decision making and the mind

My argument now is that the great doctrines of creation ,revelation,redemption and judgement all imply that man has an inescapable duty to think and act upon what he thinks and knows.
- John stott

One of the ever confusing areas of life is How to make decisions according to God's will? This question is a right question and i believe it deserves an answer.But with so many books in the market advising a particular way of findind and doing God's will ,how are we to go about it.
With every book i read my way of finding God's will changes but God and his will never changes.
The reason for the difference in the way these books approach finding godz will is because of their theological base or understanding of God and his purposes and the ways He deals with people.
If someone is a five point calvinist his theology will absolutely reject anyway of specifically finding God's will like shall i go for this studies,shall i marry this girl or that,shalli take up a resp[onsibility in the comittee etc.According to him you can decide these things using the intellect God has given us and by using the scripture but you need not worry about being specific about things which come inside the spectrum of God's word.This view is almost OK except that we can still go a step further and humbly ask God to close those doors which he knows are not good for us though they are within the confines of God's word.The reason a Calvinist doesnt do that is because acoording to his interpretati0n of predestination and election such a request toclose doors is unnecessary.
If someone is a pentacostal or charismatic christian he is also very interested in finding and doing God's will but he thinks that God will communicate to him specially and directly particulars like which college course to take ,what to major in, which girl to marry by name, which post to take in the comittee etc Though can and does reveal these things to some extent he doesnt do it like speaking to his disciples when he was on earth or like appearing to moses in the burning bush or like tell who jesus was when as he Got baptized(a loud voice from heaven).But some go to the other end of the sound spectrum and suggest that God will whisper as he did to Elijah in the wind or as some people suggest when you are silent before him.
They even quote(misquote),"Be still and know that i am God".They also talk about thought impressions about specific things,gut level prompts about what to do not to.Though sometime God does communicate through this way of thought impression ,it is never with respect to specifics but rather reminders of what has already been revealed in the bible like sharing the gospel and forgiving an offender etc.Though any of the is possible they are exceptions and not the rule.

Charismatic theology being the most popular and televised theology today makes many people think this way.
Yet another way of God communicating to men about specifics is what is called rhema, the specific word for the specific situation and many times its a verse taken out of context.This again is a exceptional way not the normal way in which God communicates.Looking for the rhema is not commanded or encouraged in the bible.

So if there is anything thats going to influence your decision making its going to be your theology or interpretation of verses pertaining to guidance and communication with God.

So until you decide the most correct interpretation about guidance you will not be able to settle this issue of how to discover God's will.

For my part i advise you to prayerfully ask God to teach you that.I ve made so many mistakes here and i am sure you also would have but that how we many times learn what should not or need not be done and God in his wisdom does allow that.

Another important thing i learned is the difference between Liberty and license.Walking within the boundaries of scripture where there is freedom to choose.And since not everything depends on our choice within biblical boundaries it's best to ask God ,the all knowing,all wise God to close/open those doorsways in accordance with his foreknowledge.This will help us to remain humble and at the same time walk in freedom without fear of consequences.

Finally the most important thing i learned is that God will not communicate to you bypassing you mind i.e knowledge and understanding,thought and analysis .These things should proceed in biblical lines then you will know the boundaries of your liberty within God's WORD and you will also not go beyond what is written to please God like celibacy or meritorious work or special unnecessary unscriptual but certainly pious sounding rules.So God transforms the mind and helps us discrn his will in accordance with his word and with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Whatever failures i have known ,whatever errors i have committed ,whatever follies i have witnessed in private and public life have been the consequences of action without thought.
- bernard baruch