What Does It Take to Make Wise Decisions?
God needs to be the focal point of every major decision. Bring it to your pastor for counsel, not AFTER you've made the decision. Most decisions don't carry long term consequences, but major decisions need godly wisdom.
Good decisions don't make headlines, but for every bad decision there is a story. You make the decisions, but you can't choose your consequences. Galatians 6:7 gives us the law of sewing and reaping, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
Sow a thought and you reap an action;
sow an act and you reap a habit;
sow a habit and you reap a character;
sow a character and you reap a destiny.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Biblical principles must underlie every major decision. Ephesians 2:19-21 says, "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:" We have a reference point that never changes! God is not concerned about our feelings. We must follow His principles. Wishy washy people have wishy washy principles.
People whose lives end in disaster are those who make bad decisions over and over. We have learned to be self sufficient, but Biblical principles must always be the final authority in our lives. Nothing overrules God's word.
Build your life on Biblical principles and your life will never get off track. Prayer plus Biblical principles equals a set up for victory.
How does my purpose in life relate to wise decisions? My number one purpose is to the serve the Lord and bring Him pleasure through how I conduct my life.
Everyone has a purpose and ministry. Ministry is more than pulpit ministry. Prayer warriors, Sunday school teachers, musicians, everyone in God's kingdom is called. Every child of God has a mission - find your mission and you will find peace and fulfillment. God didn't call you just to make it to heaven.
There are five key areas that S.H.A.P.E. the ministry that is uniquely yours.
S - Spiritual Gifts
H - Heart for God
A - Abilities
P - Personality
E - Experiences
These five areas shape your ministry. When you are making decisions, ask yourself, "Does this add to my ministry or will it take away?" Don't spend your life in detours, making decisions that take you away from your calling.
A "no" from God is not a bad thing. He has a better yes down the road! In Genesis chapter 26 there was a famine in the land. God told Isaac NOT to go down into Egypt. Verse 6 says, "And Isaac dwelt in Gerar." Verse 12 says, "Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him." This happened because Isaac did not try to make his own decision and go his own way. He listened to and obeyed the voice of God. (I want an hundredfold in my life, don't you?!)
Repeatedly during these lessons, Pastor McGriffin has talked about seeking godly counsel. When you do that you will not get off track, your life will be blessed. Sitting in these lessons, I couldn't help but be thankful that Les does not try to make decisions on his own. We've had some biggies in the past 22 years, and prayer, with godly counsel, has led us down the right paths.
