Decisions, Decisions?

Have you ever needed to make a decisions and couldn't? Both choices seem like relatively good choices but both have completely different outcomes.

If you have never dealt with this, then perhaps this blog is not for you... NOT! If you haven't faced this yet you will eventually. It is an inevitable part of life. It is the battle of "wills" God's will and our own will. The trouble is, sometimes, it is hard for us to decipher the difference. God says in:

Isaiah 30:20-21 ²⁰ And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, but your eyes shall see your teachers.  ²¹ Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “ This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.

Well, now that seems plain enough, right? God will give you challenges and He will bring pan into your life but also guide your walk..WAIT the God, who loves me and sent His only son to die for me to show me that love causes hard times in my life?? YES HE DOES!!! Why you might ask? 

I will give a simple example that I know most have had happen before: 

    You are at a mexican restaurant and the waiter comes out carrying a plate and while he is setting it down he says, "Hot plate!" Which means don't touch the plate its hot! However, you think it can't be that hot and what if he is just saying that, and you touch the plate and guess what happens, you get BURNED! 

     Hopefully, you learned a few things from this incident. 

1. Trust the person that is giving you the command. We so often hear or feel the Lord guiding us on our journey but think we know better. 
2. Disobeying leads to consequences. When we disobey or choose our will over God's will there will be consequences for those actions. We get burned but, as a burn does, we will heal and God is the only one that can offer us that healing. 
3. Let's say you touch the plate by accident, you weren't trying to disobey, it just happened. You still learned to be careful, to pay closer attention to your surroundings, and to be prepared for all possible outcomes in all instances. God wants us to be prepared for the unthinkable and sometimes we must be burned without any wrong doing to lead someone else away from that burn later on in life.

Decisions can be hard because we want whats best for our families, our churches, and ourselves and we will always choose best if we first pray about the choices and asking God to show us His will in the situation. Then secondly, ask yourself, which choice with glorify or further God's kingdom. You might say to yourself some of my choices don't weigh that heavily on either/both of those. You will be wrong every time.

Lets take another example and show how God is in the details:
   Today you are hungry for two things: Piccadilly or Buffalo Wild Wings. You ask your friend if they would like to go to lunch and they say, " Yes, I would love too." So you choose BWW and you're off to eat some good wings, that you have been craving. Harmless enough. right? What if that friend is struggling privately with an alcohol problem and you have basically brought them into the belly of the beast. Well, you might say well they should have told me or if that's the case they will never be able to eat at another restaurant again. WRONG! Selfish Thinking! There will come a day, perhaps, when walking into a restaurant where alcohol is served will not be a big deal but if someone is in the struggle, at that moment, the flashing signs of beer and the ease of ordering can be deafening.
     Now let's choose Piccadilly instead. You and your friend go sit down enjoy a nice lunch where there is no pressure and in that moment, where they feel relaxed and aren't surrounded by temptation and stress, open up about their struggle and confides in you about what they are going through.

That is the effect a simple decision, such as, lunch can be in one's life. Here is one of many scriptures that I read when I am contemplating God's plan in my life and what direction I need to go.

Matthew 7: 13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." -- walking with God daily will get tough but the easy road will lead to death and destruction but God's narrow road leaves to eternal life with the Savior.. Hmm, put that way it seems like a no brainer.

This is a beautiful chapter in Proverbs. It is lengthy to read but it shows an understanding of God's plan and wisdom in our lives. We must follow God's plan or our lives will never amount to anything to be proud of. If you don't draw close to God and learn who the Creator is and what He means to us, then we will never be effective Mothers, Fathers, Daughters, Sons, Friends, Teachers, Encouragers, Soldiers for Christ, etc.. We will not be effective people until we understand not our purpose but HIS purpose for our lives.

Proverbs Chapter 3: Wisdom Bestows Well-Being
 ¹ My son, do not forget my teaching,
   but keep my commands in your heart,
²
   and bring you peace and prosperity.   
³ Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
   bind them around your neck,
   write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ Then you will win favor and a good name
   in the sight of God and man.
 ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
   and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
   and he will make your paths straight.^[a]
 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
   fear the LORD and shun evil.
⁸ This will bring health to your body
   and nourishment to your bones.
 ⁹ Honor the LORD with your wealth,
   with the first fruits of all your crops;
¹⁰ then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
   and your vats will brim over with new wine.
 ¹¹ My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline,
   and do not resent his rebuke,
¹² because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
   as a father the son he delights in.^[b]
 13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
   those who gain understanding,
¹⁴ for she is more profitable than silver
   and yields better returns than gold.
¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies;
   nothing you desire can compare with her.
¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand;
   in her left hand are riches and honor.
¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways,
   and all her paths are peace.
¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
   those who hold her fast will be blessed.
 ¹⁹ By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations,
   by understanding he set the heavens in place;
²⁰ by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
   and the clouds let drop the dew.
 ²¹ My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
   preserve sound judgment and discretion;
²² they will be life for you,
   an ornament to grace your neck.
²³ Then you will go on your way in safety,
   and your foot will not stumble.
²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
   when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
²⁵ Have no fear of sudden disaster
   or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
²⁶ for the LORD will be at your side
   and will keep your foot from being snared.
 ²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
   when it is in your power to act.
²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor,
   “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
   when you already have it with you.
²⁹ Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
   who lives trustfully near you.
³⁰ Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
   when they have done you no harm.
 ³¹ Do not envy the violent
   or choose any of their ways.
 ³² For the LORD detests the perverse
   but takes the upright into his confidence.
³³ The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
   but he blesses the home of the righteous.
³⁴ He mocks proud mockers
   but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
³⁵ The wise inherit honor,
   but fools get only shame.

Always remember each choice should be led by God and once we start doing that effectively then our lives will be as He planned it. We put down our will and pick up His and watch our lives transform into the beautiful creations He meant each of us to be.

Walk by Grace