The 911 Handbook
Study Guide Answers
Lesson 16/Chapter 14, part 3
When You Need to Make a Decision: The Deciding Factor
Answers are written in italics
Because God speak in various ways, it is wise for us to examine the different ways He has spoken to His people. Listed below are several guidelines to consider when making a major decision.
Guideline #9: Begin to make plans in the direction you are being led.
According to Proverbs 16:9, what is our responsibility?
We are responsible for making plans.
What does it mean to plan your way?
To make a plan is to create a future path of action and commit yourself to it.
What is God's responsibility?
God is responsible for directing our steps.
How do plans give us direction?
Plans pre-determine the road in which we will walk. It helps us to know where we are going in life.
How do plans keep us from getting diverted?
It will keep us from getting sidetracked to other roads. Plans help us eliminate all other avenues so we can become focused in one direction.
Guideline #10: Walk in the light you have.
What does it mean to "walk in the light you have"?
It means to obey what God has revealed to you.
Read Ps. 119:105. Picture yourself walking at night, but your lamp only shines light on the path three feet in front of you. How does this illustrate "walking in the light you have"?
As we walk in the light we have, the light moves ahead of us. If we stand still, the light won’t move. God will lead us one step at a time. When we walk on the path where God is directing, He will shine the light ahead of us as we take each step.
Guideline #11: God may lead without you knowing it.
When Abraham was called by God to leave his home and travel to another land, did he know where he was going? (Heb. 11:8)
No. He left his home and started traveling, not knowing that God was leading him.
As he was traveling toward his unknown destination, what do you think was going through his mind?
He was praying, continually trusting God to lead him even though he didn’t know where he was going.
How did Abraham know he had arrived at the correct place? (Gen. 12:7)
God spoke to him when he reached the promised land.
What can we learn from this about how God might lead us?
God can lead us through His sovereignty, even if we don’t know we are being led. If we trust Him to lead us we can be assured He will do it, even if there aren’t any tangible proofs He is directing us. When we get to the correct destination, He will reveal it to us.
Guideline #12: Make your decision, and don't look back.
Why are we to remember Lot’s wife? (Luke 17:32)
She is an example to us to not look back on our decisions.
Why did she look back?
Her heart wasn’t completely in her decision to leave the city. A part of her heart will still in Sodom.
If what ways can we safeguard ourselves from looking back on the decisions we make?
We must close the back door of our minds and commit ourselves to the decision with our whole hearts.
Why will looking back cause problems for us, even if we have made the correct decision? (James 1:8)
Looking back will cause us to be double-minded, wondering if we made the correct decision. It will keep us from being committed in following through after we have made the right decision.