The document discusses making better decisions by following four guiding rules: principles, people, prayers, and providence. For principles, it's important to consider moral and ethical factors like priorities, facts, outcomes, and God's will. For people, seek wise counsel from those who have your best interests at heart. For prayers, never make major life decisions without seeking and submitting to God. For providence, trust that God can intervene and work all things for good for those who love Him. The goal is to make decisions that are right, well-informed, submitted to God, and able to trust His leading and purposes.

3. I wish I knew
Living a life without REGRETS,
living a life with PURPOSE

4. Forbes Magazine (18 Aug, 2012)

5. Some of the 25 biggest regrets:

6. Some of the 25 biggest regrets:
• Learning another language

7. Some of the 25 biggest regrets:
• Learning another language
• Not asking that girl/boy out

8. Some of the 25 biggest regrets:
• Learning another language
• Not asking that girl/boy out
• Working so much at the expense of family and
friendships

9. Some of the 25 biggest regrets:
• Learning another language
• Not asking that girl/boy out
• Working so much at the expense of family and
friendships
• Worrying about what others thought about
me so much

10. Some of the 25 biggest regrets:
• Learning another language
• Not asking that girl/boy out
• Working so much at the expense of family and
friendships
• Worrying about what others thought about
me so much
• Not having enough confidence in myself

11. Some of the 25 biggest regrets:
• Learning another language
• Not asking that girl/boy out
• Working so much at the expense of family and
friendships
• Worrying about what others thought about
me so much
• Not having enough confidence in myself
• Living the life that my parents wanted me to
live instead of the one I wanted to

12. Some of the 25 biggest regrets:
• Gone on more trips with the family/friends

13. Some of the 25 biggest regrets:
• Gone on more trips with the family/friends
• Letting my marriage break down

14. Some of the 25 biggest regrets:
• Gone on more trips with the family/friends
• Letting my marriage break down
• Taught my kids to do stuff more

15. Some of the 25 biggest regrets:
• Gone on more trips with the family/friends
• Letting my marriage break down
• Taught my kids to do stuff more
• Burying the hatchet with a family member or
old friend

16. Some of the 25 biggest regrets:
• Gone on more trips with the family/friends
• Letting my marriage break down
• Taught my kids to do stuff more
• Burying the hatchet with a family member or
old friend
• Not asking that girl/boy out

17. Some of the 25 biggest regrets:
• Gone on more trips with the family/friends
• Letting my marriage break down
• Taught my kids to do stuff more
• Burying the hatchet with a family member or
old friend
• Not asking that girl/boy out
• Getting involved with the wrong group of
friends when I was younger

18. Some of the 25 biggest regrets:
• Choosing the practical job over the one I really
wanted

19. Some of the 25 biggest regrets:
• Choosing the practical job over the one I really
wanted
• Spending more time with the kids

20. Some of the 25 biggest regrets:
• Choosing the practical job over the one I really
wanted
• Spending more time with the kids
• Not taking care of my health when I had the
chance

21. Some of the 25 biggest regrets:
• Choosing the practical job over the one I really
wanted
• Spending more time with the kids
• Not taking care of my health when I had the
chance
• Not visiting a dying friend before he died

22. Some of the 25 biggest regrets:
• Choosing the practical job over the one I really
wanted
• Spending more time with the kids
• Not taking care of my health when I had the
chance
• Not visiting a dying friend before he died
• Being a better father or mother

23. 3 main realms of life regrets
(from 20, 30, 40… death bed)

24. 3 main realms of life regrets
(from 20, 30, 40… death bed)
• The realm of Finance

25. 3 main realms of life regrets
(from 20, 30, 40… death bed)
• The realm of Finance
• The realm of Relationships

26. 3 main realms of life regrets
(from 20, 30, 40… death bed)
• The realm of Finance
• The realm of Relationships
• The realm of Character

27. When it comes to life, we tend to
approach it in few ways:

28. When it comes to life, we tend to
approach it in few ways:
• Reaction

29. When it comes to life, we tend to
approach it in few ways:
• Reaction
• Conformity

30. When it comes to life, we tend to
approach it in few ways:
• Reaction
• Conformity
• Independence

31. In this series, we want to approach
life with INTENTIONALITY:

32. In this series, we want to approach
life with INTENTIONALITY:
• In self help books = Begin with the end in
mind

33. In this series, we want to approach
life with INTENTIONALITY:
• In self help books = Begin with the end in
mind
• In engineering = Reverse engineering

34. In this series, we want to approach
life with INTENTIONALITY:
• In self help books = Begin with the end in
mind
• In engineering = Reverse engineering
• In Ecclesiastes 7:8 = “The end of a matter is
better than its beginning

35. In this series, we want to approach
life with INTENTIONALITY:
• In self help books = Begin with the end in
mind
• In engineering = Reverse engineering
• In Ecclesiastes 7:8 = “The end of a matter is
better than its beginning
Truly in life, it’s not how you start
but how you finish.

36. Intentional Living

37. Intentional Living
• Painting a picture of a preferred FUTURE and
determining how we should live NOW.

38. Intentional Living
• Painting a picture of a preferred FUTURE and
determining how we should live NOW.
• Anticipating life FORWARD and living it
BACKWARD

39. Intentional Living
• Painting a picture of a preferred FUTURE and
determining how we should live NOW.
• Anticipating life FORWARD and living it
BACKWARD
• Making better decisions NOW and having
fewer regrets LATER.

40. Intentional Living
• Painting a picture of a preferred FUTURE and
determining how we should live NOW.
• Anticipating life FORWARD and living it
BACKWARD
• Making better decisions NOW and having
fewer regrets LATER.
• Enduring uncomfortable or even painful
changes NOW and enjoying the freedom and
the reward LATER.

41. Intentional Living

42. Intentional Living
• Habakkuk 2:2 (NKJV)
“Write the vision, And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.”

43. Intentional Living
Next few weeks, “I Wish I Knew”:

44. Intentional Living
Next few weeks, “I Wish I Knew”:
•How to make better decisions

45. Intentional Living
Next few weeks, “I Wish I Knew”:
•How to make better decisions
•How to get out of debts

46. Intentional Living
Next few weeks, “I Wish I Knew”:
•How to make better decisions
•How to get out of debts
•How to gain financial margin

47. Intentional Living
Next few weeks, “I Wish I Knew”:
•How to make better decisions
•How to get out of debts
•How to gain financial margin
•How to have a strong marriage

48. Intentional Living
Next few weeks, “I Wish I Knew”:
•How to make better decisions
•How to get out of debts
•How to gain financial margin
•How to have a strong marriage
•How to build a healthy dating life / parenting life

49. Intentional Living
Next few weeks, “I Wish I Knew”:
•How to make better decisions
•How to get out of debts
•How to gain financial margin
•How to have a strong marriage
•How to build a healthy dating life / parenting life
•How to keep anger at bay

50. Intentional Living
Next few weeks, “I Wish I Knew”:
•How to make better decisions
•How to get out of debts
•How to gain financial margin
•How to have a strong marriage
•How to build a healthy dating life / parenting life
•How to keep anger at bay
•How to avoid forgiveness trap

51. Part 1: How to make better decisions

52. Our Decisions, not our Desires
determine our Destinations.

53. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:

54. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
1. Principles - What is the right thing to do?

55. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
1. Principles - What is the right thing to do?
•Principles that applies in almost every
decisions:

56. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
1. Principles - What is the right thing to do?
•Principles that applies in almost every
decisions:
– Do I have a clear priority in life

57. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
1. Principles - What is the right thing to do?
•Principles that applies in almost every
decisions:
– Do I have a clear priority in life
– Do I gather all the facts / research thoroughly?

58. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
1. Principles - What is the right thing to do?
•Principles that applies in almost every
decisions:
– Do I have a clear priority in life
– Do I gather all the facts / research thoroughly?
– Do I listen to all parties?

59. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
1. Principles - What is the right thing to do?
•Principles that applies in almost every
decisions:
– Do I make an impulsive / emotional decision?

60. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
1. Principles - What is the right thing to do?
•Principles that applies in almost every
decisions:
– Do I make an impulsive / emotional decision?
– Do I weigh all possible outcome, both short and
long term?

61. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
1. Principles - What is the right thing to do?
•Principles that applies in almost every
decisions:
– Do I violate any clear moral / ethical principle of
God?

62. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
1. Principles - What is the right thing to do?
•Principles that applies in almost every
decisions:
– Do I violate any clear moral / ethical principle of
God?
– Do I make a together decision (for couples)

63. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
2. People - Who can I go to for wise counsel?

64. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
2. People - Who can I go to for wise counsel?
•Wise counsel

65. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
2. People - Who can I go to for wise counsel?
•Wise counsel
• People who love you / have best interest for
you

66. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
2. People - Who can I go to for wise counsel?
•Wise counsel
• People who love you / have best interest for
you
• People who are part of the problem or part of
the solution

67. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
2. People - Who can I go to for wise counsel?
•Rehoboam (1 King 12) – rejected wise counsel,
listened wrong counsel

68. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
2. People - Who can I go to for wise counsel?
•Proverbs has overwhelming many verses on
seeking wise counsel:

69. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
2. People - Who can I go to for wise counsel?
•Proverbs has overwhelming many verses on
seeking wise counsel:
– Pro 12:15 - The way of fools seems right to them,
but the wise listen to advice

70. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
2. People - Who can I go to for wise counsel?
•Proverbs has overwhelming many verses on
seeking wise counsel:
– Pro 12:15 - The way of fools seems right to them,
but the wise listen to advice
– Pro 15:22 - Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with
many advisers they succeed

71. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
2. People - Who can I go to for wise counsel?
•Proverbs has overwhelming many verses on
seeking wise counsel:
– Pro 11:14 - Where there is no guidance, a people
falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is
safety

72. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
2. People - Who can I go to for wise counsel?
•Proverbs has overwhelming many verses on
seeking wise counsel:
– Pro 11:14 - Where there is no guidance, a people
falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is
safety
– King Solomon wrote most of it – the wisest man
seeks wise counsel!

73. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
3. Prayers - What is God saying in this?

74. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
3. Prayers - What is God saying in this?
•For major decision in life:

75. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
3. Prayers - What is God saying in this?
•For major decision in life:
– Never decide without seeking God

76. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
3. Prayers - What is God saying in this?
•For major decision in life:
– Never decide without seeking God
– Never decide without submitting it to God

77. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
3. Prayers - What is God saying in this?

78. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
3. Prayers - What is God saying in this?
•For major decision in life:

79. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
3. Prayers - What is God saying in this?
•For major decision in life:
– Never decide without seeking God

80. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
3. Prayers - What is God saying in this?
•For major decision in life:
– Never decide without seeking God
– Never decide without submitting it to God

81. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
3. Prayers - What is God saying in this?
•God knows best, God loves us most.

82. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
3. Prayers - What is God saying in this?
•God knows best, God loves us most.
•Lot and Abram (Gen 13) – Lot decided based on
the natural, Abram decided based on the divine.

83. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
3. Prayers - What is God saying in this?
•Pro 16:3 - Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans

84. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
3. Prayers - What is God saying in this?
•Pro 16:3 - Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans
•Proverbs 16:9 - In their hearts humans plan
their course, but the Lord establishes their steps

85. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
4. Providence - the divine intervention /
engineering of God

86. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
4. Providence - the divine intervention /
engineering of God
•How can I respond to this? Can I trust God in
the next step?

87. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
4. Providence - the divine intervention /
engineering of God
•How can I respond to this? Can I trust God in
the next step?
•OT - David inquire of the Lord at every battle

88. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
4. Providence - the divine intervention /
engineering of God
•How can I respond to this? Can I trust God in
the next step?
•OT - David inquire of the Lord at every battle
•NT - Paul changes his planned journey as HS
leads

89. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
4. Providence - the divine intervention /
engineering of God
•Pro 19:21 - Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but
it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails

90. 4 Guiding Rules
of Better Decision Making:
4. Providence - the divine intervention /
engineering of God
•Pro 19:21 - Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but
it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails
•Rom 8:28 - 28 And we know that in all things God
works for the good of those who love him, who have
been called according to his purpose

91. Our Decisions, not our Desires
determine our Destinations.

92. Take away reflections:

93. Take away reflections:
• How did you make decisions in the past?

94. Take away reflections:
• How did you make decisions in the past?
• How are you going to make decisions moving
forward?

95. Part 1: How to make better decisions