The Pain of Prayerless Decisions

Tim Dilena

Leaving God out of your decision making is dangerous and leads to difficulties that could have been avoided. In the Old Testament, we see Joshua making a decision that led to Israel being at war with enemies they would not have had to face had Joshua been more prudent.

“The men of Israel looked them over, accepted the evidence, but they did not ask God about it” (see Joshua 9:14). They did not seek the Lord’s counsel! Joshua was considered one of the greatest Jewish generals who ever lived in the history of Israel — a good man who made a huge error in judgment. There was not a blotch on his record except this one instance. Joshua chapter 9 tells the story and chapter 10 tells the miracle. It's a fascinating story — the people of Gibeon posing as hungry, weary travelers and lying about who they were and what they wanted. Joshua entered into covenant with them and within a few verses we find their battles became Joshua’s because of that ill-advised covenant.

In the midst of the battle, Joshua cried out to God for a miracle and the Lord intervened in a dramatic way — he made the sun stand still! “And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel” (Joshua 10:14).

In Proverbs, God invites us many times to ask his counsel before making decisions. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). “Pay attention to my wisdom; lend your ear to my understanding, that you may preserve discretion’” (Proverbs 5:1-2).

Prayerless decisions will add battles that could have been avoided. There is huge danger when you leave God out of your decision-making and decide to go on your own.

Three things to do when you have to make a decision:

  • Start with prayer

  • Go to the Word

  • Consult with wise people in your life

Whether it is making a difficult decision or dealing with the consequences of a bad decision, the God who is big enough to make the sun stand still thousands of years ago is still working all things together for good for those who love him. Trust in his love and wisdom in your life today.

After pastoring an inner-city congregation in Detroit for thirty years, Pastor Tim served at Brooklyn Tabernacle in NYC for five years and pastored in Lafayette, Louisiana, for five years. He became Senior Pastor of Times Square Church in May of 2020.