Moving Beyond Signs and Emotions in Decision-Making
- Elisabeth H. Drew
- 4 days ago
- 12 min read
Decision-making can be challenging for many Christians, particularly when guidance is misunderstood or unclear. This often results in confusion, anxiety, and fear of “missing God’s will.”
In recent years, some teachings have encouraged believers to interpret events, emotions, or impressions as divine messages. While this may sound spiritual, it often reflects a misunderstanding of how God guides His people under the New Covenant.
This article, Moving Beyond Signs and Emotions in Decision-Making, restores biblical clarity by explaining how God guided His people before Christ, how He guides believers today, and why Christians are not called to chase signs, but to grow in wisdom and faith.
The Old Testament Points to the New Covenant in Christ
The Old Testament is essential to the Christian faith. It reveals God’s character, His holiness, His promises, and His plan of redemption. It contains deep lessons, warnings, and wisdom that remain valuable for believers today.
Matthew 5:17 “Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill.”
However, the Old Testament was never meant to stand on its own. It points forward to Jesus Christ and finds its fulfillment in Him.
A common misunderstanding arises when people use Old Testament practices—such as prophets, visions, signs, or supernatural encounters—to justify beliefs or behaviors today, while overlooking what Jesus fulfilled and established through the New Covenant.
Jesus did not come to abolish the Old Testament, but to fulfill it. Fulfillment means completion, not continuation in the same form. What was temporary, partial, or preparatory under the Old Covenant is transformed under Christ.
When people say, “Jesus followed the Old Testament, so we must do the same,” they often miss the central truth of the gospel: Jesus fulfilled what the Old Covenant anticipated and brought believers into a new way of living with God.
As Christians:
• We value the Old Testament and learn from it
• We read it through the lens of Christ
• We do not return to Old Covenant methods to justify personal experiences or desires
• We live according to what Christ has accomplished, not what preceded Him
The New Covenant does not deny the Old Testament; it reveals its purpose. Salvation is now complete in Christ, and believers are called to live according to His teaching, His example, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Christian decision-making, therefore, is not about returning to Old Covenant practices, but about living faithfully under the New Covenant—learning from the Old Testament’s wisdom and instruction, while keeping our focus on Jesus, guided by God’s Word, and formed through wisdom.
Old Covenant — How God Guided His People
Under the Old Covenant, guidance was external, occasional, and selective.
Hebrews 1:1 “God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways…”
God used visible or supernatural signs, including:
• Prophets who received direct words from God
• Dreams and visions
• Audible voices of God or angels
• Casting lots
• Urim and Thummim (priestly tools)
• Miraculous signs
• The Law (Scripture) given through Moses
These methods were not for everyone– They happened at key moments in salvation history– They required no personal discernment training– They were not continuous daily guidance
New Covenant — How God Guides His People
Under the New Covenant, guidance is internal, ongoing, and wisdom-based.
John 16:13 “When he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth.”
God now leads primarily through:
• The completed Scripture
• The indwelling Holy Spirit (in every believer)
• Renewed mind and growing wisdom
• Godly character and fruit of the Spirit
• Prayer (alignment, not decoding signs)
• Wise counsel and Christian community
• Freedom to choose among good options
Guidance is not sign-based– The Spirit rarely gives advance details– God trains believers to decide wisely, not wait for signals– Responsibility and maturity are expected.
What Changed Between the Covenants
The shift from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant reflects fulfillment, not loss.
Romans 8:14 “For as many as are led by God’s Spirit, these are children of God.”
Old Covenant → External signs
New Covenant → Internal transformation
Old Covenant → Occasional revelation
New Covenant → Daily wisdom and discernment
Old Covenant → Guidance through intermediaries
New Covenant → Direct access to God through the Spirit
Old Covenant → Signs for direction
New Covenant → Scripture & Wisdom for decisions
This change reflects God’s desire not merely to direct His people, but to transform them from the inside out.
What God Does NOT Do
God’s guidance under the New Covenant is meant to produce peace, wisdom, and maturity — not fear, confusion, or dependence on mystical interpretation.
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
• He does not give magical signs, codes, or hidden messages.
• He does not require us to discover a secret, detailed life blueprint.
• He does not replace wisdom with fear or anxiety about “missing His will.”
• He does not speak through divination, random verses, astrology, or spiritual impressions that contradict Scripture.
God trains us for godliness and wisdom, not for chasing signs. We walk by faith, not by superstition.
Why God Changed the Way He Guides His People
God did not change His way of guiding because people became less spiritual, distracted, or unable to discern signs.
Colossians 2:9–10 “For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily, and in him you are made full.”
Under the Old Covenant, God guided His people through prophets, visions, angels, and signs because His revelation was still unfolding. Under the New Covenant, God fully revealed Himself in Jesus Christ.
Because Christ has come and Scripture is complete, believers no longer need ongoing external revelation to know God’s will. Instead of giving directions through signs, God now forms believers internally through truth, wisdom, and maturity.
This shift honors responsibility and free will. God does not remove decision-making by replacing it with visions or messages. He calls believers to think, discern, choose, and trust Him with the outcome.
Dreams and Visions Do Appear in the New Testament
Dreams and visions do appear in the New Testament, but they serve a specific purpose. In some teachings, references to dreams and visions in Scripture are used to justify narratives that encourage believers to seek personal guidance through visions, impressions, or signs. While these passages are real and biblical, they are often taken out of context. Scripture itself provides clarity about the purpose of dreams and visions in the New Testament.
Acts 2:17 “Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams.”
For example:
Joseph (Matthew 1–2) — dreams
Peter (Acts 10) — vision
Paul (Acts 9, Acts 16) — visions
Revelation — prophetic vision
These occur at major redemptive moments, often to apostles, and often to advance the gospel — not to help someone decide everyday personal choices.
God may communicate through dreams and visions at crucial moments, but such visions are rare.
That means:
• Not routine
• Not something we seek
• Not something we interpret constantly
• Not something used for daily decision-making
Dreams are not promised as guidance for every believer.
The New Testament never teaches:
“Expect dreams to guide your choices”
“Interpret events or dreams to find God’s will”
“God will show you signs if you’re listening well”
Instead, it teaches:
Walk by faith
Be transformed by renewing your mind
Grow in wisdom
Be led by the Spirit through truth and character
In the New Testament, God leads His people through a steady life of faith shaped by Scripture, renewed thinking, growing wisdom, and character formed by the Holy Spirit.
When God Uses Dreams to Reveal Christ
Scripture shows that God may use dreams or visions to reveal Himself to those who do not yet know Him, especially in contexts where access to the gospel is limited. Throughout history, and even today, there are credible testimonies of people coming to faith after encountering Jesus Christ through dreams, particularly in regions where Christianity is restricted or unknown.
These experiences do not replace Scripture, nor do they establish a new method of guidance for believers. Rather, they often serve as an initial revelation that leads individuals to seek the truth, encounter the gospel, and come to faith in Christ.
Once a person comes to know Jesus, Scripture becomes the foundation for faith, growth, and decision-making. Dreams are not presented in the New Testament as an ongoing guide for daily life, but as occasional means God may use to draw unbelievers to Himself.
Acts 9:3–6 “As he traveled, it happened that he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him. He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ He said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.’”
God reveals Christ in extraordinary ways when necessary, but He forms believers through His Word, wisdom, and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.
Scripture Warning
The Bible consistently warns against interpreting events as hidden messages. Scripture Warning matters because when believers are taught to interpret signs, emotions, or everyday events as hidden messages from God, discernment slowly weakens and Scripture is no longer treated as the primary authority.
Over time, faith can shift from trusting God’s Word to relying on personal interpretation, leading to confusion, anxiety, and spiritual instability. God does not guide His people through shock or symbolic experiences, but through truth, wisdom, and a steady confidence rooted in His Word.
Deuteronomy 18:10–12 “There shall not be found among you anyone who practices divination… For whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh.”
Interpreting random events as messages is how pagan divination worked:
– reading signs
– attaching meaning to accidents
– interpreting events as hidden guidance
The Bible consistently moves God’s people away from that mindset.
Scripture warns believers to exercise discernment when listening to teachings and testimonies. Not every message presented as Christian guidance reflects biblical truth. Some teachings, even when shared by pastors or leaders, can unintentionally resemble forms of spiritual divination by encouraging believers to interpret signs, events, or personal experiences as hidden messages from God. Scripture reminds us to test what we hear carefully and to remain grounded in God’s Word rather than testimonies that promote fear, superstition, or sign-seeking.
The Holy Spirit leads through truth, not shock. The Spirit works by:
– illuminating Scripture
– shaping wisdom
– forming character
– giving peace rooted in trust
These warnings are given not to create fear, but to protect believers by keeping faith anchored in God’s Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead with clarity, wisdom, and peace.
The Importance of Discernment in the Christian Life
Discernment is a core part of biblical wisdom, yet it is rarely taught. Scripture does not call believers to rely on feelings, signs, or noise from the world, but to grow in the ability to think clearly, recognize truth, and make wise decisions.
Hebrews 5:14 “But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.”
Reading Scripture helps quiet the constant voices of culture, opinions, and emotional pressure. As God’s Word shapes the mind and heart, discernment develops. Over time, believers learn to distinguish truth from error, wisdom from impulse, and faith from fear. Decision-making is part of this process of spiritual growth.
Romans 12:2 “Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
Discernment is not optional in the Christian life. It grows through Scripture, wisdom, and practice, allowing believers to live faithfully and decide wisely without being ruled by the noise of the world.
Biblical Guidance for Life Decisions
The Old Testament is vital and instructive, but it points to Christ; as Christians, we live not by Old Covenant practices, but by the New Covenant fulfilled in Jesus.
Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Before making decisions, it is important to remember that God has given human beings free will. Our decisions are often influenced by noise, opinions, emotions, or people who lack biblical wisdom. Scripture does not teach that there is a magical or hidden answer for every choice. Our decisions are our responsibility, and even when we make imperfect or wrong choices, God uses those experiences to teach, correct, and shape us.
Throughout Scripture, God works through human imperfection, and those experiences are not wasted—they become valuable lessons that grow wisdom, humility, and faith.
How We Make Life Decisions:
• Scripture first — God’s moral will is already revealed in His Word. If something contradicts Scripture, the answer is already no.
• Prayer — Not to get secret clues, but to align our heart with God, ask for wisdom, and submit our desires to Him.
• Wisdom and renewed mind — God grows our discernment over time (not instant answers). We learn to think more like Christ.
• Wise counsel — God often guides through mature believers, not through isolation.
• Freedom within God’s will — Many choices are between equally good options. God allows us to choose responsibly.
• Character matters more than outcomes — God cares more about who we become than about perfect circumstances.
• Trust God with results — After choosing wisely, we trust God to work through our decision.
Our confidence in decision-making rests not in chasing signs, but in living daily in Christ, guided by Scripture and formed by the Spirit. Staying rooted in God’s Word is the ultimate guide for our lives, shaping our thinking, forming our wisdom, and guiding our decisions in every season.
Why Believing in the Trinity Matters for Decision-Making
Believing in the Trinity matters for decision-making because God guides His people through a unified work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—not through mystical signs or hidden messages.
Ephesians 2:18 “For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.”
God the Father: He reveals His will and character through His Word.
God the Son, Jesus Christ: He shows us how to live. Decisions are shaped by Christ’s life, humility, love, and obedience.
God the Holy Spirit: He dwells within believers, illuminating Scripture, shaping conscience, and growing wisdom — not by signs, but by transformation.
Biblical decision-making is therefore Trinitarian in nature, grounded in God’s Word, shaped by the life of Jesus Christ, and formed by the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.
Meditation on God’s Word and Prayer in Decision-Making
Biblical decision-making is shaped through meditation on God’s Word and prayer, not by waiting for signs, visions, or special answers. When facing decisions, many believers come to prayer carrying real hopes, concerns, and desires. We ask God to help, to open doors, to bless our efforts, and to allow our choices to bear good fruit. Scripture invites us to bring these things honestly before Him. Yet prayer is not meant to remove our responsibility or replace discernment—it is meant to shape the heart that decides.
Meditation on Scripture means returning again and again to God’s Word, allowing it to guide our thinking, shape our values, and influence our decisions over time. This steady practice develops wisdom and stability, rather than emotional or impulsive choices.
Psalm 1:2–3“But his delight is in Yahweh’s law. On his law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper.”
Prayer, then, is not a request for hidden directions, but a posture of trust. We pray to submit our decisions to God, asking Him for wisdom, clarity of heart, and the faith to act responsibly. Prayer aligns us with God’s truth rather than replacing our responsibility to choose wisely.
James 1:5“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.”
Through meditation on God’s Word and prayer for wisdom, believers learn to make decisions grounded in faith, discernment, and trust—confident that God is faithful to guide those who seek Him through His truth.
Prayer for Wisdom in Decision-Making:
Lord,
I bring this decision before You with humility and trust.
Guide my thoughts through Your Word, shape my heart by Your Spirit,
and give me wisdom to choose what honors You.
Help me to act with faith, not fear,to seek truth, not certainty,
and to trust You with the outcome.
I place this decision in Your handsand rest in Your faithfulness.
Amen
Last Thoughts on Moving Beyond Signs and Emotions in Decision-Making
Biblical decision-making is not about waiting for signs, visions, or emotional confirmation. It is about learning to live daily in God’s Word and allowing Scripture to shape how we think, discern, and choose.
Reading the Bible helps quiet the noise of opinions, emotions, and outside pressures. As God’s Word forms our mind and conscience, wisdom grows, and decision-making becomes clearer and more grounded. Over time, believers learn to make responsible choices without fear, trusting God rather than searching for perfect answers.
God does not remove our responsibility to decide, nor does He promise flawless decisions. Instead, He teaches us through growth, experience, and faithfulness. Even when our choices are imperfect, God remains faithful to guide, correct, and work through them.
Knowing God’s Word guides every decision frees believers from anxiety, reminding us that while our decisions are never perfect, God’s will and promises always are.
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