7 December 2023 - Do you inquire of the Lord when making decisions?

In the Old Testament, the phrase ‘they inquired of the Lord’ is often used. So many times, in life, I had to inquire from the Lord. Lord, is this the right thing to do? We all want to confirm that we do the right thing. When we buy a car, a house, take up a new position, or a business transaction, we want to ensure that we do the right thing.

Judges 18:5-6(NIV) “Then they said to him, “Please inquire of God to learn whether our journey will be successful.” The priest answered them, “Go in peace. Your journey has the LORD’s approval.”

I remember a time in our life when we were looking for a place for my son to stay while he was in his final year in school. He attended school in a different town than where we lived. We found a place that we wanted to rent. It was quite expensive, but we decided that we were going to take it. My wife, Annemarie, went to the property agency to conclude the deal. While there, she called me to say they had made a mistake with the deposit that was payable on the property, the actual amount is double. I was not happy at all, and at that point, I was doubtful whether this was the right thing to do. I told Annemarie to give me a moment; I will inquire from the Lord what should be done. She said that I didn’t understand - she was at the agency, ready to sign the contract. I immediately went into my office, closed my door, and prayed this simple prayer: “Lord, what should we do about renting this property?” At that moment, I opened my Bible, and the first verse I read was Proverbs 24:27(NLT) Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.

I promptly phoned Annemarie and shared with her the word that I had received. “Don’t sign the contract.” Annemarie was disappointed. She loved the place, but the Lord knew better. Our search for accommodation started all over again. We quickly found a place where he could stay at a much better price.

God knew better. What was the secret here? We inquired from the Lord. Over the years, I have learned that when I make difficult decisions and don’t know what to do, I ask the Lord. He has always answered.

Philippians 4:6(TLB) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Everything!

Every day we encounter decisions. When we think about it, it’s amazing that God wants to help us with these decisions. He is interested in what happens to us and wants only the best for us. But first we need to include Him in the decision-making process.

James 4:15(ESV) Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that”.

Remember, ask God first.