6 Signs You're Acting Without God's Blessing (and How to Avoid Regret)

Making decisions without God's blessing often involves avoiding godly counsel, neglecting Scripture and prayer, pursuing things that don't build you spiritually, compromising your integrity, and moving toward temptation rather than holiness. These warning signs can save you from devastating consequences if you recognize them in time.

Introduction

If you've ever made a decision that felt right in the moment but later proved devastating, you're not alone. Countless Christians have experienced the painful consequences of moving forward without seeking God's guidance first. The good news is that God provides clear warning signs when we're about to make unwise choices—red flags that can save us from unnecessary pain if we learn to recognize them.

In this post, you'll discover six critical signs that you might be acting without God's blessing, why spiritual discernment matters for every major decision, and how to align your choices with God's will. These aren't just practical tips—they're biblical principles that can protect your soul and keep you on God's good path for your life.

You can also watch the full teaching in the video below if you prefer learning that way.

Why Spiritual Discernment Matters for Every Decision

Before we dive into the warning signs, let's establish why this matters. God doesn't just care about your eternal destination—He cares about your daily decisions. Every choice you make is either drawing you closer to Him or pulling you away. The decisions that seem "neutral" or "personal" are actually shaping your heart, your character, and your spiritual trajectory.

The Bible tells us that God has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11), but we can miss those plans when we rely on our own understanding instead of seeking His wisdom. Proverbs 14:12 warns, "There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death." This is why spiritual discernment isn't optional—it's essential for anyone who wants to experience God's best.

Sign #1: You're Avoiding Input from People You Respect

The first major warning sign is spiritual avoidance. When you find yourself isolating from godly counsel, you're often trying to protect a decision you already know isn't wise but still want to pursue anyway. You might be avoiding the guilt or shame you'd feel if people you respect knew what you were considering.

This is the same pattern we see in Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve hid from God after eating the forbidden fruit. They were avoiding accountability and fearing exposure. The same thing happens in our lives when we know we're moving in the wrong direction.

Proverbs 12:15 says, "The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice." Proverbs 24:6 adds, "Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers." The opposite is also true—failure, loss, and pain often come from a lack of godly advice.

Ask yourself: Who have I invited to speak into this decision? Am I hiding from accountability? Am I afraid of what godly men and women would think? If you're avoiding wise counsel, that's a strong indicator you need to reconsider your direction.

This is especially common among young adults who want to prove they can handle things on their own. But you have nothing to prove, and older generations have navigated many of the situations you're facing. Don't avoid insight just because it disagrees with what you think or feel—you may need it to stay on God's path.

Sign #2: You Don't Consult God's Word

When your Bible stays closed during decision-making, your spiritual discernment becomes clouded. This shows you're putting more trust in yourself or others' opinions than in God's counsel. Scripture is described as "a lamp to our feet and a light to our path" (Psalm 119:105), but many of us try to walk in the darkness of earthly wisdom instead.

There is no wisdom apart from God's Word. The easiest way to walk off a cliff in the dark is to run without a light. Before making any significant decision, ask yourself: What does Scripture actually say about the path I'm considering? If God's Word tells you this direction is unwise, you should listen.

This doesn't mean you need a specific Bible verse for every decision, but you should ensure your choices align with biblical principles about spiritual growth, integrity, holiness, and God's character. When you neglect Scripture in decision-making, you're essentially saying you trust your limited understanding more than God's infinite wisdom.

Sign #3: You Don't Pray for God's Guidance

Throughout Scripture, we see countless examples of people who made decisions apart from God's counsel—either out of pride or simple forgetfulness. Both are unwise and can be sinful. Why would you move forward without God's presence? Why repeat the mistakes of history when the Bible shows you exactly what happens when you don't seek God first?

If you're not asking God to lead, you're probably leading yourself. That's a dangerous position to be in. The Bible tells us to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Don't miss the opportunity to have the infinite wisdom of the Creator of the universe speak into your life. Prayer isn't just asking for things—it's inviting God into your decision-making process and submitting your will to His. When you skip this step, you're essentially saying you don't need God's perspective on your choices.

Sign #4: It Doesn't Build You Up Spiritually

Examine your motivation behind what you're pursuing. Why do you want this so much? Maybe it looks good, seems beneficial, or appears desirable—exactly what Eve thought about the forbidden fruit in Genesis 3. She saw that it was "good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and also desirable for gaining wisdom," but she never got God's perspective on it.

Impure motivations can creep into our hearts without us realizing it. Something might feel good, sound good, look good to others, or seem desirable for its outcomes, but that doesn't mean it's from God. Remember, God cares more about who you're becoming than what you're doing, but the things you pursue are shaping your heart either toward Him or away from Him.

You could have hedonistic motivations, selfish ambition, or sinful desires lurking beneath the surface. Some decisions look good on the outside but rot your soul from within. Ask yourself: Does this strengthen my walk with Jesus? Does this draw me closer to God or pull me away from Him? If it doesn't build you up spiritually, it's probably not from Him.

This connects directly to the concept of spiritual formation—every choice is either forming you into Christ's likeness or deforming you away from it.

Sign #5: It Undermines Your Integrity

We only get one life and one witness to who we are and who Jesus is. Integrity means being the same person in every situation God places you in. As citizens of heaven and children of God, we're called to purity—being without mixture.

A little poison contaminates the entire water supply. Jesus said that "a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough." You cannot walk with impurity in one area of your life without sacrificing the integrity of your entire soul. This isn't just about what people think—it's about living righteously before God as someone He has saved and set apart.

Character is hard to earn and easy to lose. Once it's compromised, it can be a long road to recovery, and some aspects of your reputation may be permanently damaged in certain people's eyes. Don't trade your integrity for something temporary when you don't have to.

If you have to lie, hide, compromise, or pretend to pursue something, it's not from God. He will never put you in a situation where you have to sacrifice your integrity. Proverbs 19:1 says, "Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse."

Ask yourself: What parts of my character would I need to sacrifice to go through with this? If the answer is anything, turn away now.

Sign #6: It Leads You Toward Temptation

If you can feel the adrenaline-pumping thrill of sin creeping in, pause. God is faithful to prompt your spirit with thoughts like "This isn't good" or "Is this really God's best for me?" When you bulldoze past that still, small voice, you're headed toward unnecessary pain every time.

Every time you blow past the warning signs, you trade peace with God for regret. God does not lead us into temptation—He leads us away from it. James 1:13-14 says, "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed."

Ask yourself: Is this decision drawing me into holiness or into compromise? Is this moving me toward spiritual maturity or away from it? God's path always leads toward righteousness, not toward situations that make sin more appealing or accessible.

Biblical Framework for Godly Decision-Making

Scripture provides clear guidance for making decisions that align with God's will:

Seek Wise Counsel: "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed" (Proverbs 15:22). Surround yourself with godly people who will speak truth into your life.

Search the Scriptures: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). Let God's Word guide your choices.

Pray for Guidance: "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you" (James 1:5).

Consider Spiritual Impact: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Guard Your Integrity: "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity" (Proverbs 11:3).

Flee Temptation: "Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace" (2 Timothy 2:22).

How to Apply This: A Practical Decision-Making Process

When facing any significant decision, work through this process:

1. Pause and pray - Ask God for wisdom and guidance before moving forward
2. Search Scripture - Look for biblical principles that apply to your situation
3. Seek godly counsel - Talk to mature Christians you respect and trust
4. Examine your motives - Be honest about why you want this and what it will produce in you
5. Consider the integrity test - Ask what character compromises this would require
6. Evaluate spiritual impact - Determine if this draws you toward or away from God

Remember, you can always pray and ask God for His gift of discernment to rest upon you and help you navigate what you're walking through.

The Cost of Ignoring God's Warning Signs

When we ignore these warning signs, we often experience:

• Broken relationships and lost trust
• Spiritual dryness and distance from God
• Consequences that affect us for years
• Regret and shame that could have been avoided
• Missed opportunities for God's best

But when we heed God's guidance, we experience His peace, protection, and the joy of walking in His will.

FAQ Section

Q: What if I've already made a bad decision? Is it too late?
God is gracious and just to forgive when we seek Him. Repent immediately—change your mind, actions, and direction. While there may be consequences, God can still work all things together for good.

Q: How can I develop better spiritual discernment?
Regular Bible reading, prayer, and surrounding yourself with godly counsel are essential. Also consider taking the Spiritual Growth Assessment to identify areas for growth.

Q: What if godly people disagree about my decision?
Seek additional counsel and spend more time in prayer and Scripture. Look for consistent themes in the advice you receive, and pay attention to those who know you best and have demonstrated spiritual maturity.

Q: How do I know if my motives are pure?
Ask yourself: Does this glorify God? Does it build me up spiritually? Am I willing to be completely transparent about this decision? Pure motives align with God's character and purposes.

Q: What if I feel pressure to decide quickly?
Be especially cautious of decisions that can't wait for proper prayer and counsel. God rarely requires hasty decisions that bypass wisdom and discernment.

If you're feeling stuck in your spiritual growth or need help developing better discernment, I created a free resource to help you take your next steps. The Spiritual Growth Assessment will help you discover your spiritual growth score and identify specific areas where God wants to develop you further.

Don't let another devastating decision derail God's good plan for your life. Learn to recognize His warning signs and experience the peace that comes from walking in His will.

🎯 Your Next Step: Discern God’s Will with Confidence

If you're in the middle of a tough decision or trying to get clarity, don’t just wing it spiritually. I created something to help:

✨ How to Discover God’s Will: A 9-Question Discernment Guide

This is the exact framework I use to make confident, God-honoring decisions—especially when I’m not sure what to do next.

• Printable & Digital Format

• Biblical Discernment + Practical Questions

• FREE (Pay what you want to support the mission)

🎁 Add it to your cart here → Discover God's Will

Don’t move forward without peace. Let God guide you, and take every thought, decision, and direction back to Him.

Khalil Burton is a Christian spiritual growth strategist, certified coach, and founder of Growing Godly. He helps believers break free from spiritual stagnation and step into an intentional, deeply formed apprenticeship to Jesus. His mission is to make spiritual growth simple, biblical, and practical for everyday disciples.