10 Christian steps to make the right decisions

The biblical decision-making process begins with the will to submit our intentions to the perfect will of God and humbly follow his direction. The problem is, most of us don't know how to understand God's will in every decision we face, especially the big life-changing decisions.

This step-by-step plan outlines a spiritual road map for biblical decision making.

10 steps
Start with prayer. Frame your attitude in one of trust and obedience as you assign the decision to prayer. There is no reason to be afraid in the decision-making process when you are confident in the knowledge that God has his own interest in mind. Jeremiah 29:11
"Because I know the plans I have for you," says the Eternal, "plans to thrive and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV)
Define the decision. Ask yourself if the decision concerns a moral or non-moral area. It is actually a little easier to discern God's will in moral areas because most of the time you will find a clear direction in the Word of God. If God has already revealed his will in the scriptures, your only answer is to obey. Non-moral areas still require the application of biblical principles, however direction is sometimes more difficult to distinguish. Psalm 119: 105 La
your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (NIV)
Be prepared to accept and obey God's response. It is unlikely that God will reveal his plan if he already knows you won't obey. It is absolutely essential that you are completely submissive to God. When your will is humbly and completely submissive to the Master, you can have confidence that it will illuminate your path. Proverbs 3: 5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
don't depend on your understanding.
Seek his will in everything you do
and show you which way to go. (NLT)
Exercise faith. Also remember that decision making is a time consuming process. It may be necessary to send your will over and over again to God throughout the process. So by faith, which pleases God, trust him with a confident heart that will reveal his will. Hebrews 11: 6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because whoever comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him seriously. (NIV)

Look for a concrete direction. Start investigating, evaluating and collecting information. Find out what the Bible says about the situation? Get practical and personal information about the decision and start writing what you learn.
Get advice. In difficult decisions, it is wise to get spiritual and practical advice from the devoted leaders in your life. A pastor, elder, parent or simply a mature believer can often contribute important ideas, answer questions, remove doubts and confirm inclinations. Make sure you choose people who will offer solid Bible advice and not just say what you want to hear. Proverbs 15:22
Plans fail due to lack of advice, but with many advisors they succeed. (NIV)
Make a list. First, write down the priorities that you believe God would have in your situation. These are not the things that are important to you, but rather the things that are most important to God in this decision. Will the result of your decision bring you closer to God? Will it glorify it in your life? How will it impact those around you?
Weigh the decision. Make a list of the pros and cons associated with the decision. You may find that something on your list clearly violates God's revealed will in his Word. If so, you have your answer. This is not his will. If not, you now have a realistic picture of your options to help you make a responsible decision.

Choose your spiritual priorities. At this point you should have enough information to establish your spiritual priorities in relation to the decision. Ask yourself which decision best meets these priorities? If more than one option will meet your established priorities, choose the one that is your strongest desire! Sometimes God gives you a choice. In this case, there is no right or wrong decision, but rather the freedom from God to choose, based on your preferences. Both options are in God's perfect will for your life and both will lead to the fulfillment of God's purpose for your life.
Act on your decision. If you came to your decision with the sincere intention of pleasing God's heart by incorporating biblical principles and wise counsel, you can proceed with confidence knowing that God will accomplish his purposes through your decision. Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV)