How can we ensure our decisions align with God's will, not human wisdom? Seeing Asa’s Misstep—A Quick Alliance “Then Asa brought the silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the royal palace, and sent it to Ben-hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus.” (2 Chronicles 16:2) Asa faced military pressure. Instead of seeking God as he had earlier (2 Chronicles 14:11), he banked on a political deal. The treasure meant for God’s house funded human strategy, and the rest of the chapter shows how costly that choice became. Key Principle: God’s Plan Over Human Plan • Human wisdom = limited, shortsighted, self-protective • God’s will = perfect, foresighted, rooted in His glory and our good (Isaiah 55:8-9) Practical Ways to Align Decisions with God’s Will 1. Saturate Your Mind with Scripture • Psalm 119:105—“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” • Let clear commands and biblical principles set guardrails before options even appear. 2. Lean on the Lord, Not Self-Reliance • Proverbs 3:5-6—“Trust in the LORD with all your heart…He will make your paths straight.” • Refuse to trade faith for quick fixes. If an approach violates or sidelines God’s Word, scrap it. 3. Seek Prayerful Dependence • Philippians 4:6—present every decision “by prayer and petition.” • Prayer slows us down, re-centers motives, invites correction. 4. Invite God-Centered Counsel • Proverbs 15:22—“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” • Choose advisers who fear the Lord, not those who simply echo cultural savvy. 5. Examine Motives Honestly • James 4:3—wrong motives sabotage prayers and plans. • Ask: Does this course honor Christ, serve others, and cultivate holiness? 6. Wait for Clear Peace from the Spirit • Colossians 3:15—“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” • Rushed, anxious urgency often signals fleshly direction; Spirit-given peace guards against missteps. 7. Obey Promptly Once God Speaks • John 2:5—“Do whatever He tells you.” • Delayed obedience breeds compromise; immediate obedience fortifies faith. Warning Signs We’re Slipping Into Human Wisdom • Sacrificing spiritual priorities for pragmatic gain (Asa’s treasury raid) • Measuring success solely by speed or numbers • Downplaying prayer and Scripture in decision deadlines • Isolating from godly voices who might challenge us Encouraging Outcomes of God-Aligned Choices • Protective favor (Psalm 33:18-19) • Deepened intimacy with the Lord (John 14:21) • Witness that points outsiders to Christ (Matthew 5:16) • Lasting fruit that survives testing (1 Corinthians 3:13-14) Clinging to God’s counsel over human schemes spares us Asa’s regret and positions us for enduring impact. |
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