“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13, NIV 1984).

She called me as I was woofing down my TV-dinner supper. The virus had disrupted her third year of medical school, but she was now trying to make a residency decision between OB/Gyn and primary care. She loved them both and didn’t know which to choose. She also loved the Lord Jesus deeply and wanted a career that would most provide an effective witness for Him. Her brain told her that both were equal, measured by her skills and passion, but she clearly had to decide. I’m not sure if she was serious when she said, “With both of them being equal, perhaps I should consider which one gives me the best income.” I quickly replied, “That’s the one thing I would not consider in making your choice.”

I’ve got nothing against money, and often in my life I’ve enjoyed more than I needed, but I have never made a major directional decision in my life based on income outcomes. As followers of Christ, more money should be the goal of our decisions only if Christ says, “Make more money for my kingdom.” He’s never said that to me, though I suspect this has been His directive for a number of wealthy followers of Christ. Many with money have given it away for God’s kingdom, just as Christ gave Himself for the church.

But, if it’s not based on income outcomes, how do we make our major directional decisions in life?

Let me offer 12 steps.

1. Want God’s will with all your heart.
2. Decide what your long-term targets in life should be, and then make decisions consistent with them.
3. Gather the facts, the pros and cons, the likely outcomes. Use them as a backdrop but not the full measuring stick for your decisions.
4. Know the Bible and make sure your decisions follow its guidelines.
5. Seek wise counsel from those who understand your Christian principles and goals.
6. Respect your passions. Almost always, we will serve God best when we are doing what we love.
7. Abide in Christ as you decide.
8. Listen hard for God’s whisper. He is speaking, but the world is very loud.
9. Obey God with any visible steps He has set before you.
10. Trust God for the outcomes; trust Him to set you on the right path even if you make the wrong choice, as long as you want His will.
11. Look for sin in your life and get rid of it.
12. Surrender the decision, and your whole life, to God.

With all my heart and mind, I believe we cannot miss God’s pathway if we follow these steps.

Dear Father,

Let my heart follow you and then bring my feet along.

Amen