DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Call unto me, and I will answer thee,
and shew thee great and mighty things,
which thou knowest not.
Jeremiah 33:3

We all have decisions to make in this life. Some are of great importance while others are everyday events. I think of the important decisions that have been most meaningful in my life...to accept Jesus as my Savior, where to go to college, where to work after college, who to marry and a few career choices that were of life-changing importance.
 

Every day, we make decisions. We decide what to eat, what errands to run, spiritual habits of the day, what phone calls to make, household chores to be done and after that mix, we decide when we're going to go to bed. Those decisions seem so routine, we don't even consider them to be decisions, but they are.

The older we become, it's amazing the decisions we are called on to make. With age, there are decisions to be made that may be physical in nature. For years, I went occasionally for physical checkups, didn't know what prescription drugs were and was a pretty healthy woman. With the years, those things have changed. I now decide about medications and types of doctors I need to see. Fifty years ago, we saw one doctor who did everything from treating bad colds to taking out tonsils. Such is not the case anymore. It's not unusual for our primary doctors to send us to ENT's for sore throats or ear aches, or to a cardiologist for a heart check. Everyone these days, it seems needs a specialist for whatever ails them. This creates even more decisions that have to be made.

The medical decisions don't bother me though as much as those things that affect my spiritual life. All decisions are important, no matter their nature, and God is interested in every decision. Every decision I'm called on to make is going to affect my life in some way. For instance, Scripture speaks to this activity of decision making that are of great help:

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE HEARD ALL THE FACTS ABOUT A SITUATION BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISION.

We are quick at times to “jump the gun” and make quick decisions without getting all the information we need. Prov. 18:13 tells us
He that answered a matter before he hearth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

WE SHOULD NEVER LEAVE GOD OUT OF OUR DECISION MAKING

God stands waiting for us to seek His wisdom and guidance as can be seen in
Psalm 25:4
Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.

NO MATTER THE DECISION, WE SHOULD ALWAYS MAKE A HABIT OF FLOODING OUR LIVES WITH.

Such can relieve us great anxiety not just during times of decision, but at any time in life. Philippians 4:6 gives wonderful words of advice.

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

SEEK DIRECTION FROM GODLY PEOPLE
Sometimes in desperation, we seek out the quickest and best council we can find without regard to their walk of faith. I'm not talking about roofers, plumbers, etc. even though a Christian workman may be more trustworthy. Prov 12:15 speaks of wisdom as being a spiritual thing...wisdom being from God Himself.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

TRUST IN THE LORD
Our world today doesn't encourage trust. There are folks who will let us down. No matter who those people are, they may not mean to break a trust with us, but it does happen. Jesus is THE One who will never let us down or lead us astray. He can be trusted through the thick and thin of life. Prov. 3:5-6 says:

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Notice that last phrase. In acknowledging Him, we are including Him in everything in our lives that affect us. It's a precious promise of His direction in our decision making.

Decision making where some really important things are concerned will come to us more often than we might wish them to. Jesus wants to be a part of all that concerns us. His offer of trust is just another way He shows His deep love for us. He will lovingly lead us in the right directions for our lives. He may use His Word or may bring others into our lives who become “Jesus with skin on” to be of valuable assistance for us.

Thank You Father, that You don't want to leave us drifting around with no direction in our lives. Help us to have such lives of prayer that it won't be a sudden event when we need to ask You for guidance at special times. We thank and love You for the love You shower on us that we don't deserve. In Jesus precious name....Amen