It isn’t always those major decisions, sometimes it’s the little decisions that steal your peace.  Just the everyday choices that badger you with nagging doubt.  What if . . .?  Should I . . .?  Which one?  Maybe I shouldn’t have . . .

Here’s a very mundane example.  Husband and I have been gifted by our oldest son with the vacation of a lifetime.  He provided plane tickets and accommodations for us to attend his overseas wedding after which we will travel on our own before returning home.  So what could the problem be?  The traveling on our own part!  We haven’t traveled abroad for 18 years and we feel intimidated when it comes to booking ground travel and a few hotels.  If I book this itinerary, what if we can’t navigate the Paris train station?  If I book that itinerary, what if the hostel, being the only reasonably priced accommodation within walking distance of the Barcelona train station is seedy?  When one leg of our train reservations were denied twice, I stressed over how to make the connecting trains that were already reserved.  It seemed like a maze and I was a bewildered, below-average rat slow to figure out the puzzle.

So I did the one thing I knew to do, I kept asking God for help.  Here are a few ways I got my thinking on a higher and more peaceful level.  (Also, I had a lot of help from Husband.  He’s very good at calling out my obsessive, negative frame of mind and reminding me to let go and trust God.)

There are many ways to approach decisions (especially bigger decisions), these are just a few simple ideas that I found helpful in making daily decisions.  I don’t usually do acronyms, but I wanted to remind myself of these truths to anchor my thoughts to.  So here is my simple acronym:  

ANSWERS

Admit I don’t know the best path and ask for God’s wisdom to decide what to do.

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”  James 1:5

Next right thing to do- I ask myself constantly, “What is the next right thing to do?”  By being faithfully obedient in the small things, I will be ready when the big things come.

The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?  It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.  Luke 12:42-43

Submit to whatever his will may be, even when it collides with my will.

“Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”  Luke 22:42

Worship the King who reigns over all and Welcome his loving control of my circumstances.  Sometimes the best path becomes clear when God aligns circumstances that shut one door and open another.

“O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship…” Psalm 48:9

Evaluate whether there are any moral aspects to my decision.  Is there an ethical right choice?  Does obedience to Scripture require a certain course of action?  Nothing morally right or wrong?  I accept that I may make a poor choice, but it was dumb, not sin.  I’m willing to learn from my mistakes using them to propel me forward, not tear me down.  (Stupid isn’t sin.) 

“You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”  Genesis 4:7

Reject fear 
Replace negative thoughts with meditations on his promises and his character.  He will never leave us.  His hand guides us.  He gives wisdom to those who ask.
Rejoice that he is my loving Father/King/Savior and he cares about the oh-so-mundane details of our lives.
Rest in his power and promises which work sovereignly both beyond me and within me. 

“And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.”  Romans 15:4

“he has given us his very great and precious promises”  2Peter 1:4

“O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands.”  Daniel 9:4

Study the Guide Book.  By reading the Bible daily for myself, and reading/listening to wise teachers, I’ll be better able to recognize right paths.

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
    and a light for my path.”  Psalm 119:105

ANSWERS

Admit and Ask
Next right thing – daily obedience
Submit to God
Worship God and Welcome his intervention
Evaluate moral right or wrong
Reject fear, Rejoice, and Rest in God’s power and promises
Study his Word