Life is full of change! Seasons change. Trends change. Technology changes. Relational connections change. With all this change, it’s hard to keep up with it all. However, we don’t have to live the crazy life of change that our family, friends or society say we should. Instead, we can live out God’s design, by following our God-given passions and interests in the pursuit of God’s best for us.

As a pastor, I am often asked how to determine God’s will in the big decisions. My answer is usually, “by applying the “sound mind” principle of Scripture.” In 2 Timothy 1:7 the apostle Paul writes, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” In employing the sound mind principle, you evaluate the talents that God has given you and make a list of the most logical ways through which your life can be used to accomplish the most for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). In other words, you list the pros and cons of each opportunity as you seek to understand how the Lord Jesus Christ can accomplish his continuing work in you and through you.

I have a few friends who are considering some big moves in their life. And they are asking a lot of questions of themselves and others before making the move. So to help them in the journey, I wanted to give them some more questions to consider as they seek to discover God’s perfect will in their life. These questions come from Bob Biehl and the Masterplanning Group in Laguna Nigel.

1. Why am I thinking of this change? What is my real motive?
2. What is the real price or loss that comes with this change?
3. What do my 3-5 closest friends advise about the possible change? My spouse?
4. If I knew I wouldn’t fail, what would I really do?
5. What questions are lingering in my mind, that should be asked before I make the final decision?
6. What facts should I really seek before making the final decision?
7. How will this change affect my spiritual development? Physical development? Financial situation? Personal development? Social life?
8. What do I see to be the major disadvantages of this move?
9. What 3-10 things do I most like to do? Will this opportunity afford me those opportunities to do what I enjoy?
10. Do I have a peace of mind about a yes or no answer as I pray about it and look at the decision from God’s perspective?

Great questions to consider! What questions might you add to the list?