Decision Making and the Will of God, A Biblical Alternative to the Traditional View by by Garry Friesen & J. Robin Maxson

Garry Friesen’s Decision Making and the Will of God offers the most comprehensive exploration of divine guidance I’ve encountered. Spanning over 400 pages, it meticulously examines every conceivable aspect of the topic. The book begins with an insightful overview of what Friesen terms the “traditional view,” presented through a fictional seminar led by a typical pastor. According to this perspective, God has a precise, ideal plan for each person’s life—one that can either be discerned and followed or missed, resulting in a less-than-optimal path. While God provides a secondary plan if the first is overlooked, it is considered inferior in terms of fulfillment and fruitfulness.

But how does one identify this ideal plan? Friesen explains that God desires believers to know His will, and the conventional method involves interpreting a combination of internal and external indicators. These include Scripture, personal promptings, desires, circumstances, advice from wise mentors, and logical reasoning. When faced with a decision, the Christian is expected to weigh these “signposts” to discern God’s perfect will for their specific situation.