Making Decisions Correctly
When the “big choices” show up, alignment is how you find your way.
When I was a teenager, I remember seeing a quote on one of my teacher’s walls that stuck with me—and honestly, it scared me a little.
“Decisions determine destiny.”
As a teenager whose biggest decision was usually what to get for lunch, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was doing something wrong. I mean… I just couldn’t see how choosing between Subway and chicken nuggets was going to play a large part in my destiny.
And then suddenly, I was faced with a real “decision of decisions”—one that I was sure would shape my destiny.
I was ready to buy my first car.
This was huge. It would be a reflection of who I was. My friends would ride in it. It would be the first thing I thought girls would notice. As a teenager… this wasn’t a decision to make lightly.
So I looked and looked and finally settled on a shiny red Mazda MX-5 Miata. It was fast, sleek, and beautiful. It was on a used car lot. The price was decent. And I was sure it was the car meant for me—like my destiny was calling.
Now, because this was my first car purchase, I brought my dad into the process. Mostly so he could help me know what to do once I found the car… but also because I wanted his opinion. I trusted him. He loved cars, took great care of them, and I knew his counsel would matter—though once I saw that Miata, I was ready to buy it without anyone telling me anything.
We went to the lot together. We checked out the exterior and interior. We test drove it. By the end of that drive, I was more sure than ever: this was my car.
Then we got back, and my dad popped the hood.
He spent time looking at the engine while I stood there waiting for him to be as excited as I was.
But when the hood came down… I didn’t see what I was hoping for.
He said, “You know, son… this car certainly looks great on the outside. But I’ve got to tell you—from the way it drove and what I see under the hood… I wouldn’t buy this car.”
I was devastated.
How could he not be in alignment with what I was so sure was the right decision? We left… and suddenly what had seemed like a simple decision became a lot more complicated.
Some Decisions Don’t Matter… But Some Make All the Difference
Life is made up of decisions.
Every minute of every day we make choices—some big, some small.
What you decide to have for breakfast probably won’t determine your destiny… but who you marry certainly will.
The outfit you wear today likely won’t make or break you… but the friends you choose to associate with can.
Your hairstyle might not matter much… but choosing a career path absolutely can.
Some decisions don’t make a difference.
But some decisions make all the difference.
And those are the decisions we can’t afford to make wrong.
So how do we know what to do when a difficult decision shows up?
How can we make the critical decisions correctly?
That question has followed me at every significant juncture in life.
The Liahona Principle: Alignment Leads to Direction
There’s a powerful story in scripture about a prophet who lived around the time of Jeremiah. He was commanded to take his family and leave Jerusalem just before its destruction. He trusted the Lord, obeyed, and walked away from everything familiar—heading into the wilderness with a promise:
The Lord would lead them to a promised land.
But they didn’t know where they were going. They’d never been there before. And they didn’t exactly have the internet or GPS.
So the Lord stepped in.
One morning, this prophet found at the entrance of his tent something like a compass—he described it as “a device of curious workmanship.” He called it the Liahona.
On its surface were two spindles (like pointers). But here’s what made it unique: to truly point the way, both spindles had to be in alignment. When they doubted, rebelled, or hardened their hearts… the spindles stopped aligning, and they didn’t know where to go. It stayed that way until they repented and recommitted themselves to the Lord.
That story taught me a simple principle that has helped me for years:
When the things God has given you to point the way are in alignment with each other, you have a much better chance of making a decision correctly and traveling in the right direction.
Your Second Spindles
You’re always the first pointer.
But how do you know you’re heading in the right direction?
You look to the other “spindles” in your life—and you ask: Are we in alignment?
For teenagers, some of the greatest second spindles are your parents. Trust them. Seek their counsel—especially when you’re facing a tough decision.
You might also have siblings, close friends, mentors, or leaders you trust.
As adults, we have similar spindles too:
A spouse
Trusted friends
Wise mentors
The scriptures
Faith leaders
And yes, even good tools and information (sometimes Google can help)
But the most important “second spindle” is God.
When Christ left the earth, He promised to send His Spirit to guide us.
“Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth… and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13)
The more your spindles align—your heart, wise counsel, truth, and the Spirit—the better chance you have of getting it right.
Trusting the Angles You Can’t See
Sometimes the hard part is trust.
Because there will be moments when you feel certain you’re right… and a second spindle says, “Be careful.”
Football has always taught me a lot about life. The quarterback is on the field, in the heat of the battle, trying to make the right call. But he isn’t alone. There’s a coach on the sidelines seeing angles he can’t see. And upstairs, in the skybox, are others who see the whole field.
The quarterback trusts those voices because they can see what he can’t.
That’s what wise counsel does for us.
And thankfully, back then, I chose to trust my dad.
It wasn’t easy. I wanted that Miata.
But I waited until things were more in alignment… and eventually, with my dad’s strong approval, I ended up with a little white Toyota Celica—the hallmark of my teenage years. One of the best cars I’ve ever owned. It became filled with memories I’ll never forget.
When You Ignore the Spindles
If you’ve lived a little while, you’ve probably learned this principle the hard way.
I’ve talked with so many people who made big decisions while ignoring the warnings of those who loved them—and sure enough, things turned out poorly.
Thank goodness for a God who believes in second chances, third chances, and more.
But a lot of pain, lost time, and struggle can be avoided when we trust the spindles God has placed in our path.
Anchoring Quote
“Decisions determine destiny.”
That quote felt intimidating as a teenager… but now it feels empowering.
Because destiny isn’t something that happens to us.
It’s something that is shaped—decision by decision—when we choose alignment over impulse.
Reflection
Is there a decision in your life right now where you’ve been moving forward mostly on excitement, emotion, or urgency?
If so, pause long enough to ask: Am I aligned?
What are the wise voices in my life saying?
What do the scriptures teach about this kind of decision?
What does God’s Spirit confirm—or warn—about?
Have I listened… or have I only wanted agreement?
Alignment doesn’t always mean the decision is easy.
But alignment usually means you can move forward with peace.
Today’s Daily Challenge
Pick one decision you’re currently facing—big or small—and do this:
Identify your second spindles (parents, spouse, mentor, trusted friend, scriptures, the Spirit).
Ask for real counsel (not just approval).
Pray for confirmation and pay attention to whether peace increases or decreases.
Then choose the next step only when you feel more aligned than you do right now.
Grateful you spent a few minutes here with me today. If this helped, consider sharing it with someone who may be facing a major decision. We all need more “pointers” in our lives—because nobody is meant to find their way through life alone.
More Daily Devotionals: joshdowns.com/daily-devotionals
Come Follow Me for Teens: joshdowns.com/come-follow-me-for-teens
