Sometimes it's OK to just decide

I admit it.

I judged the book by its cover.

But when the cover is emblazoned with the title "Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will or How to Make a Decision Without Dreams, Visions, Fleeces, Impressions, Open Doors, Random Bible Verses, Casting Lots, Liver Shivers, Writing in the Sky, Etc.", how could I not?

It's a good title, not to men tion a meaningful one — particularly for anyone who's ever fretted and whined and prayed about knowing what exactly to do.

The reasons for waiting and watching can sound so noble and good.

Sometimes, maybe, they are.

But sometimes, author Kevin DeYoung reminded me this week, we're just stalling.

"Too many of us have passed off our instability, inconsistency, and endless self-exploration as 'looking for God's will,' as if not making up our minds and meandering through life were marks of spiritual sensitivity," Young writes. "Instead, when it comes to our future, we should take some responsibility, make a decision, and just do something."

DeYoung puts it this way: "God is not a Magic 8-Ball we shake up and peer into whenever we have a decision to make. He is a good God who gives us brains, shows us the way of obedience, and invites us to take risks for Him. We know God has a plan for our lives. That's wonderful. The problem is we think He's going to tell us the wonderful plan before it unfolds. We feel like we can know — and need to know — what God wants every step of the way. But such preoccupation with finding God's will, as well-intentioned as the desire may be, is more folly than freedom."

By DeYoung's account, God's will "is not an unexplained labyrinth whose center we are supposed to discover."

Instead, he writes: "The will of God for our lives is that we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. The most important decision we face is the daily decision to live for Christ and die to self....