Stop, Look, and Listen

//Lynette Hagin

Let’s face it. We have to make decisions all the time. Some decisions can have little consequence—like what color shirt we wear, what type of car we drive, or where we go on
vacation. Others have a profound impact on our lives—for example, who we marry, what college we attend, which job we take, and so forth. For significant decisions, it’s important that we make the right choice, because decisions determine direction. And direction determines destiny.

My father taught me the importance of making the right choice. He would say, “You don’t ever want to regret the decisions you make.” So all my life I have endeavored to follow his advice and look carefully at the ramifications of my decisions.

Now keep in mind that God never makes choices for us. He will lead, guide, and direct us, but ultimately we’re the ones who decide what we do or don’t do. I’ve discovered that most decisions are made in three ways—what I call the three R’s of decision making.

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Risk—Do not take risks.

Often when we make hasty decisions, we end up regretting them. Many of us have been influenced by a salesperson who pressured us to buy something because the “opportunity” would not be there tomorrow. But how many of us have jumped at such an opportunity, only to regret it later?

My husband and I have made it a practice to never make instant financial decisions. We’ll go home, sleep on it, and meditate on it. And we check with the Lord to see what His leading is.

Reason—Think things through.

We also need to take time to gather data and review our findings. How will our decision affect us and others? It’s good to reason things out.

I’ve found the value of not rushing into decisions. We need to wait on the Lord and allow Him to direct us. Although we can get good advice from people, we should not be led or influenced by their advice. Our friends can have good intentions, but their advice can be biased. We need to first check how we feel in our own spirit and only follow their advice if it agrees with what is in our hearts.

Revelation— Receiving divine direction from God.

Psalm 25:4 says, “Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.” Our direction needs to come from the Lord. A good way to get direction is from the Word of God. Scripture says that God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Ps. 119:105).

On occasion we may receive a personal prophecy. But we should never be led by prophecy, unless what is  prophesied agrees with what is in our spirit. God is no respecter of persons—He can speak clearly to each one of us.

I have never made a decision based on what someone has prophesied to me. I’ve also found that prophecies are not fulfilled overnight. And when they do come to pass, it’s usually in ways that are very different from how I thought they would.

The most important thing to remember when making a decision is not to get in a hurry. Many times when we’re waiting on the Lord for direction, the devil tries to get us focused on what we don’t know, don’t have, and can’t do. He screams in our ears, “What are you going to do?” I’ve learned to just holler back, “I’m going to obey God. And I’m going to wait until I know what to do before deciding anything.”

Making right decisions is so important. If we will learn to just stop, look, and listen for God’s direction, we will become sensitive to His voice. As we do, we will consistently make the right choice.