own blunder in a variety of ways.But of one thing we are sure: God had another plan for them.

In the night Paul had a vision. He saw a picture of a man from Greece, saying,Come over and help us, (Acts 16:9). Te questions were erased. Tey knew whatto do and did it!

Centuries ago the writer of Proverbs wrote, Te lot is cast into the lap, but itsevery decision is from the Lord (Proverbs 16:33). Another version puts it, We tossthe coin, but it is the Lord who controls the decision.


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You will never have to convince Professor Carl Stahl of that fact. He was to havebeen one of the 84 people aboard Eastern Airlines, Flight #663. But through a strangetwist of events, an airline clerk fouled up his return ticket. When he went to the airporthe was unable to join the passengers who boarded that plane, and Stahl took a laterflight.

It was a shaky, but thankful, man who picked up the paper the next morning andread how the plane had crashed and every person aboard lost his or her life. ProfessorStahl is a Christian and is convinced that in all things God works for the good ofthose who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

Tough closed doors bring frustration and heartache until you realize Gods wayis best, they are motivated by a loving Father who is protecting us from our worstenemiesourselves.

God not only reveals his will by closing doors, he also reveals his will to us by rolling usaside for periods of inactivity.We have a modern hang-up which considers waiting as

wasted time, forgetting that giant oaks take years to grow, and that orchids gain theirlovely beauty in warm, uncomfortable climates. oday we think the only thing thatreally counts is doing something, thereby equating activity with spirituality. Te resultis that our busy lives are often empty, futile and hollow.

Have you forgotten that Moses flunked his first test by thrusting a dagger into the

back of an Egyptian, and it took 40 years for him to get things straightened out, whilelearning to wait upon the Lord? It has been said that for 40 years Moses thought he

was somebody. Ten for 40 years Moses found out he was a nobody; and then for thelast 40 years of his life, he discovered what God can do with somebody who realizeshe is a nobody.

Paul had to learn to wait patiently for God to open doors for him to enter. Manypeople know that after Pauls conversion he spent three years in the desert of Arabia.But very few know that after the conference in Jerusalem, described in the book ofGalatians, Paul went back to his native home in arsus and stayed there for about 10years.

At times God allows illness to come to us so that we learn to wait upon Him. Laidup by illness is the way that the world looks at it, but to those who know the Lord itis only called aside for stillness. Te Psalmist wrote, Before I was afflicted, I wentastray but now have I kept thy word. It is good for me that I have been afflicted that Imight learn thy statutes (Psalms 119:67 KJV).


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On more than one occasion, people have told me, You know it wasnt until I wassick, flat on my back, that I began to think about my life and the future. Tats great!Not that we are sick, but that in periods of quietness we can hear the voice of God.

God reveals his will to us by teaching us to trust him when our understanding isincomplete. Finally, when the clouds of circumstances seem to push down on youoppressingly, learn to trust God through the times of difficulty, knowing that God willnever leave you nor forsake you for a moment. Call upon me in the day of trouble; I

will deliver you, and you will honor me (Psalms 50:15).

When Michelangelo was working on St. Peters in Rome, he was constantly harassedby workmen and by minor church officials who were giving the great artist and sculptorthe benefit of their advice and counsel, which he didnt want or need. Michelangelo,

why are you doing this? and Why are you doing that? and What will this look likewhen you finish? they would ask him. Finally, Michelangelo replied, Even if I wereable to make my plans and ideas clear to you, which I am not, I am not obliged to doso. I must ask you to do your best to help me, and when the work is complete, theconception will be better understood.

You can trust God, who knows the stars of the skies by name and has numberedeven the very hairs of your head. When you cannot see the guiding hand of Godbecause it is obscured by the difficulty of the circumstances that you find yourself in,trust Him and realize He is there all the time, working His will in your life.

You have been disappointed by doors that closed when you thought they shouldhave remained open. You have been disappointed by some relationships with otherpeople. Instead of developing into warm friendships, they have disintegrated intoconflicts and misunderstandings. You have begun to question the fact that God isreally interested in your life. If I have described the feelings of your heart, trust Himand realize that from the upward side, God is making a beautiful tapestry of your life

which you cant fully appreciate this side of heaven.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE STILL

UNCERTAIN?

Tere are times like that-when you pray, and it seems that the heavens are brass;when you talk to friends, and nothing seems to click; when you know you should do


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something, but you are afraid to do anything lest you do the wrong thing. What doyou do?

Firstdo what you know God wants you to do today.When I was a young man inmy early 20s, and I was striving to find the will of God for my life: Paul Finkenbindertold me, Gods will is like a flashlight in a dungeon; it doesnt shine around corners. Itdoesnt illuminate the next cave; it only gives you enough light for the next step.

Te important question is not necessarily, What does God want me to do fiveyears from now? but rather, What does He want me to do five minutes from now?Dont avoid your responsibilities today, pondering the great questions about tomorrow.If you know what the next step is, even if it is a very short one, take that step.

Rest assured that God is seldom early, but He is never late. Corrie en Boom usedto recall that when she was a little girl and had to get on the train, her father never gaveher the ticket until it was time to board. So is it with our Heavenly Father.

SecondI would encourage you to re-examine your motives.Could it be that thereis a reason why the Lord seemingly has left you in darkness? Sin that is unconfessedand unforsaken hinders the flow and moving of the Spirit of God. Im not suggestingmorbid reflection, ferreting out the dark recesses of your heart, but I am suggestingthat you ask yourself the tough, obvious questions which, at times, we choose to avoid.Te good side of this issue is that the forgiveness of God brings new direction. Past

mistakes wont keep you from finding Gods will for your life today.

Tirdreview the steps which Ive outlined in this booklet. Have you talked aboutthe will of God with others, but, frankly, had little time, one-on-one, in the presenceof God, to lay your heart open before Him in prayer? Have you prayed honestly andopenly, Lordwhatever it may be, I dont carebut I desperately want YOUR will.

FinallyI suggest that you take a yellow pad and start writing, putting in black andwhite how you feel about things and where you feel God is saying, Tis is the path; walkin it!You can be certain that God is far more desirous of showing you His will thanyou are of seeking, finding and doing it. He is a loving Father who has a will for His

children. Of that, you can be sure!


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ABOUT THE AUTHORDr. Harold J. Sala, well known

speaker, author and Bible teacher, hasserved as founder and President ofGuidelines International Ministries,since 1963. He is the featured speakeron the daily Guidelines-A Five MinuteCommentary on Living which isbroadcast on over 1,000 radio stations

around the world and translated in over15 languages.

Author of over 40 books publishedin various languages and hundreds ofpublications, Harold is also a popularguest lecturer and teacher at universitiessuch as Donetsk Christian Universityin Ukraine, national and internationalconferences, seminars, and churches.

Dr. Sala earned his Ph.D. from Bob Jones University. His further graduate studieshave been at the University of Southern California, California Baptist Seminary, FullerTeological Seminary and the Conservative Baptist Seminary in Denver, Colorado.Residing in Mission Viejo, California, Harold and his wife, Darlene, have three adultchildren and eight well-loved grandchildren.


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I would be glad to hear from you. You can write to meor send an e-mail, letting us know how this ebook has

helped you. Write to one of the following:

IN THE UNITED STATES

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Laguna Hills, CA 92654

E-mail: [email protected]

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Documents

The Decisions of Life