Did you ever notice that for some people, decision making is a breeze? They seem to make decisions, never looking back and move forward as if it were just another breath. For others, even the smallest decisions are so traumatic that they are practically paralyzed. Fear and indecision grip them and as a result, no progress is made.
Most of us are situated somewhere in between these extremes. Our easy decisions are made almost without a thought and we carefully and deeply ponder the most meaningful questions.
We just completed the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Nehemiah was a man who had to make important and weighty decisions. His decisions not only impacted his own life, but also the community of God’s people that he was entrusted with. Nehemiah’s heart was focused on performing according to God’s will. His desire was to be in unison with God; to please Him. Nehemiah’s decisions were flowed forth from his knowledge of God’s written law and his fervent prayer life. He found enemies both within and outside his community but each decision was made with the same focus; God’s will. Notice the last verse in the book, Nehemiah 13:31, “Remember me, O my God, for good.” His concern first and foremost was an audience of one, God. He trusted in God.
None of us can avoid decision-making. It is part of the very fabric of our lives. Though many decisions are stressful, if we’ve learned anything from Nehemiah, and other leaders throughout Scripture, it is to search out God’s will in all we do. How do we do that?
Read. We have 66 books of God’s revelation to us in the Bible, spend time in it.
Listen. Each believer in Christ is given the gift of the Holy Spirit, who leads and guides us, and as we read the Word of God the Spirit works in us bringing about wisdom and insight from the text. Listen to what the Spirit has to say.
Pray. We have the privilege to bring our requests and burdens before the throne of grace. Our Father in heaven wants us to pray to Him and seek His face for wisdom and discernment.
In God’s will is where we can find both rest and our confidence in life’s decisions. That takes trust. Trusting that God is indeed sovereign. Trusting that God truly loves us. Trusting He is not out to punish us but to transform us into the likeness of His beloved son Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ followed his Father’s will by coming into a broken, sin-filled world, Christ himself prayed, “not my will, but yours, be done.”(Luke 22:42) After praying that prayer he bore the cross for our sins, despite living a perfect and sinless life. He not only died, but rose again, alive! Victorious over the grave! That is the gospel we cling to. And that same gospel compels us to answer this question, is Jesus your Lord, your Savior, your God? Are we willing to make one of the most important decisions of our lives and submit to who He is and trust Him? When answered affirmatively, transformation begins and eternal life is assured. We’re told in John 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
What is He to you? Everything or nothing. Is there another answer?
When we trust in Christ, and seek His face and live for Him and Him alone, God is glorified and we experience great joy. May God bless us in our journey as we seek to know Him more and more.