There are all kinds of decisions we make, big and small—but how can we be sure if it’s pleasing to the Lord? How do we know if the decision we’re making is in line with God’s will? Simply pausing to ask the question is a good sign. Since we want to make much of God with all of our lives, this question is hopefully being asked constantly in our hearts. 

 Most answers you’re looking for will be found in the pages of Scripture. Like a storehouse of treasure, the Bible is filled with wisdom and beauty and insight. And for us, His Word is not locked behind a vault. His Word is at our fingertips. In the pages of Scripture, God has revealed his purposes for the world and for us. Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:17:

 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work” 

 The secrets for godly living have been laid out in the open for us like clothes hung out on the hillside. But what if the decision we’re pondering isn’t instructive in nature? What if it’s circumstantial? For example, is the person you’re dating the one (assuming they too also follow Jesus)? Is now the season to have kids or to adopt? Should you enter into a graduate program or wait? Should you stay at your current job or change jobs?  

 As you can see, these questions are not necessarily black and white. Not every decision is. What then? Let me point us to a verse that can guide us: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4. 

 Here’s the point: Right delight leads to right desires which leads to right direction. 

 Isn’t it amazing that God is after our happiness—commands it even? God wants our affections set on him. Our time is in his hands (Psalm 31:15), our days are numbered by him (Job 14:5), and he directs our steps (Proverbs 16:9). In other words, God will get us to where he wants us to be. The main call for us is to delight.

 This pop culture mantra that says, “Follow your heart” is terrible advice. Our desires are like 2 year-old kid’s—gullible and easily tricked. Paul says in Ephesians that our old selves are corrupted by deceitful desires (Ephesians 4:22). They often lead us off God’s path unless they’ve been sanctified by time in God’s presence. So, we should absolutely in no way trust our desires until we’ve been delighting in God. But as we push back the temptations to find our happiness in worldly things and instead find our happiness in God, he changes our desires and gives us new ones. We will know what to do as we have the right desires that comes by having the right source of delight. A key to discovering God’s will then is not first “What to do” but “Who to enjoy.” 

If you’re looking for a Boston church to call him, we’d love for you to visit King’s Hill.