"Discernment through decision making"
"Discernment through decision making"
"This is what God said it would happen."
In Isaiah 53:10 the prophet speaks of a divine plan where the suffering of the servant (Jesus), is not just a tragedy, but a necessary step in achieving God's purpose of salvation and reconciliation with humanity.
Isaiah 53:10 NASB2020
"But the Lord desired To crush Him, causing Him grief; If He renders Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand."
"And so, the Suffering Servant came..."
John 6:38-40
"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of everything that He has given Me I will lose nothing, but will raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
"The Suffering Servant reluctantly delivered as He was told..."
Luke 22:42 NASB
'saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
"He laid down His life..."
Luke 23:46 NASB
'And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.” And having said this, He died.
Tough decisions to make? Consider how Jesus chose how He would respond?
James 1:5
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
John 4:34
[34] Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
"So, when you wonder if something... anything... is worth doing, then ask yourself, is it worth doing for Jesus?"
Colossians 3:17 NASB
"Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."
Ultimately, Jesus' decision making always aligned with God's will in all aspects of His life.
Dear God, why does my decision making have to be so hard? Why do the lines have to be so blurry? How can I reset my reflexes to respond only to You? Your words? Your choices and Your actions! There's not a day that goes by, that I don't have a question that requires an answer. God will You send help now? I ask in Jesus name, the Suffering Servant and Lover of my soul, Amen.
Understanding biblical discernment requires recognizing the integral role of God’s will in decision making. The Scriptures highlighted in the article emphasize that Jesus’ choices, especially His acceptance of suffering and submission, were purposeful steps in accomplishing divine salvation and reconciliation. Isaiah 53:10 reveals that Jesus’ suffering was not accidental, but a part of God's good pleasure and plan, indicating that discernment involves trusting in God's overarching purpose even when circumstances are challenging. In John 6:38-40, Jesus expresses His commitment to doing the will of the Father rather than His own desires, exemplifying the essence of spiritual discernment: aligning personal decisions with divine intention. This alignment offers guidance to believers facing complex choices, encouraging them to seek God’s wisdom as advised in James 1:5. Prayerful seeking is crucial to understanding how to act in ways that honor God’s will. Luke 22:42 illustrates Jesus’ human struggle and submission when He prays to have the cup removed if possible, yet ultimately yields to God's will, demonstrating the balance between human feelings and divine obedience in decision making. Moreover, Colossians 3:17 underscores that every action, whether in word or deed, should be done in Jesus’ name with gratitude, reinforcing that discernment is not isolated but integrated into all aspects of life’s decisions. For individuals struggling with decision making, the biblical model encourages contemplation on whether actions serve God’s purpose and reflect faith in His wisdom. Discernment is also portrayed as a continuous and dynamic process involving prayer, scripture reflection, and community support to ensure decisions resonate with God’s desires. Importantly, discernment is about trust—believing that God’s plan, often beyond immediate understanding, will prosper. This framework can alleviate the confusion of unclear choices by centering the decision-making process on spiritual fidelity. Emulating Jesus’ example ensures choices are not made impulsively or solely from human logic but from a place of spiritual clarity and surrender. In essence, discernment through decision making is a journey of faithfully seeking God’s guidance, embracing both wisdom and humility.
