Then Jesus was led (guided) by the [Holy] Spirit into the wilderness (desert) to be tempted (tested and tried) by the devil. – Matthew 4:1, Amplified Bible (AMP)

Years ago, when I was in the midst of a pretty big life decision, a friend of mine named Jim gave me some great biblical decision-making advice. He took me to Matthew 4:1-11, which details how Christ was tempted and tried by the devil in the wilderness, and he said this:

“Look at verse 1. What does it say?”

I responded, “It says that the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness.”

“Now,” Jim said, “look at verse 6. What does it say?”

“It says that the devil tempted Jesus to jump off of the temple roof so that the angels could save Him from the fall.”

Jim looked at me intently, and then asked this penetrating question, “Does verse 6 say anything about God telling Jesus to jump?”

“No,” I responded. “It says the devil did.”

“Robbie,” Jim advised, “Be careful of making decisions when your thought process is this: I’ll jump off the cliff, and God will save me from my stupidity if I’m wrong. That’s like saying, ‘I dare you, God, not to save me from being an idiot.’ We make decisions all of the time without God, and God lets us suffer the consequences of those decisions to show us that it’s smarter to wait on Him. Don’t listen to the devil or to your wisdom about when is the right time to make a decision. Wait on the Holy Spirit to make the right timing clear. Trust me, God will make it clear when the time is right. You won’t have to wonder.”

Jim’s sage advice saved me from making a bad decision not only then, but several times since.

When the time comes, God will make it clear what choice you are to make. Through scripture, through godly counsel, through heart peace, and through circumstance, God will show you the signs that point out the direction He wants you to go. In order for you to recognize the signs, however, you have one thing you must do: be in constant fellowship with The Lord. Only when you are an obedient sheep will you be able to recognize your Shepherd’s voice. If your life is filled with disobedience, your sin will drown out the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit.