Life is basically a series of decisions and choices we make all through our lives. The fact is, we are a result today of our decisions and choices of yesterday and our future lies in the power of our decisions and choices of today.
God gave each of us the independent ability to make them ourselves. No one can ultimately make them for us. We have the sovereign power of choice in our lives.
You chose to eat or not to; you choose to be kind or not to; you choose to be excellent at what you do or to just drift along; you choose to quit or to get up again. You decide if it’s wrong or right; if you can trust or not; to love or not; to serve God or not; to accept Jesus or not; to educate or not; to invest or not; to follow your destiny or stay safe.
Everyday we are faced with these and myriads of decisions and choices. Some are hard, complicated and, can be, stressful. Others again are mundane, tedious, irritating and seemingly unnecessary.
Our typical response is, many times to avoid or to let them pass by and let others take the responsibility for making them-or so we think. Ultimately, the decisions we make have effects and the choices we make have consequences, whether we make them or allow others to make them for us.
What is required to make decisions and choices of quality?
1. We must have a ‘guidance system’ within us. A GPS that sets the course and direction of our hearts for quality and right and justice and mercy etc. this guidance system will be your value system, your directional guide. King Solomon said that the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord. That is where, in our innermost being, we have a sense of the umpire or referee that decides and chooses for us by peace or disturbance. Our value system, or directional guidance system, when based on the Bible, the Word of God, would not allow us to steal or fraud from others. It would guide us to walking in love or to give rather than to withhold when in my power to give.
2. The self-discipline of making the decisions required in any given circumstance. Someone said that the only discipline that lasts is self-discipline. Force yourself to think through every problem or choice facing you. At first it may require tremendous discipline, but in time the skill will be acquired to apply the same in easy and difficult situations. Never leave to others what you know is required of you. Never avoid a decision. Every decision and choice requires a commitment. They never go away. If you don’t take the responsibility, someone else will or something else will.
3.Learn the skill of doing research. Opportunities, good and bad face us every day and many times we are not sure of which way it could go. What the consequences could be. But learning to research and evaluate every opportunity and choice facing you will help you weigh in your own heart the pros and con’s of your decision.
4. Make a decision, settle it with finality and live with consequences. Many today are plagued with the stress of making so many decisions, but many times it is simply a matter of making a firm, single-minded decision. Once we have done all the research we can, decided this choice requires a decision on my behalf ( I cannot delegate it) and have a knowing of what I feel is the ‘right’ thing to do, then proceed with all haste. Make it firm. Don’t compromise. Don’t hesitate. Be confident in your ability to ‘take charge’ of your life. Whatever happens, happens but you have a sense of confidence that based upon your own experience and ability, you have made the right choice.
There is wisdom that has to be applied in many areas of our lives, but that’s another topic. For now moving forward in our lives with confident decisions is a sure way to eliminate stress and live expectantly-that something GOOD can happen to you.
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