MAKING EFFECTIVE DECISIONS - What Is Good?

I want to distinguish a good decision from an effective decision. "A good decision satisfies and an effective decision produces." We are prone to make a decision that will satisfy our desire to have something good or to do something that is good. On another note, we are prone to make a decision that will be good for us. However, what we perceive as good for us may indeed be bad for us or at the very least not in accordance with God’s plan. Good is relative to our emotions and perception. Our concept of good is very faulty and will not stand up to the will of God. Jesus said "There is only One who is good." in Matthew 19:17. All that is good is of God. No one can determine what is good and what is not on an absolute sense. Consider the following scenario.
Suppose we see an animal that is suffering to the point that you know it is going to die? A common answer is to put the animal out of it’s misery. That would be good for the animal because we would relieve it of its suffering because of our mercy. Killing the animal looks cruel on the surface but we have justified it by our concept of what is good for the animal. Consider also a person who we consider to be a good person. What makes that person good? They are a nice person, they don’t hurt anyone, they are kind, etc. These things are only superficial however and cannot be used to determine what is good. I would dare say that the trials and pains that we go through in life are sometimes ordained by God for our good. That doesn’t mean that God is going around harming people but that sometimes our pains, associated with trials, tribulations, and the situations of life, will in effect produce good in us or for us.
Now if we apply the above principle to decisions we see right away that we cannot depend on our concept of what is good for us. We are forced to look to God for assistance. We aren’t looking for God to tell us what to do all of the time as some do. We are looking to God for wisdom (discernment), knowledge, information, insight, etc. so that we can use the Spirit trained mind (see Romans 12:2) that we have to make the most effective decision. We see in yet another life situation where we have to learn to trust God. We also see that we are not alone and that God is for us in all aspects of our life. Consider the following scripture.
(Romans 8:28 NIV) 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.

(Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; {6} in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
The concept of "the good" must be referenced to God’s realm else we will move into things that we think are good. God’s omniscience and omnipresence transcends anything that we can bring to the table in an effort to do what is good—including making good decisions. Leaning on our understanding should be understood in light of the fact of excluding God from normal everyday decisions and activities. Consider that your life and where you go is a result of the decisions that you make. How important do you think it is to get God involved in those decisions thus your life!