HOW TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS
Dear brothers and sisters, There’s an interesting Scripture in
Joel 3:14 that says: “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.” KJV
This world we live in is literally a “valley of decisions.” And that is true particularly at the beginning of our Calendar year. God doesn’t live in the realm of time but He cares about the decisions we make at the beginning of our seasons of life. At this time of the year, usually there are so many decisions to make: children are moving to schools, parents are helping them decide their course of action, others are heading back to college, others are making their life plan for the year and setting their goals.
In last week’s bulletin, we shared that “Decisions determine direction and Direction determines destiny.” In other words the outcome of your life this year is shaped by your decisions. To make wise decisions, one must seek the leading of the Lord. As we shared, one of the keys to making wise decisions is faith. Since God has promised to guide us, we can depend on His Word concerning guidance by reading it, meditating on it, believing it and speaking it. I gave you some guidance Scriptures to meditate on. Keep these in front of you throughout the year and you will surely see how the Lord will order your steps.
To obtain last Sunday’s bulletin, please ask at book table.
Another major key in making good quality decisions is prayer. The Bible has many examples of people praying for guidance. It is important to ask God to guide you every day. The Bible says: In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. (Prov. 3:6). He directs the lives of those who acknowledge and ask Him for guidance. Acknowledge the Guide on the inside of you.
Often I pray this prayer: “Father, order my steps this day I pray. Direct my thoughts and the words that I’ll speak today. Establish my goings in your paths, that my footsteps may not go astray, that I might please you in all things always.” When someone walks to me for help or counsel, on the inside I pray, “guide me Lord.” As a result, He always guides me. I make smart decisions not because of how smart I am but because of the greater One in me guiding me day by day. I find myself at the right place at the right time, prospering on my way.
Prayer too must be based on the promises of God. You base your prayer on the fact that He has promised to order your steps. After you ask for guidance in faith, you must stay in faith, believing that you are being guided by Him, even if your head is spinning. The Lord is faithful. Lean not to your own understanding but trust in the Lord. He is committed to guide you. The Psalmist prayed:
You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. (Ps 73:24)
In other words, guide me all the way to the end.
Ps 25:5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.
Ps 27:11 Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
Ps 143:10 Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.
Ps 5:8 Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; Make Your way straight before my face.
Brethren, as this year gets underway, have you asked the Lord to guide you? Are you speaking faith words concerning God’s direction in your life?
