Among fans of the National Football League (NFL), the annual draft at the end of April is an offseason highlight. Because the best college players are involved, the first round is the most anticipated of the seven rounds that play out over three days. For months leading up to the draft, sports pundits attempt to figure out where each player will land among the thirty-two NFL teams, publishing articles, scouting reports, and mock drafts according to multiple factors like player attributes, team needs, draft trends, general managers' idiosyncrasies, and best fits with coaches, players, and offensive or defensive schemes. Analytics have helped make the NFL draft a pseudoscience.

A phrase that frequently pops up before and during the draft is "best player available." This phrase refers to each team's "board" (think chalkboard or whiteboard) on which the general manager has posted his team's choices of players in order, starting with the most desirable. Again, the desirable players are based on the team's needs, offensive and defensive schemes, and many other factors. During the draft, as other teams choose players, their names are struck from the board, and the player on top of the board when the team's chance to pick comes around is the best player available.

Often, fans express disappointment when teams draft the best player available rather than a popular player they believe is a better choice. Some fans write lengthy screeds on social media, arguing why the team made a fatal mistake by choosing the best player available rather than their guy. While the teams—with their longsuffering scouts, analysts, football gurus, and brain trusts—do make drafting mistakes, they usually know far more about the draft-eligible players than Super Fan Barnie Beergut, opinionated Monday-morning quarterback, does. They have studied the players in-depth, run background checks, interviewed them, watched their tape, analyzed their talent from every angle, attended their games, run them through drills, talked to their family, friends, coaches, mentors, and teammates, discussed them with current team members, and even taken some draftees out to dinner or other social events. They know everything about them and have a "feel" for whether they are right or wrong for the franchise. All this analysis goes into placing each player at his spot on the team's board.

So, when a team picks the best player available, it has a high confidence level in its choice. As team spokesmen often say, that is just how their board fell during the draft process, and he was the best fit.

Football teams have institutionalized how they zero in on a pick during the NFL draft. What is our decision process? Some technically minded people run major choices through a decision tree, a schematic of yes-no questions that guides them to a logical decision. Many computer programs work on this "if-then" principle, defaulting to an action or answer based on whether certain conditions or variables are present or absent. This reason-based process works for many people.

Many more people, though, are not quite so analytical and make their decisions emotionally. Faced with a situation in which they must decide among options, they go with what "feels" right. Such people often judge what is before them with their senses—how they see things—and go with their "gut." In such decisions, there is frequently very little deep thought or analysis, few questions asked, and a minimum of wisdom-seeking.

Granted, these two decision-making processes are extremes, but people usually fall into one or the other camp somewhere along the spectrum. But, for Christians, there is a better way.

Within its pages, the Bible provides a decision-making process that, while not infallible, helps us make the best choices, especially in matters of morality and theology. It is not designed to aid us in choosing the right vehicle or which shoes or tie to wear to church services, but in matters that really count, it is invaluable.

Several key scriptures from both testaments will explain the principles of this godly process. We will begin with a most critical piece:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

It all starts with the element of faith, and what is better than trusting God, who always tells the truth and always wants the best for us? Doing so is far better than trusting ourselves because we are frequently wrong, tell ourselves lies, and often want what is most pleasurable or easy rather than what is best. And because everyone else is like us in these areas, trusting God is the logical best choice among all others. It is our best option by far!

The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. (Psalm 12:6)

. . . the Scripture cannot be broken . . . (John 10:35)

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)

Human intelligence and experience leave much to be desired, especially since mankind's history, philosophies, religions, and "wisdom" are full of extremes and contradictions, making them untrustworthy. So, if our faith is in God to steer the right course for us, we must trust what He says. The revelation of His mind has been gathered for us in the Bible, the Word of God, and He assures us it is pure, unbreakable, and a light to illuminate our path so that, if we use it properly, we will not stumble.

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15)

Paul's advice to Timothy is sound advice for us. We must conscientiously and rigorously study Scripture, practice it, and learn to apply it properly, not twisting it according to our desires. Many claim to seek God's wisdom from Scripture but instead find proof-texts to justify their wishes. God's Word, however, is not designed to provide easy answers. God made it so that a Bible student must consume the entire message and piece its wisdom together through diligent and deep contemplation.

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and will tell you things to come. (John 16:13)

But God has revealed [the things which God has prepared for those who love Him] to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. (I Corinthians 2:10)

We end this list of key scriptures with another vital piece: God's gift of the Holy Spirit, given to those whom God calls. It is a priceless gift that we must use. Yes, it opens the Christian's mind to the truth and reveals God's mind, but a person must actively employ it through prayer and faithful, righteous living in Christ. Doing so is walking with God, who lives in us through His Spirit, which develops the mind of Christ in us over time (I Corinthians 2:16), transforming us into His image (Romans 8:29; II Corinthians 3:18).

These steps constitute the Christian's decision-making process. In faith, he consults God's Word for the wisdom he needs, considering it deeply and asking God for help in understanding and applying what he has learned. Deciding his course, he walks forward in faith, knowing God is with him, strengthening and correcting him as needed. Making crucial choices in tandem with God and His Word is the way to go—and no best-player-available board is necessary.