Decision Making
Decision making is part of our everyday life. We make decisions on when and what we eat, when to sleep and wake up, etc. These, however, remain trivial as compared to decisions concerning worship, career, marriage and others. When taken wrongly, these decisions can ruin one’s life for ever. It is only God who can guide you, for He knows your destiny (Psalms 139:13-24; Hebrews 12:21). The flesh will paint elusive pictures and the carnal mind will want immediate satisfaction, but it profits to wait upon the Lord (Isaiah 40:31).
Decisions taken without God’s guidance lead to disasters and regrets. A man left Jerusalem (Land of Bread) to Jericho (Land of Waste) and ended up being beaten by thieves (Luke 10:30). The prodigal son’s decision to satisfy his youthful lust ended in failure (Luke 14:11-32). Samson was born a Nazarite but he chose to live a careless life, and the result was bitter (Judges 13-16). Naomi left Bethlehem (Blessed Land) to go to Moab (Land of Uncleanness) to dodge a temporary famine but ended up losing her family.
Others depended on God’s guidance and prospered in life. God told Abraham when to leave home (Genesis 12:1) and Jacob when to return home (Genesis 31:10). It was not easy, but God’s supremacy prevailed. The leaders of Israel and Judah who sought God before going to war had victory. Gideon and King Jehoshaphat defeated their enemies without throwing a spear (Judges 7; 2 Chronicles 20:1-24). Joshua saw the omnipotence of God and urged the Israelites to worship God alone.
Seeking God before taking a decision will level barriers and defeat enemies. One has to wait for God’s appointed time (Isaiah 60:22).
Waiting upon the Lord needs a lot of patience. Time will fly past, friends will prosper and others marry before you, but let not your hope crumble. God will raise you above them at the appointed time.
Probably, you are just being prepared for your inheritance. Beware of Job’s three friends in your life for they will bring confusion and destruction. Depend on the Lord. He has promised to lead the blind and light their path (Isaiah 42:16). Ask in Jesus’ name and receive (John 14:13-14). He stands and knocks at your door, and if only you will allow him to guide you, he will lead you to a satisfactory end. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” says the Lord, “thoughts of peace and not of evil. Then shall you call upon me, and I will hearken unto you. And you shall seek me and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:11-13).
“Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon,” says the Lord. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:6-10).
So, beloved brethren and sisters, whether we make known our decision to the Lord or not, He knows our inner thoughts. Therefore we should humble ourselves before him. May our almighty heavenly Father greatly pour out His abundant showers of blessings upon us all as we walk in that narrow and slippery road to the Kingdom of the Lord.
Bro Joseph Kwesi (Ghana)
