The questions every Christian should ask himself the starting point for navigating the crossroads of life. Change jobs or stay? Start that dating or not? Make that important purchase or wait? Our life is a succession of decisions that, together, shape the course of our existence.
For the Christian, this journey is even more complex, as we do not only seek to make ‘good’ decisions, but ‘wise’ decisions that honor God. The paralysis of indecision is a real and distressing feeling; We are afraid to take a false step, to leave God’s will or to repent bitterly in the future.
In the midst of this fog of uncertainty, the Word of God does not offer us a crystal ball, but something much better: a compass. It promises us wisdom, and the Bible is full of timeless principles to guide us.
In this article, we will explore a practical framework based on these three essential questions, drawn from biblical wisdom. This is not a guide to easy answers, but an invitation to a process of discernment that will deepen your trust in God.
Question 1: Does this decision glorify God?
The first and most important question we should ask is not ‘What do I want?’, ‘What is best for me?’ or ‘What will make me happiest?’. The fundamental question that should guide all the others is: ‘Does this choice ultimately bring glory to God?’
This question works as a primary filter, elevating our decision from the plan of selfishness to the plane of eternal purpose. It forces us to evaluate the deepest motives of our heart.
A decision that is motivated by pride, envy, greed or fear, even if it seems logical and externally beneficial, cannot be a wise decision in the eyes of God.
When we place the glory of God as the ultimate goal, many options that once seemed viable are immediately discarded, and the right path begins to become clearer.
Wisdom does not begin in our intelligence, but in our intention.
A wise life is a life lived with a great obsession: that of magnifying the name and character of our Creator in all things.
Focus on the Glory of God
The apostle Paul gives us the guiding principle for the whole Christian life in 1 Corinthians 10:31: ‘…whether you eat or drink or do anything else, do everything for the glory of God.’
This verse transforms every act, from the most sacred to the most mundane, into an opportunity for worship. Making a decision, whether about our career, our relationships or our finances, is included in this ‘anything else’.
In Colossians 3:17, he reinforces:
‘And whatever they do, whether in word or in action, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father.’
Doing something ‘in the name of the Lord Jesus’ means acting as your representative, in a way that reflects your character well.
Question 2: Does this decision agree with the Word of God?
If the first question aligns our hearts, the second aligns our actions with a true objective pattern.
Divine wisdom never contradicts the revealed word of God. While our feelings are fickle and our logics are flawed, the Bible is our ‘rock’, a safe and unchanging guide.
No decision that violates a clear commandment or a general principle of Scripture can be considered wise, no matter how ‘certain’ it seems or how many ‘open doors’ arise.
The Word of God is our main instrument of discernment and the fence of protection that prevents us from falling into precipices.
Learning how to make wise decisions is, in large part, learning to delve into the Scriptures for guidance.
This does not mean using the Bible as a horoscope book, opening it on a random page in search of a magical verse.
It means cultivating a consistent knowledge of the word so that its principles shape our thinking and allow us to evaluate our options through the lens of God’s truth.
Authority of Scripture
Psalm 119:105 is the classic verse about divine guidance: ‘Your word is a lamp that illuminates my steps and light that clears my path.’
The lamp does not light up the entire road, but the next step. The light doesn’t show all the details of the destination, but lightens the general direction.
In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul states that
‘All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for rebuke, for correction and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be fit and fully prepared for every good work.’
The Bible has everything we need to be ‘fully prepared’ for life’s decisions.
Question 3: Was this decision confirmed by God?
God gave us His Word as our objective guide, but He also gave us two subjective but powerful tools of confirmation: the advice of the faith community and the peace of the Holy Spirit.
Biblical wisdom is rarely a solitary journey. Making important decisions in isolation is an act of pride and an invitation to deceit. God has placed us in the body of Christ so that we can benefit from the wisdom and perspective of more mature brothers and sisters.
Furthermore, the Holy Spirit who dwells in us acts as an inner ‘referee’, bringing a peace that confirms a path or a restlessness that serves as a warning sign.
Learning to hear these two ‘voices’ of confirmation is a sign of maturity.
It is the recognition that we are not omniscient and that we need both the collective wisdom of God’s people and the intimate direction of His Spirit.
A decision that glorifies God and is aligned with His Word will usually be accompanied by confirmation through the counsel of godly believers and an inner peace that transcends logic.
Counsel and Peace
The book of Proverbs is emphatic about the importance of the Council:
‘Plans fail for lack of advice, but are successful when there are many advisers’
Proverbs 15:22
Seeking advice is not a sign of weakness, but of wisdom that protects itself from foolishness itself.
In the New Testament, Paul instructs us about peace as a guide:
‘May the peace of Christ be the judge in your hearts, since you have been called to live in peace, as members of one body’
Colossians 3:15
The Greek word for ‘judge’ here can also mean ‘referee’. The peace of Christ acts like the referee’s whistle in our hearts, signaling whether a play is valid or not.
Conclusion: 3 questions every Christian should ask himself
The journey on how to make wise decisions is one of the greatest privileges of the Christian life, as it is a journey of communion and dependence on God. By internalizing this three-question framework, we transformed the decision-making process of a source of anxiety into an opportunity for growth.
We begin with the purpose (does this glorify God?), we pass through the guide (is that in accordance with the Word of God?) and come to confirmation (has this been confirmed by the wise counsel and the peace of God?).
This process does not guarantee a life without difficulties, but guarantees a life of increasing alignment with the Father’s heart. With each decision made through this lens, our confidenceHe deepens, and our ability to discern his voice improves.
Remember, James 1:5’s promise remains: ‘If any of you lack wisdom, ask God, who gives them freely, willingly, and will be bestowed upon Him.’
- Aroer – 10 de October de 2025
- Aijalom of Zebulun – 10 de October de 2025
- Aijalom of Dan – 10 de October de 2025