At several points in our lives, we find ourselves pondering the question – ‘What does God want me to do?’
Facing Critical Decisions
When faced with critical decisions or difficult situations, we seek help from God and pray that He provides us with answers on the next course of action. We hope that He will provide us with the wisdom and clarity when we’re at the crossroads – which career to pursue, which business partner to work with, which person to marry, the list goes on. It can be a complicated and sometimes emotional process, as we weigh our options and hope that God leads us to make the right choices.
Seeking Answers from God’s Word
Besides prayer, we seek answers and help from God’s Word. But we sometimes find that the Bible does not spell out the specific answers or instructions we need to help us navigate through every situation. Micah 6:8, however, provides us with simple, universal principles to live by:
He has told you, O man, what is good;
Micah 6:8 NIV
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness
and to walk humbly with your God?
What Does God Require of Us in Every Situation?
He wills for us to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with Him. These three things focus on how we treat others, and how we relate to God the Father. Even when we are unsure of what to do, we can hold on to these commands and aim to live them out.
Pursue Justice and Kindness
The first two are about pursuing justice and kindness. We are to treat others fairly while also being gracious and forgiving. Justice and kindness may seem difficult to balance – how do we be fair and merciful at the same time? This is when we need to look to God who is the ultimate merciful judge (Psalm 145:8; Deuteronomy 32:4). He chooses to do what is right, but seeks to be kind to His people always.
walk Humbly with god
The third command is for us to walk humbly with God. Most importantly, we are called to stay close to and abide in God. Humility means that we acknowledge that God knows best and as such, we are obedient and submit to His will. We stay close to God through constant prayer, seeking out His advice. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours and He is able to see what is in our past, present, and future. By walking with God, we better understand His heart and His will for us.
At the Crossroads
The next time you find yourself at the crossroads with a difficult decision ahead, it might be helpful to ask yourself the following questions:
- How can I be righteous and just towards others?
- How can I be loving and kind to people?
- Have I sought God through prayer and reading His Word?
- Will these decisions please God?
- Am I being obedient to God?
