Psalm 32 - God's Guidelines For Decision Making Series

PSALM 32 – GOD’S GUIDELINES FOR DECISION MAKING

In the movie “City Slickers,” Billy Crystal plays a confused, dissatisfied character with a vague sense that life is passing him by. Jack Palance plays the ancient, leathery, wise to the ways of the world cowboy. He asks Billy Crystal if he would like to know the secret of life. “it’s this,” Palance says, holding up a single finger. “The secret of life is your finger?” asks Crystal. “It’s one thing,” Palance replies. “The secret of life is pursuing one thing.” Somehow this resonates deeply with Billy Crystal’s character. He says “That’s great, but what is that one thing?” Palance replies, “That is what you have to figure out.” So many people today are like that. Their lives are torn between competing obligations and divided. When life is about so many things, it is about nothing.

Life is about one thing. What is that one thing for us as Christians? It is God’s will for your life. It has been said, “Success is finding God’s will for your life, and then doing it.”

Today we are continuing in our series looking at the Psalms. The bible is an amazing book. Here are some fun facts. What is the shortest chapter in the bible? It is Psalm 117. What is the longest chapter in the bible? It is psalm 119. What chapter is in the center of the bible? It is psalm 118, the one between the longest and shortest. There are 594 chapters before psalm 118 and 594 chapters after it. If you add those numbers together (594 times 2) you get 1188 or 118-8. So, what is at the heart of the bible? Psalm 118:8 says;

Psalms 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

Trusting in the Lord means trusting in His will for your life. We believe in a God that has a specific will for our lives. Sometimes finding that will can seem difficult.

There are four ways different ways that you can reach an unknown destination. The first way is by trial and error. Sometimes men especially seem to prefer this approach. You go with their gut and try to figure it out on your own. No need to stop for directions, you just keep going hoping you will find it eventually. This method usually leads to many hours wasted on short cuts. That is how some people treat God's will. They assume they already know it and they know where they are going.

A second way that people often try to find an unknown destination is to use a map. You study it at the beginning of the journey and then look at it occasionally along the way to make sure you are still on track. The problem with this approach is that God's will is not a map. In my own life I have found that God rarely reveals His will long term. He likes to reveal it a little bit at a time, step by step, so you have to learn to depend on Him. God's will is not a map.

The third way that people try to find a destination by using a compass. If you know that your destination is ten degrees North by Northwest then you just keep heading in that direction until you find what you are looking for. The problem with using a compass is that you have to know exactly where you are starting from. For most people seeking God’s will, they don't know that. We do not know where we are, much less where we are going.

The fourth way you find an unknown destination is the best way. It is the most effective way. That is to have a personal guide, to have somebody who walks with you all the way until you reach the destination. They know where you are every step, they understand the environment, the climate, the dangers. They know where you are and they know where you are going. This is how God guides us. The Bible says that God gives us the Holy Spirit to be our guide. God walks with us.

So how does the Holy Spirit guide us? We have talked about this before. There are times when this can be supernaturally. God will guide us through a vision or a dream. However, most of the time the Holy Spirit guides in quite normal ways.

Today I want us to look at God’s guidelines for decision making, because the decisions we make in life determine the direction of our life. God wants us to know His will and follow it, but it is up to us to seek it with all our hearts.

Psalms 32:1-11 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. 3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"-- and you forgave the guilt of my sin. 6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. 9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. 10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. 11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!