Day 3: God in Real Life (Not Just Church)

Day 3: God in Your Decisions

Core Scripture: James 1:5 [NLT]

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” 

Most people underestimate how many decisions they make in a day. Research suggests that we make thousands of decisions daily, many of them without conscious thought. Some are small and automatic, like what to eat or how to respond to a message; while others carry more weight, such as how we handle a situation, what we prioritise, or what we choose to ignore. Not all decisions feel significant, but they're also not neutral. They shape direction, habits, and ultimately who we are becoming over time.

We tend to focus on major decisions, but most of life is shaped by smaller ones that happen in the flow of the day. These include how we respond when we feel challenged, how we handle tension in a conversation, what we allow to continue without addressing, and what we justify because it feels easier in the moment. These decisions are not random. They form patterns, and these patterns are usually driven by something beneath the surface, such as convenience, emotion, habit, or the need to avoid discomfort or maintain control.

Very rarely do we stop and ask what is shaping our decisions in real time. This is where this scripture becomes practical. When it says, “If you need wisdom, ask,” it assumes that we don’t naturally operate in wisdom all the time. Left to ourselves, we tend to rely on instinct, experience, or what feels right in the moment, and this is exactly how most decisions are made. We assess quickly, respond based on what makes sense to us, and move forward without pausing long enough to question whether our thinking is aligned with God.

This becomes our default way of living. We’re not always choosing between right and wrong. More often, we’re choosing between what feels right and what is wise, and these are not always the same. Wisdom requires a different posture. It requires awareness, humility, and a willingness to pause before responding, even when everything in us wants to move quickly. It also requires trust, because asking God for wisdom means accepting that our first instinct may not always be the best one.

When we begin to ask God for wisdom before making decisions, something starts to shift internally. We become less reactive and more intentional. We begin to notice what’s influencing us before we act. We start to recognise patterns in our thinking that we may not have questioned before, and over time, this changes how we live. We’re no longer simply reacting to life as it comes. We’re becoming deliberate in how we respond to it.

So what does this mean for us today?

It means we cannot keep making decisions based only on what feels right in the moment. We cannot rely on instinct while expecting God to guide the outcome. God is not absent from your decisions. He's present in your thinking, your responses, your priorities, and the choices you make throughout the day. The question is whether you are involving Him before you decide, or only turning to Him after something doesn’t work out. This is not just about making better decisions. It is about becoming aware of how you’re making them.

• What’s influencing your choices?

• Where are you reacting without thinking?

• Where are you choosing what is easy instead of what is wise?

• And what would change if you started asking God for wisdom before you respond?

Real change doesn’t come from trying to control every outcome. It comes from learning to seek God in the decisions you’re already making.

Declarations

1. I choose to seek God for wisdom before I make decisions, not just after.

2. I will not rely only on what feels right, but will allow God to shape how I think and respond.

3. I am learning to slow down, ask, and follow God’s direction in my daily choices.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, teach me to seek Your wisdom in my decisions. Show me where I have been relying on instinct, habit, or emotion instead of asking You. Help me to slow down and become aware of what is shaping my choices. Align my thinking with Your truth and guide me in the decisions I make each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflections

1. What's currently influencing the way you make decisions? This helps you identify what's driving your choices. It may be habit, emotion, convenience, or the need to stay in control. What influences your decisions will shape your direction.

2. Where do you tend to react quickly without thinking? This reveals where you're operating on instinct instead of wisdom. Quick reactions often show where there is no time taken to pause and consider God's steer and guidance.

3. What patterns can you see in your decision-making? This helps you recognise repeated behaviours. Patterns often reveal deeper motivations that need to be brought before God.

Application

Why not start a simple work journal today?

1. At the end of your day, write down one decision you made, especially one that felt quick or reactive. Be honest about what influenced your choice and how you responded in the moment.

2. Then bring that decision before God in a short prayer and ask Him to give you wisdom and clarity about what shaped it.

3. Do this consistently, even if it is only for a few minutes each day. Over time, you will begin to recognise patterns in your thinking and learn how to involve God more intentionally in your decisions.

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