Three Steps to Make Wise Decisions

By Rick Warren

“A man is a fool to trust himself! But those who use God’s wisdom are safe”(Proverbs 28:26 TLB).

We tend to make decisions frivolously, but the Bible gives a simple, workable plan on how to handle things differently. Whether it’s about career, marriage, finances, health, children, or the future, here are three principles from God’s Word for making wise decisions.

1. Pray for guidance.

Before you do anything else, get God’s perspective on the issue. Proverbs 28:26 says, “A man is a fool to trust himself! But those who use God’s wisdom are safe” (TLB).

Have you ever made a foolish decision that you thought was the best thing to do at the time? We all get impressions, but they are just that—impressions. They are not from God. They are from what you ate last night or just ideas that pop into your mind. You need something greater than simply intuition, gut feeling, or “I think.” You need absolute truth on which to base your decisions. You need God’s guidance, and you get that by praying and asking God for it.

2. Get the facts.

According to the Department of Labor, 90 percent of all new businesses fail within the first year, and of those that make it, 90 percent fail within the following five years. Why? Those businesses are based on what I call uneducated enthusiasm. They’ve got a great idea, but they don’t get the facts before they make decisions.

There is no contradiction between faith and fact, and it is wise to find out all you can before you make a decision. The Bible says in Proverbs 13:16, “Every prudent man acts with knowledge” (ESV), and in Proverbs 18:13, “What a shame—yes, how stupid!—to decide before knowing the facts!” (TLB).

3. Ask for advice.

Talk to somebody who’s made a similar decision. Talk to friends who know your weaknesses. Learn to ask for advice! Proverbs 24:6 says, “The more advice you get, the more likely you are to win” (GNT).

It is wise to learn from experience, but it is wiser to learn from the experiences of others. You don’t have time to learn everything from personal experience. You don’t have time to make all the mistakes in life. Life is too short to learn everything by trial and error. But you can learn from others’ successes, and you can learn from others’ failures.

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God’s Big Plans for Me Storybook Bible and Integrating God’s Word Into My Life CD Message

Help the children in your life experience God’s Word!

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” –Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)

One of the greatest ways to fulfill the Great Commission is to share Jesus and God’s Word with the children who God has placed in your life.

And there’s now a great tool to help do that — Pastor Rick Warren’s brand-new book, God’s Big Plans for Me Storybook Bible.

This 223-page, full-color, beautifully illustrated, hardcover children’s version of God’s Word shares key Bible stories along with the 40 foundational principles from the #1 New York Times bestseller, The Purpose Driven Life. And it’s written in a way that’s easy for even the youngest readers to understand.

The God’s Big Plans for Me Storybook Bible will help the children in your life . . .
• Experience Bible stories coming to life with child-friendly language
• Connect deeply with Scripture through engaging illustrations
• Grow to love Jesus through lessons targeted specifically for them
• Discover God’s plans and purposes for their life

God’s Big Plans for Me Storybook is our gift to thank you for your donation below. And as an act of our appreciation, we’ll also send you Pastor Rick’s CD message, Integrating God’s Word Into My Life.

So when you give below, be sure to request your copy of God’s Big Plans for Me Storybook to bless a child in your life — and Integrating God’s Word Into My Life for yourself.

Thank you for giving today to help more people learn, love, and live God’s Word through Daily Hope!

This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.