Yesterday we were reminded to praise the Lord with a joyful noise. Donna led the way, sharing how we have a “fight song.” Today, we are joined by Kristine Brown as we continue our two-week series, Praying Big Prayers to Our Amazing God. Often we turn to the Lord in prayer when we need to make decisions and often we do not. Kristen shares about a time when she realized it was important to “Acknowledge Him. Trust God’s precious Holy Spirit to guide us in our everyday lives.”

Today’s Prayer Prompt from #Instaprayer, prayers to share: On the fence? Pray about a decision you’re having trouble making.


Driving down the interstate, anticipation built as I thumbed through printouts of the houses we would explore. “Could one of these become our new home?” I wondered, glancing in the mirror at the sleeping 5-year-old in his big-boy car seat.

I hadn’t handled our past moves very well. My husband’s job had called for more relocations than expected, which resulted in lots of grumbling and complaining on my part. Also unexpected. But this time would be different. This time, I resolved to pray about each step and keep my attitude in check. I was determined to maintain peace and joy in my heart.

The realtor made a list of houses we would see in order by neighborhood. “Have you thought about school districts? Will your son go to public school, private, or homeschool?” The realtor’s question opened a new realm of possibilities. Our son would start kindergarten in the fall, and in the chaos of planning the move, I failed to consider the ONE most important detail.

Where did we want him to go to school?

My face flushed as I jumped into list-making mode. Some of the houses we liked were located in struggling school districts. Would we choose based on local schools? Or did we want to invest in private school? Homeschooling didn’t seem like a good fit for us, but I could be wrong. Many other moms I knew were homeschooling their kids. How would we know what to do?

Questions swirled in my head. Tension built. My husband – sensitive to the dangerous territory of my runaway thoughts – chose to tiptoe around the subject and give me the lead on the decision making this time. My skills hadn’t been stellar in the past, and now I carried a heavier weight of responsibility. My husband had already reported for his new position in the company, and commuting would add extra stress. I knew we needed finality.

So here we sat – on the fence of indecision. We prayed. We talked. We read articles by education experts and researched facts. We took notes then prayed more. But through all the discussions and pro/con lists made, I had forgotten a precious truth. I had failed to acknowledge God.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV (Emphasis mine.)

Decision-making may be one of the things we struggle with the most. Our days are filled with choices, both big and small. We pray and seek God’s direction. But sometimes we don’t hear a clear answer. So how do we pray when we’re having trouble making a decision, and haven’t heard from God?

Recently I read today’s familiar passage of Scripture, and two words came to life for me in a new way. Acknowledge Him. Trust God’s precious Holy Spirit to guide us in our everyday lives.

 

 

We try so hard to do the right thing all the time. We pray then take matters into our own hands, dragging the burden along as if it were our own. We will not always hear God’s audible voice telling us the next step on the path He planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10) But when we continually live by the Spirit, we can be confident in the choices we make.

When we pray about a tough decision, acknowledging God will usher in His peace and make the path clear.

Acknowledging God throughout our day means keeping close communication with Him. Praising Him in the midst of daily tasks, whispering the name Jesus when we feel overwhelmed, and even uttering short prayers for help, “Lord, I need you.” When we do these things, we will discover newfound peace in the decision-making process.

Do you have a decision today you’re having trouble making? Let me stand with you in prayer and offer a bit of encouragement, friend. God will give you the confidence and peace you need. Let’s take a moment to acknowledge Him right now.

Pray with us: Father, I acknowledge you today. You are Lord of all, and I trust your Holy Spirit to guide me through this difficult decision. Please bring peace to my heart as I make this decision, Lord. Thank you for creating a clear path as I choose the next step to take. In Jesus’ name, Amen.


For more decision-making resources, check out this free email study from Kristine: Walking with Rahab, A 5-Day Challenge to Better Decision Making.

You’ll find weekly encouragement to help you “become more than yourself through God’s Word” at her website, kristinebrown.net.

Kristine is the author of the book, Over It. Conquering Comparison to Live Out God’s Plan, and the companion devotional for teen girls.

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