Choose Wisely

Pause. Pray. Seek wisdom. Then choose.

Theme: Choose Wisely
Verse: "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault." — James 1:5

In our family, we have a standing parting greeting whenever someone leaves for a journey:

“Make Good Choices!”

Those words came from my eldest child’s Godmother, who shared them as a word of wisdom before my child left for college. What began as a simple goodbye has now become a family tradition.

But how do we know what the good choice is?

That’s an excellent question.

Have you ever been in a situation that made “the hair on the back of your neck stand up”? Sometimes our bodies alert us that something may not be right. That feeling may tell us to slow down, proceed with caution, or remove ourselves from a potentially dangerous situation.

Our bodies can also tell us when we have pushed ourselves too far. During exercise, fatigue, pain, or other signs of stress may signal that we need to slow down or change what we are doing.

These physical signals can be helpful, but when it comes to making important decisions, we need more than instinct alone.

As Christians, God gives us the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us. The Spirit works through God’s Word, prayer, wisdom, and discernment to help us recognize what is right and pleasing to God. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 5:15–17 to live carefully, “not as unwise but as wise,” making the most of the opportunities God gives us.

We sometimes express this idea with a familiar question:

“What would Jesus do?”

Because we know Jesus through Scripture, asking this question means considering what choice reflects the character, teachings, and priorities we see in Him. It encourages us to pause before reacting and ask not only, “What do I want to do?” but also, “What response would reflect the character of Jesus?”

Before making an important decision, we can stop and pray. We can consider the consequences. We can look to Scripture for guidance. We can seek wise counsel from trusted, godly people. And we can remain open to the possibility that God may be leading us in a direction we had not considered.

Life is full of dilemmas and difficult choices. No one escapes them. But we can choose how we respond when they come.

Will we rely solely on our own understanding, or will we bring our decisions before God and seek His wisdom?

James tells us that when we lack wisdom, we should ask God—and He gives generously.

So, the next time you face a difficult decision, don’t rush.

Pause. Pray. Seek wisdom. Consider the consequences.

Then make the wisest choice you can with the wisdom God has given you, trusting Him with the outcome.

And remember our family’s parting words:

Make Good Choices!

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Dooley