Therefore be careful how
you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because
the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of
the of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15-17
NASB
While we consider the options
we have in life it is easy to forget that a momentary decision can create a
lifetime of impact. There are things
that provoke us to make unhealthy decisions.
These may not be bad in themselves but the choice we make in regard to
them damages our lives. Beware the Dangers to Good Decision-Making.
Natural Drives and Desires – We have some natrual drives and desires that can
get in the way of our making good decisions.
God understands – He made us with these drives and desires that can be a
weakness. But He expects us to have self
control and master these desires.
Emotions Out of Control - Fear, anger, depression, and even joy can cause
faulty decision-making for the processing of these emotions is not in the
logical parts of the brain.
Trying to Please Others - If you
live to please one person today, you will live to please another tomorrow. Your life will become a slave to the opinions
and directions of others. There is only
one who knows you fully and has a purpose and plan for your life. Andy Stanley said We will steer where we stare. So
stare mightily at God and His plan. If
you don’t know His plan, stare mightily at living out His word in your life and
His plan will unfold day by day. Decision by decision. From The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst
Often we look back on our
lives filled with regret at the choices and decisions we have made. One thing I try to instill in my teenage son
is that he does not want to live with regrets.
Think about decisions before you act.
Think long term. How will this
act affect my life in the years to come.
How will this affect others in my life now? Is this something that I want to define
me? Because even though we may not
define ourselves by our bad choices, others will.
Anytime we make a choice or a
decision, if we consult the one true source in life we will avoid consequences
that we painfully regret. God’s word
gives instruction and advice that will match up with any problem or situation
we may ever face. Make a concious effort
to keep natural drives and desires, emotions, and the need to please others out
of the decision making process and bring God to the front and center. He is the only one that you have to answer to
that reallly matters. If you make a
choice based on what would be pleasing to God, but it makes someone else upset,
remember what is more important. You
will be criticised and possibly persecuted because of your faith. You may be embarassed but I would rather be
embarrased before men and stand before my Heavenly Father knowing that I made a
choice based on what I believed to be most honoring to Him.
Big and and small, our
choices follow us and sometimes send us down a specific path. Make each choice prayerfully and
carefully.
Scripture to Claim:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…Ephesians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…Ephesians 1:3-4
