Sunday, February 10, 2008

Making Decisions

by Donna L. Watkins

© 2007 Donna L. Watkins - Fawn
Max Lucado writes, "I awoke early one morning for a meeting ... [and] spotted a bag of cookies. Our daughter had attended a bake sale so I thought she must've set them out for me. I ate one ... interesting texture ... I ate a second with coffee it made an interesting option. I grabbed a third for the road, and would have grabbed the fourth but only one remained.

Later my wife phones, 'Looks like someone's been in the bag.' 'It was me,' I admitted. 'I've had better breakfast cookies but those weren't bad.'

'Those weren't breakfast cookies,' she replied, 'they were homemade dog biscuits."

All day when I scratched my belly, my leg kicked ... not to mention my interest in fire hydrants! I should've consulted the maker."

How many times do you stuff your gut full of something that comes from your own mind or advice of well-meaning friends? We hear lies from the enemy and fill our desires with counterfeit cookies. When you're looking for answers, don't ask everybody around you. Seek God. The Bible says He has promised to guide you along the best pathway for your life and will advise you and watch over you (Ps 32:8). Seek Him first. How will you learn to hear Him if you don't take time to listen?

Seek Him early in the morning as David did and wait silently with expectation for His reply. You may think you've got a deadline for this decision, but it may not be God's deadline, but then whose deadline do you really want to meet?

Psalm 25 says, "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your Truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long."

David said, "In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation" (Ps. 5:3).

How does He lead? Through His Word, in prayer as you listen for His voice, and then in wise counsel. Isaiah 30:21 says, "Whether you turn .. right or left, [you] ... will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it."

Our Lord knows the right place, the right time and the right way about everything. Remember when the expert fishermen came in from a night of fishing without having caught one fish? (John 21) Jesus knows how to fill your desires. He'll give you enough that it will overflow to others.

When you've gotten the Word and heard His voice, seek wise counsel. That doesn't mean talk to anybody about it. If your marriage is going downhill, find somebody who is happily married. If you're business is failing, talk to a good businessman. If you're challenged raising children, you'll be able to think of a mom that seems to have it altogether. Talk to her. Find somebody that has been where you are and ask for help.

Copyright and Reprint Information
All photos remain the property of Donna L. Watkins and may not be republished without written permission. You may forward or use this copyrighted article on a website if you include the following credit and an active link back to this site:
© 2000-2007 Donna L. Watkins - This article was reprinted with permission. Visit the author's website, TheNatureInUs.com for more articles and free email subscription. Link URL: http://www.TheNatureInUs.com

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