Let Me Ask My (Heavenly) Father

Last week was a rollercoaster of adventure–the kind of adventure I never wanted to have, especially a couple hundred miles from home! I was visiting Chicago for a couple nights on a work trip and expecting a relatively uneventful week. However, less than twelve hours into my stay as I was winding down to go to sleep, a police officer came knocking on my hotel room door to let me know that my car had been broken into! Apparently a car full of (most likely) teens had been cruising through several adjoining lots, hitting cars that looked old enough not to have an alarm system and rifling through glove boxes looking for something worth taking. I was fortunate not to have anything that appealed to them once they broke in, so nothing was stolen, just a few hours of my time and some peace of mind.

Over the next 2 hours, I worked on cleaning up the mess (with help), answering questions from the police, and trying to cover the window well enough to withstand the incoming rainstorm. While discussing damages and details of the incident, the officer asked me if I wanted to press charges. I had no decision-making framework for that question and immediately felt overwhelmed, running through the options in my mind–of course I want the offenders to be held accountable, but would I need a lawyer or something? That sounded like a bigger hassle than I wanted to sign up for. Realizing that I needed more information and probably some wise input from others, I just told the officer, “Um, I feel like I should ask my parents before I decide.” At that moment, even though I’ve been on my own for a few years now, I felt like a little kid who didn’t know anything about the world and needed her parents’ protection and guidance!

My parents are very wise people–they are familiar with God’s Word and know what He says about different life circumstances. They take time to notice the results that others get from their choices, and they’ve also learned a lot from experience as well. They have helped shape my critical thinking skills by teaching and demonstrating the right questions to ask and what factors to consider when making important decisions. After 26 years of practice, I’ve learned a lot from them when it comes to decision-making and have spent time figuring out what criteria is biblical and what criteria comes down to personal preference. Understanding that difference has allowed me to apply the same principles from a different perspective to make decisions that make sense for me. Because they have equipped me well to make wise decisions, I am confident and able to navigate everyday life circumstances without having to constantly be on the phone consulting them to feel good about the choices I’m making.

As a young adult, though, there are still a lot of situations I haven’t encountered yet, and my decision-making framework doesn’t account for every possible circumstance. Without a frame of reference, when the police officer asked me if I wanted to press charges for my broken window, my knee-jerk response was to ask my parents what to do. Not a bad idea in most cases!

On the long drive home from Chicago I reflected on the whole ordeal, including that encounter with the police officer, and thought through how instinctive it was for me to turn to my parents for help making a tough decision. How awesome would it be for my instinct in everyday decisions to be, “Let me talk to my Heavenly Father first,” before responding in my own logic! How many times do we turn to someone or something other than our Creator for guidance, when He holds the wisdom that will help us? Maybe for you instead of your parents it’s your spouse, a close friend, a financial advisor, therapist, or even Google! God often speaks through our community, but sometimes it helps to cut out the middle man and go straight to the source.

Like any habit we want to build, the only way for us to grow this reflex is by practicing it regularly. As a caring Heavenly Father raising us up in righteousness, God provides so many ways for us to develop problem-solving skills and criteria rooted in His design:

• We have His Word to help us better understand His heart, His design, and His upside-down kingdom logic–along with many examples of both wise and foolish choices people made that we can learn from. (Psalm 119:10-11)
• He teaches us right priorities & how to make decisions that put His will first, honor those around us, and reflect His will for our work, relationships, recreation, and worship. (Mark 12:30-31)
• In community with other Christians, we’re able to get godly input and wise counsel for both the chaotic and the mundane situations of life. (Proverbs 12:15)
• We always have the Holy Spirit to guide us through inner promptings and peace. (Isaiah 30:21)

As we mature in our faith, we can grow more confident in answering the question of “what would Jesus do?” in any given scenario, and over time we can build habits that embody love, ministry, and good stewardship as our priorities. Living every day to honor Him instead of following cultural norms or social expectations will set us apart and bring glory to Him, besides fulfilling us in a way that this world never can.

In moments when circumstances are uncomfortable and unpredictable, when we want to respond in emotion or when it feels like maybe all we need is more information, let’s practice first looking to God for wisdom to guide our steps. He may give us very clear guidance, gently bring our focus back to His priorities, or remind us of a Bible passage that applies to our situation. Sometimes He may remain silent and allow us to exercise the wisdom He’s growing in us. In the end there may not always be a right or wrong answer, and we can confidently make a choice of personal preference, knowing that we have honored Him by first seeking His will.

As we seek to honor God in everyday decisions, here are four keys that we can all use to keep His will at the forefront–and feel free to share your own insights in the comments below!

1. Know His word and His heart.
   • I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:10-11
   • Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
2. Seek His guidance through prayer.
   • 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. James 1:5
3. Trust the Holy Spirit’s leading.
   • Whether you turn to the right or to the left, yours ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21
4. Obey even when we don’t understand or agree, believing His ways are higher than our own.
   • Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to Him. Psalm 128:1
   • And we know that in all things, God works together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28