Common sense or faith? This is the dilemma we all grapple with in the Christian life. We want God's will to prevail in our lives, but where do we start? Do we wait for some unmistakable sign giving us direction? And if so, how can we be sure the “sign” is from God?

“Common sense” is the ability to make sound judgments and decisions based on simple perception of the situation or facts. It's often about practical, straightforward thinking that's rooted in basic human experience and logic. When trying to discern what direction to go, I think it starts with “common sense” constrained by God's word. That is, we decide based upon our perceptions of the situations, our experiences and facts we know, but we can never go with “common sense” that leads us outside of scripture parameters. But, “common sense” is where we start.

Then…we go. We pursue our “common sense” decision. A rudder can't steer a non-moving ship…neither can God direct us unless we “go.” What happens next is that in our pursuit, God comes into the picture. That's what Romans 8:28 is about. We pray that God blesses our “common sense” decision, but inevitably He works within our decision to draw us to Jesus. Sometimes God brings in factors that cause us to change our “common sense” decision and we change course. Sometimes God tweaks our decisions in directions we never considered. But in every case, God will use our experience and logic to point us to Jesus Christ. Sometimes painfully, regretfully…sometimes through increased discernment given by the Holy Spirit and our spiritual maturity, but in either case, God will work through our decisions (whether good or bad) to draw us to Christ. (Romans 8:28-30)

Today's My Utmost for His Highest hits upon this important issue:

“Faith in antagonism to common sense is fanaticism; common sense in antagonism to faith is rationalism. The life of faith brings the two into a right relationship. Common sense isn't faith, and faith isn't common sense. They stand in the relation of the natural to the spiritual, of impulse to inspiration.

Faith must be tested before it becomes real. If we love God and are called according to his purpose, we can rest assured that no matter what happens, the working of his providence will transform the object of our faith—Jesus Christ—into an active, vital force in each of our lives. The whole purpose of God is to make faith real in the lives of his children. He does this for each one of us personally, working through our individual circumstances.

God brings us into certain circumstances in order to test and educate our faith, because the nature of faith is to make its object real. Until we know Jesus, God is a mere abstraction; we cannot have faith in him.

Faith knows that for every commonsense situation, there's a revelation fact that can be drawn upon to prove in practical experience what we believe God to be. Faith is the whole person rightly related to God by the power of Jesus Christ.

A very wise, “common sense” guy made this statement:

We can make our plans, but the final outcome is in God's hands.

2 We can always “prove” that we are right, but is the Lord convinced?

3 Commit your work to the Lord, then it will succeed.

4 The Lord has made everything for his own purposes

Proverbs 16:1-4 TLB

Having to make a decision? Here's the sequence: 1) Before you “go,” evaluate your decision based upon God's word. 2) “Go,” that is, use the “common sense” God has given you 3) Commit your decision to God's glory 4) Know that your experiences, logic, facts God will use for His purposes 5) Know that God will direct your decisions to bring you to Christ-likeness.

When it comes to making decisions, may our prayer today be expressed in this song:

Give of your best to the Master;
Give Him first place in your heart,Throw your soul's fresh, glowing ardor
Into the battle for truth.
Jesus has set the example,
Dauntless was He, young and brave;
Give Him your loyal devotion;
Give Him the best that you have.

Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Clad in salvation's full armor,
Join in the battle for truth.

Walk with the King today and be a blessing.