Decision Making and the Will of God (2004)

This is a fantastic, and comprehensive book that looks at what the bible says about decision making. Friesen begins examining and critiquing common approaches of decision making by comparing it to the scripture. And then from the scripture, he shows the way we should approach decision making - through wisdom. \\r\\nParticularly helpful is how Friesen has added in answers to common questions that people have had in the past after reading his book. Additionally, Friesen, doesn't just leave the readers with an approach decision making, but he works this approach to decision making by walking through different areas of decision making such as marriage and giving. \\r\\n\\r\\nA very thorough book on the topic of decision making and God's will. Quite a long book, but well worth reading.

How to find out the will of God for our lives is a question that all Christians ask. Friesen critiques the traditional view of an individual and highly specific divine will for each of us, placing oft-cited biblical examples in support of this view into their correct context. He counters with an alternative model that is more consistent with Scripture as a whole - that there are certain parameters for living according to God's will, inside which we have a remarkable degree of freedom. Chapters in this book apply Friesen's understanding to some of the big decisions Christian face, including vocation, marriage and ministry. The appendices are quite useful in directing the reader to further resources. The writing style is accessible to all readers, the subject material highly relevant to anyone seeking to understand God's will in their decision-making. While this book often challenges conventional teaching, it gives a wonderful insight into the extent of freedom we have as partners with God in our own lives.

Books on God's will abound and the teachings contained within them are diverse. After reading a number of them you almost come away thinking that no two books agree on the subject. What makes Friesen's work better than others is that it doesn't just add another view to the bundle, it spends a long time tackling unbiblical views of God's will before it then uses a Biblically saturated argument of what God's will actually is. \\r\\n\\r\\nFirstly Friesen spends Part 1 and 2 of the book primarily critiquing the popular view that God has one special will for you that you must find above all else. Then Part 3 explains the true way of wisdom as contained in God's word. Then Part ***** of wisdom to the big decisions in life such as marriage, ministry, missions and vocations. As an added bonus there are a few excellent appendices - one being mini reviews of current popular books on the will of God. \\r\\n\\r\\nThe book has stood the test of time and been revised for the 20 year anniversary by tightening up the arguments and providing answers to Frequently Asked Questions that Friesen has received over the years. \\r\\n\\r\\nMy only criticism has to do with the headings throughout the chapters. They are often designed to be witty, but if you use this book as a reference work, the headings become unhelpful. They don't really explain what the section is about and so simply grab your eye and then confuse you. \\r\\n\\r\\nBut I do think that this is currently 'the' book to read on God's…