Decisions

Our lives are full of decision-making. Anf those times require us to deal with certain questions. We need to decide what to do. And often we struggle with when to do something, how to do it ((How many people have been turned away from God's grace and love by a Christian doing the right thing the wrong way?), and, of course, why are we making that decision--what are our motivations? If only we could rely on the advice of Yogi Berra: "When you come to a fork in the road, take it."
We should first consider a couple of preliminaries. If we haven't developed good decision making skills in the "small" things, we'll struggle mightily with the "big" things. If I have not made a "habit" of applying God's wisdom to all my decisions, the crisis times are dreadful. In addition, I must always remember that I am making the decision that pleases Him--not anyone else. My decision may please others, but it may also anger and upset others. Faith requires that I do what is right in His eyes--so it's always done lovingly--and leave the consequences to His perfect wisdom. It also requires that I have a heart of gratitude in the midst of the consequences knowing that He works all things for the praise and glory of His name. And the good of His people--corporately and individually. I can always come up with a human reason for doing what I want to do. If they ever taught a course on rationalization, I'd ace it hands down. But I must rely on His wisdom and direction--not my own.

Thus, the first question must always be "is this decision right or wrong biblically?" I must always do the right thing--no exceptions. Yet, as long as I am not making a decision that the Bible declares to be sinful, I have the freedom to make that decision. What I must do is delight in Him and then, He promises to direct my path--to keep me off the path of thorns. Yes, He promises! I must acknowledge His hand in the decision, see Him at work in my circumstances, and follow. He desires to delight in my desires.

I've always been one of those folks who goes until He shuts the door. (And then pouts awhile.) And He has always led me to the open door of His choosing in His time. Such a ricocheting from closed door to closed door has led me to where I am today--teaching lovely young Christians a little bit of English, and I pray, the loveliness of a walk with Jesus on a daily basis. I do think we need to add a verse to that little chorus "God is so good." The new verse should say, "God is so patient."

And the motivation for the decision, not just the decision itself, must be tested against the teaching of God's Word. It is all too easy to build with hay and wood instead of gold and precious stones. We must make decisions based firmly on the prayer, "not my will, but Thine." And then not feel guilty when He gives us the desires of our heart, but enjoy them thankfully.

Finally, and I'm not saying this to encourage you to not seek God's will, but I rejoice in the fact that His love has taken my disobedience, my wrong motivations, my wrong methodology and used even those decisions to glorify His name and do good. He has always loved me enough to break my pride, wound my heart, and then send me to where He wants me wiser and gentler, and more loving and patient with others, than I was before in my selfishness.

Decisions to make? Pray for insight. Critique all decisions and the motivations for making those decisions, large or small, using God's Word as the only standard for evaluation. Knock on the doors. If they don't open, don't pout for too long, look for the door He's opening. Then, when you come to the fork in the road, take it. He will go down it with you whichever path you take. And He will bring His patient love and grace with Him. And if it's the wrong road, He'll use it to reaffirm the right road--and to get you back on it--broken but more useful. The one answer you can be sure of is, "I will never leave you nor forsake you. Even when you are faithless, I will be faithful. You cannot escape my love."

Choose wisely--it's so less painful. Rest in His love. Delight in Him. The path leads Home. Even the detours. Always.