A PRACTICAL CHECKLIST IN MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT YOUR JOB OR CAREER

As a spiritual mentor, there are lots of career people who asked counsel from me in regard to the job they will take or to the career path they will tread. They asked if the word of God has practical guidelines in which they can know to base their decisions. As far as I know, the answer is - Yes. There are practical guidelines which we can make as a checklist before making decision about our jobs and career.

The checklist which I refer to is found in Philippians 4 4- 9:

"Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto men. Be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God, and the peace of God which passes understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally brethren, whatsoever is true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you."

So let me arrange to you this checklist based on these verses and as you make you decisions concerning your job or career, consider these first:

Prayer
What you face is not a - problem, but an exciting challenge to pray. This prayer must be a prayer of rejoicing and not sadness. This means that you are not complaining with your present situation but rather being thankful of what you have, no matter how hard the challenge is. This prayer is of thanksgiving and not of complaining attitude. It must not be based on complaints because complaints clouds our decision, and besides, complaints also breeds complaints. What you complain now, you will again complain in your new job. Approach things in a positive and thankful attitude. Hence, this prayer must be a declaration of your faith that better things are about to come in the decisions you will make. You make decisions based on inspiration and not on desperation. And at times, you have to wait.

Purpose
Is this job aligned with your life's purpose? Will these be true, honest, pure, lovely and of good report? Or let me revise the question - "Will this MAKE YOU true, honest, pure, lovely and of good report?" If the answer is "Yes" then go for it, but if not, then don't.

Passion
Do you really like this work? Be sure this aligns to your passion because if it is not your passion, you will never last with it. Don't sacrifice payment in exchange of your purpose and passion because you will only be efficient in any work when you are passionate with what you are doing and not just because you are just being paid.

Payment
Is the payment aligned with the first three checklist? Is it favorable and fair? Of course, you must consider these also because the word of God also teaches that the worker is worthy of his hire[Luke 10:17; Also read Deut. 24:15]

Progress
Will this be a stepping stone towards the fulfillment of your dreams? Will this job be a stop-over, a detour or a  main avenue towards your dreams?

Peace of God
As you depend on God in prayer, God will surely give you peace in making the right decision, and also right after you already made the decision. God is not the author of confusion. He will always guide you to what is best. You take note in the last part of the verse that it said, "DO, and the God of peace shall be with you."

Projection
This is what amazed me about faith and declaration. The reason why the above verse said, "The peace of God passes understanding" because there maybe things you may not understand in making decisions but because you believe in God's leading, for sure He will give you peace that even passes understanding. You don't have to know everything or else you will live by sight and not by faith. This is what faith plays a vital part. Don't declare what you don't want. Believe and declare what you want.  Believe and declare that your God can control everything to give you favor, and be excited with it. Anything is possible to him or her who believes.

You can add to these checklist but this is so far what I use based on these verses.
You don't have to be confused nor fear because when you believe, God will move according to your faith.
Believe that the best is yet to come. You are highly favored, don't forget that.