When my kids were teenagers, I encouraged them to stop and think about the consequences of every little decision they made. For instance, if they were standing at the top of the escalator at the mall, what would happen if they decided to stay on the floor where they were instead of going down to the lower level? Could such a small decision potentially change the course of their lives? I had a few of these speculative questions which, as you can imagine, frustrated my children to no end. My purpose wasn’t to annoy them, but rather to reinforce the importance of thinking through in order to make good choices. I don’t know if the lesson stuck with any of them, but I hope so.
The older we get, the tougher the decisions. They come with greater consequences. Our successes or failures can depend on what we choose to do. To say. To think.
I’ve made some pretty bad decisions in my life, many of which have caused unnecessary hardship and heartache for me, and sometimes for others. I’ve also made lots of good decisions that resulted in great favour, achievement, and progress in my personal, spiritual, and professional life. Guess which choices were made when I thought I was smart enough to do it on my own, and which ones included consultations with the Lord?
I’d really like to say that I’ve learned to make completely wise decisions one hundred percent of the time, but I haven’t. I am, however, much better at listening to what God has to say before I leap into something. Better, I said, not perfect. I will always need to clutch His hand and follow His lead. It really is the only way.
He’s right there, you know, ready and waiting to give you a nudge in the right direction. Even when you think you know best, you don’t. But He does. And He will give you what you need to make the right choice. Just ask. Read His Word. Listen to what He says.
A very familiar scripture says: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 (NKJV)
I love the same verse in the Passion Translation: Truth’s shining light guides me in my choices and decisions; the revelation of your word makes my pathway clear. Psalm 119:105 (TPT)
Inside the Writer 