'My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.' Proverbs 3:21-24
In the 1980s, a systems approach to decision making and solutions for complex problem became fashionable. Predating the Artificial Intelligence era, computer scientists with psychologists derived methods, processes and systems to help decision making in complex situations. This systematic solutioning approach is called Sensemaking.
How do we make good decisions? These days the art of decision making has become a science. Tools are being developed to help big businesses, corporations and governments to arrive at good decisions via computer aids, algorithms, data fusion and artificial intelligence. Karl Weick, the 'father of Sensemaking' suggested that the term means simply 'the making of sense.'
The Bible calls this Wisdom that comes from God as we discern His will for our lives and our decisions. Proverbs 3 contained many terse advice about exercising wisdom and receiving Godly guidance in decision making. It states in Proverbs 3:13-14
'Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold'
If we want to avoid a bad decision, the best is to ask the Lord for wisdom and discernment. Who else can be to us a sound resource and a wellspring of guidance for the choices we have to make of our lives?
Ask questions like: Will it bring honour to God? Will God like it? Can the Bible guide us? Will what we do bring dishonour to Jesus’ name? Will we have the blessing of parents? Will God be pleased with us?
I do not think we need to use systems like sensemaking. All we need is to discern God's will and listen to His voice. This is the era of information overload. The folly will be in listening to the many voices around us but failing to listen to that one voice that really matters. There is a song 'Speak, O Lord' by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend asking God to speak to our minds and hearts so we can grasp the great plan He has for us.
- Speak, O Lord, as we come to YouTo receive the food of Your Holy WordTake Your truth, plant it deep in usShape and fashion us in Your likenessThat the light of Christ might be seen todayIn our acts of love and our deeds of faithSpeak, O Lord, and fulfill in usAll Your purposes for Your gloryTeach us Lord, full obedienceHoly reverence, true humilityTest our thoughts and our attitudesIn the radiance of Your purityCause our faith to rise, cause our eyes to seeYour majestic love and authorityWords of pow'r that can never failLet their truth prevail over unbeliefSpeak, O Lord, and renew our mindsHelp us grasp the heights of Your plans for usTruths unchanged from the dawn of timeThat will echo down through eternity
- And the earth is filled with Your glory
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