The Good Shepherd’s Providence – Indecision

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Psalm

23:3b

We make our decisions and then our decisions

make us.

The Stress of Indecision

Have you ever been afraid of making the

wrong decision?

Approaching God’s Will

• A Magical Approach• A Mystical Approach• A Methodical Approach

Isaiah 53:6We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Sheep cannot see very far ahead.

Why does God do this?

Proverbs 14:12

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

How does God speak to us?

Job 33:14For God does speak – now one way, now another – though man may not perceive it.

2 Extremes

1. God never speaks through impressions.

2. Every impression is from God.

Genesis 28:16

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”

Trust God When You Don’t Understand

Example: Israel in Egypt1.430 years of slavery2.Exodus to the Red Sea

Psalm 77:19-20Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Sometimes God sees a path where we only see a dead

end!

Sometimes we criticize an

unfinished plan!

Sometimes we criticize an

unfinished person!

Proverbs 4:18The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

When dawn comes up, is it

fully light?

Proverbs 4:18The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

What should be our focus when we

make a poor decision?

How To Deal With Poor Choices

1. Focus on Jesus!

1 John 1:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

How To Deal With Poor Choices

1. Focus on Jesus!2. Don’t live in denial.

1 John 1:8

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

How To Deal With Poor Choices

1. Focus on Jesus!2. Don’t live in denial.3. Confess your faults.

1 John 1:9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

If we never take ownership of our mistakes, then we cannot learn from them,

grow from them, and change.

How To Deal With Poor Choices

1. Focus on Jesus!2. Don’t live in denial.3. Confess your faults.4. Get back up!

Proverbs 24:16

Though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.

The path of righteousness is not necessarily the convenient path.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Psalm

23:3b

Matthew 5:10

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:11Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Matthew 5:12Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.