Divine Direction: Navigating Life’s Choices with Craig Groeschel’s Seven Decisions New

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Every day, human lives are shaped by a series of choices—some monumental, most seemingly mundane. While the intentions behind our choices are important, it’s the actual direction we take that defines our stories. In his bestselling book Divine Direction: 7 Decisions That Will Change Your Life, Craig Groeschel, respected pastor and founder of Life. Church, explores the biblical principles and practical wisdom needed to make decisions that align with God’s purpose. This article delves deep into Groeschel’s insights, unpacking his seven key decisions and their transformative impact on living a purpose-driven life.

The Core Premise of Divine Direction

At the heart of Divine Direction is a compelling truth: Direction, not intention, determines destination. The book emphasizes that life stories do not unfold by accident, but through the daily accumulation of choices—big and small. Groeschel contends that while people often agonize over “major” life decisions, it is the consistent practice of wise, faith-filled decisions that steers lives toward meaning and fulfillment.

Through honest storytelling and biblical examples, Groeschel encourages readers to consider: What story do you want your life to tell? He argues that God desires to guide every decision, step by step, and that seeking divine direction is less about grand revelations than about faithful, incremental obedience.

The Seven Decisions: A Blueprint for God-Honoring Choices

Groeschel’s framework is simple, memorable, and actionable. The seven decisions—Start, Stop, Stay, Go, Serve, Connect, and Trust—serve as practical principles for discerning God’s will in any season.

1. Start: The Courage to Begin New Things

The journey of a thousand miles truly begins with a single step. Groeschel asks: Is God calling you to start something? Whether it’s adopting a healthy habit, pursuing a new calling, or changing attitudes, starting is often more daunting than continuing.

He reassures readers that faith to start is more relevant than faith to finish. The emphasis is on action over inertia: “You only need enough faith for the first step. God will provide the rest”.

2. Stop: Breaking Free from Negative Patterns

Equally important as starting is knowing what to stop. Groeschel challenges: What in your life is not serving your God-given story? This could mean ending toxic relationships, quitting harmful habits, or letting go of self-defeating mindsets.

He posits that spiritual maturity is often signaled as much by what you say no to as what you embrace. The willingness to stop something negative, even when it is comfortable or familiar, is the crucible of all new growth.

3. Stay: Being Faithful When It’s Easier to Quit

Perseverance is not glamorous, but it is vital. Groeschel teaches that sometimes divine direction calls for staying committed, even when another path looks alluring. He points to biblical figures who saw breakthrough only by refusing to quit when they felt like giving up.

Discerning when to stay requires humility, prayer, and biblical wisdom. It guards against the temptation to make impulsive escapes and instead trusts God’s timing.

4. Go: Obeying When God Calls You Out

Conversely, there come moments when faith means stepping out of comfort and routine. Groeschel describes “Go” as radical obedience—leaving behind what’s familiar to embrace a new assignment or direction. He notes, “To step toward your destiny, you might have to step away from your security”.

Such steps often involve risk, uncertainty, and the necessity of trust, but they are critical junctures in the adventure of divine direction.

5. Serve: Shifting Your Focus from Self to Others

For Groeschel, serving is both a discipline and a delight. Life’s most meaningful stories are written when we live beyond ourselves—investing in others through compassion, generosity, and self-sacrifice.

Serving breaks the grip of self-centeredness and aligns our hearts with Jesus, who “came not to be served but to serve.” In divine direction, contributions outlast personal achievements, and the path to greatness is through humility and love.

6. Connect: Embracing Community and Accountability

No journey of faith is meant to be walked alone. Groeschel stresses that connecting with other believers is essential in gaining godly counsel, wisdom, and encouragement. Decisions made in isolation are often unwise; connection provides clarity, perspective, and support in discerning God’s will.

This principle echoes Proverbs: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Authentic relationships help readers stay aligned with their divine direction.

7. Trust: Releasing Outcomes into God’s Hands

Trust is the thread that unites all the other decisions. Even after starting something new, stopping bad habits, staying or going, serving, and connecting, one cannot control all results. Groeschel urges readers to “trust the process”—to release fear and anxiety and rest in God’s sovereignty.

Trust is developed through intimate relationship with God, regular prayer, and reflection on His faithfulness in the past. Ultimately, divine direction is less about destination and more about dependence on the God who leads the way.

Biblical Foundations and Life Application

Groeschel grounds his principles solidly in Scripture. For each decision, he points readers to biblical narratives—Abraham leaving his homeland, Ruth staying with Naomi, Nehemiah starting to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, Daniel refusing to compromise, and Jesus modeling service and trust.

These stories illustrate that divine direction is both timeless and immediately relevant. The book is filled with questions and reflection exercises, pushing readers to apply each principle. For example:

• What’s one habit you need to start—or stop—today?
• Where is God asking you to stay faithful?
• Is there an area where you must take a risky step of faith and go?

By breaking down overwhelming choices into single, faithful steps, Groeschel equips readers to develop spiritual momentum. As he states, “If you try to imagine the end, it seems too grand…that’s why we’re going to take just one small step in the direction of the dream”.

The Power of Small Decisions

One of the book’s unique insights is the cumulative impact of small decisions. Groeschel notes that while people expect their destinies to be shaped by “big breaks” or dramatic moments, it is often the quiet, daily choices that set a life’s direction.

He provides real-life examples, both from his own story and others—from quitting destructive habits to starting a spiritual discipline. These anecdotes underscore the key lesson: consistent, small steps of faith are often what lead to lifelong transformation.

Discernment: Seeking God’s Voice

A recurring theme in Groeschel’s work is the need for discernment—seeking God’s wisdom amidst a sea of choices. He shares practical tools to aid in discernment:

• Prayer and Silence: Creating space to listen for God’s promptings.
• Scripture: Anchoring decisions in biblical truth, not fleeting emotions.
• Wise Counsel: Seeking advice from mature believers and mentors.
• Circumstantial Clarity: Reflecting on how God might be using life circumstances to guide.

At each step, readers are challenged not to seek signs or formulas, but an ongoing relationship with the Divine Guide.

Overcoming Common Obstacles

Groeschel identifies several barriers that often prevent people from seeking or following divine direction:

• Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): Anxiety about making the “wrong” choice can paralyze action.
• Perfectionism: Insisting on absolute certainty or flawlessness before taking steps of faith.
• People-Pleasing: Basing decisions on the opinions of others, rather than God’s leading.
• Past Regret: The shame or pain of previous poor decisions inhibiting trust for the future.

He urges readers to confront these anxieties with faith, compassion, and practical wisdom—with the confidence that God redeems even our missteps for a greater purpose.

The Role of Community and Accountability

A distinct emphasis in Divine Direction is the importance of spiritual community. Groeschel advocates for participation in small groups, mentorship, and healthy church environments, where individuals are not only supported but also held accountable in their decision-making.

Through discussion guides and group exercises, he invites readers to process the seven decisions collectively, believing that divine direction is more easily discerned and faithfully pursued together.

Real Stories, Real Impact

Part of what makes Groeschel’s book resonate is his vulnerability. He shares mistakes, missteps, and course corrections from his own life—such as starting a small Bible study in his fraternity as a skeptical college student, which eventually blossomed into a life of pastoral leadership and the foundation of one of the world’s largest churches.

These stories humanize the process of spiritual decision-making. Readers are reminded that divine direction is less about being perfect and more about being open to God’s leading at each step.

Divine Direction in a Rapidly Changing World

In an era marked by relentless change, choices, and distractions, Groeschel’s message is timely. He does not offer quick fixes or prosperity formulas, but a roadmap to wise, biblical decision-making rooted in small acts of daily obedience.

The book’s legacy is a practical method for any person—regardless of where they are in life—to pause, reflect, and adjust their direction, confident that God’s story for them is bigger and better than they can imagine.

Conclusion: Living Your Divine Story, One Step at a Time

Craig Groeschel’s Divine Direction reminds readers that life’s greatest impact comes not from a single decision but from a life lived by faith, one step at a time. By mastering the seven decisions—Start, Stop, Stay, Go, Serve, Connect, Trust—anyone can walk the path God has prepared for them and tell a story worth sharing.

“What is always true is that the decisions we make today determine the stories we tell about our lives tomorrow”. Divine direction is not mystical or inaccessible; it is available now, to every believer willing to listen, learn, and respond, wherever their journey may begin.