The subject of God’s will and decision-making has fascinated me since I was in high school, so I’ve been compiling resources on it. (See the recommended reading at the bottom of the post.) I came close to writing a dissertation on it.
My favorite resource to recommend to lay people is Kevin DeYoung’s book (cf. my review).
I recently read this excellent debate-book on the issue:
Douglas S. Huffman, ed. How Then Should We Choose? Three Views on God’s Will and Decision Making. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2009. 269 pp.
I think that Friesen’s view is the best of the three.
Huffman’s introduction, conclusion, and categorized bibliography are insightful. He diagrams the three views, and concludes (pp. 243–44),
It seems to me that the balance to strive for is that of the position in the center of the triangle, represented by Z on the diagram.
Recommended Reading:
- DeYoung, Kevin. Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will: or, How to Make a Decision Without Dreams, Visions, Fleeces, Open Doors, Random Bible Verses, Casting Lots, Liver Shivers, Writing in the Sky, etc. Chicago: Moody, 2009.
- Feinberg, John S., and Paul D. Feinberg. “Moral Decision Making and the Christian.” Pages 21–61 in Ethics for a Brave New World. 2nd ed. Wheaton: Crossway, 2010.
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Ferguson, Sinclair B. Discovering God’s Will. Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1981.
- Friesen, Garry. Decision Making and the Will of God: A Biblical Alternative to the Traditional View. 2nd ed. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah, 2004.
- Grudem, Wayne. “Letter to a Prospective Seminarian.” Christianity Today (August 25, 1972): 18–19.
- Jensen, Phillip D., and Tony Payne. Guidance and the Voice of God. Sydney: Matthias Media, 1997.
- MacArthur, John. Found: God’s Will. 2nd ed. Wheaton: Victor, 1977.
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Meadors, Gary T. Decision Making God’s Way: A New Model for Knowing God’s Will. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003.
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Packer, J. I., and Carolyn Nystrom. God’s Will: Finding Guidance for Everyday Decisions. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008.
- Petty, James C. Guidance: Have I Missed God’s Best? Resources for Changing Lives. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed, 2003. (27-page CCEF booklet)
- ———. Step by Step: Divine Guidance for Ordinary Christians. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed, 1999.
- Pratt, Jonathan. “Anatomy of a Decision: Finding God’s Will.” Pages 123–27 in Heart, Soul, Might: Meditations on Knowing and Loving God. Edited by Kevin T. Bauder. Minneapolis: Central Seminary Press, 2012.
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Sproul, R. C. Can I Know God’s Will? Crucial Questions Series. Orlando: Reformation Trust, 2009. (Previously published as God’s Will and the Christian [1984]; Following Christ [1991]; Can I know God’s Will? [1999].)
- Swanson, Andrew. Whom Shall I Marry? Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1995.
- Swavely, David. Decisions, Decisions: How (and How Not) to Make Them. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed, 2003.
- Waltke, Bruce K. Finding the Will of God: A Pagan Notion? Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995.
Thanks for this great resource list, brother!
Have you read and would you recommend Jay Adam’s book Guidance? It was instrumental, 15 years ago, in correcting my mystical views on decision making.
Thanks, Aaron.
No, I haven’t read that one.
It is a terrific book. I reviewed it at some length, and the interaction with the Blackaby material may be among the more essential posts I’ve written at Pyro. Their chapter and contributions are disastrous.
I also agree about DeYoung’s book.
I read Garry Friesen’s Decision Making and the Will of God and wrote a 9-part review of his book back in 2007. It was simply superbly written and his exegesis on the subject was excellent. My review can be found here.
I also enjoyed De Young’s book, but I think that Friesen’s depth and comprehensive study on this subject is the best I have read.