Decisions, Decisions, Decisions - Part 1

Hello Friends,

How's your week coming? It's been a busy week for me.One of the things I've been pondering on this past week is the process and impact of decision making.

I recall a song, Generations by Sara Groves where she talks about the results of the choice that Eve made in taking that fruit. More importantly, she talks about the fact that if she had been standing by that tree she likely wouldn't have done any differently. She asks us to remind ourselves that the decisions we make impact not just ourselves but generations after us. Saying the devil made me do is a cop out and a lie. The power still lies on our hands.

I have made this post a part one because there's quite a bit to explore and I don't want to make an individual post too long. Reminds me of Nollywood, lol. But, I digress. We make decisions every single moment, some weightier than others. I made a decision 8 months ago which I will talk about much later but suffice to say for now that the decision is being questioned by a few people. Well meaning friends and family are saying they think it's a wrong decision. I'm convinced it's not and the debate goes on.

I've been thinking about the decision making process. What guides us? Really, how do we know a decision is right or wrong? A tree is known by its fruit and in hindsight one can say this was spot on or totally off but what happens before you see the finished product?

 First thing definitely is seeking God's counsel. A major desire bubbles up and we aren't sure what the long term impact of that desire would be. In going before God, the first requirement is patience. In order to be able to discern what God is saying vs our desire, we need time and patience. At the end of the day, peace is one thing that settles the question for me. Do I have peace when I think about the decision or do I have a disquiet inside? 

Spending time in God's presence, in fellowship, worshiping, studying His Word helps to percolate our thoughts similar to the way my non-instant coffee drinking friends like their coffee made. Instant coffee I'm told doesn't taste the same, similarly, instant decisions shouldn't be made for weighty matters. Never allow any one to pressure you into making a decision. At a minimum, sleep over any significant decision, even if you have to sleep during the day. By the way, God's will isn't always contrary to ours. If we spend enough time with Him, our thoughts will be more and more in alignment with His, ab initio.

Information and knowledge is also key. We should seek as much information as possible to "inform" the decision being taken. The Holy Writ says "in the multitude of counsel there is safety". Where you feel the need, there's nothing wrong with seeking counsel but My preference is to seek counsel after I have a reasonable idea of what I think the decision is. There will always be differing views on any topic. If you don't have a reasonable idea of what you think, you may end up being confused by counsel. God help you if the most persuasive person gives you wrong counsel. God has been known to confirm His Word by the mouth of other witnesses on many occasions but it must resonate with you either way.

Openness and the readiness to admit we don't know it all is also key. As persuaded as you may be about a decision, where valid reasons are given by others it should be a pointer to reexamine the basis of the decision. You may still arrive at the same point at the end of the day but it allows you to double check your thinking.

In closing out this post, let me emphasize that because a decision is right doesn't mean it will automatically work out right. Execution is also key and if we bungle up on execution, the best decisions can become terrible. Likewise, (sometimes) a bad decision can turn out near right if we executive almost flawlessly. 

Don't be afraid of making the wrong decision either. We won't always get it right but I always remember God's promise that "All things work together for our good, because we love Him and are the called according to His purpose". Don't stay too long in the place of decision making. At some point, you need to launch out in faith and trust God to work it out. Again, deciding when it's time to move is your call but when you can't seem to make any further progress in determining whether you're are right or wrong, it's probably time to launch out. Bible says the steps of the righteous are ordered of the Lord. In the process of execution, you can always tweak what you are doing. If the decision ends up being wrong, He can help to turn it around. Calculated action is way better than paralyzed inaction.

Finally, there is a decision every person needs to make, sooner than later. A relationship with God has been the assumption behind my thoughts today. I know this isn't the case with everyone reading this. If you don't have a personal relationship with God yet, I urge you to consider giving Him control of your life. That's the starting point. Call on Jesus and He will make Himself known to you.

My thoughts seem to have been a bit of a jumble today. In spite of that, I trust God will use this to speak to someone. I had to eat my own dog food - writing these jumbled thoughts is way better than writing nothing because I couldn't decide the boundaries of my part 1 thoughts.

Have a great rest of the week everyone. Be a blessing and I pray Blessings on you and yours!