The decision is yours

Yesterday my pastor preached a powerful message on “bad decisions and poor choices.” It was a reflective message, the kind that makes you think about your past, present and future decisions and choices. We all have been faced with tough choices and decisions in our lives, I cannot think of one person that is exempt from this; yet good, sound choices and decisions are a struggle for many. My “ah ha” moment came when the pastor said, “If you know that God forgives us of sins, how do you make better decisions?” There have been times in my life where I have made poor decisions but I never looked at it from the perspective that my pastor presented. I think the difference for most people, me included is that we are not conscious of this… we do not say, Lord I know this is wrong but forgive me any way. We usually make the bad choice or decisions and deal with the fall out or consequence after the fact. It is then that we reach out to God and say, “Please forgive me Lord and see me through this challenge.” However, I challenge each of you to take it a step forward. Along with asking for forgiveness and the strength to get through, ask God to teach you the lesson you are to learn so you do not have to go through these particular struggles again. Will you have other struggles, of course, as Chacon would say, that is a part of “life’s roller coaster ride;” but to not have the SAME struggles over and over again, that is the BLESSING! He also went on to say that you have two things that people look at or measure you by:

1. Image
2. Integrity

I would like to add a third, your WORD.

My dad has told me since I was a itty bitty little girl, it is better to “BE LIKE” then to “LOOK LIKE,” and the pastor said the same in so many words. A lot of times we make decisions based on what we think it will look like to others. How many times have you seen someone drive by in a luxury vehicle and say, “man he or she has it made?” The thing about it is you have no idea what that real circumstances are behind that vehicle. Maybe they are behind on their note, maybe it was a gift or maybe it is a rental. What you see and perceive is an image, but form that image, you cannot create any concrete facts.

INTEGRETY (the quality or state of being complete or undivided : completeness) is a much better measure to get to know a person. What a person stands for is much more valuable than what a person looks like. How they live their life and what they value is a far better measure then the car they drive or the house that they live in.

Lastly, I think a person’s WORD is important. If you say one thing and do another or give your word to someone and do not follow through, people remember that. On the flip side when you give your word and follow through people remember that also. In the bible Jesus told Paul that he would deny him three times and Paul gave his word that he would not. Well as the story continues Paul goes on to deny Christ three times. There is so much Power in your word!

I leave you with the following thought:

When you’re a forced to make a decision, don’t think about what it looks like to others. Instead see that is it pleasing to God and that the decision makes you happy.

Questions of the day:
How can you change the quality of your decision making process to please God?
What are the decisions or choices that you struggle with the most?
Your integrity and your word are usually how people remember you, what kind of decisions and choices are you making to keep these two very instrumental elements of your life intact?
Scripture:

Matthew 7:7 (Amplified Bible)
7[a]Keep on asking and it will be given you; [b] keep on seeking and you will find; [c]keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.

1 Corinthians 11:2 (King James Version)
2Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

My Prayer:
Lord, I first just want to thank you. Thank you for growth and thank you for all things in my life. Encourage those faced with tough decisions and choices. Teach them to come to you first and to live a life of integrity. Bless those that do not know you, your goodness or your mercy. Keep all the readers and their families. Give peace to the restless, courage to the fearful, and love to all. Help I ask for clarity in the mind, body and spirit. Many, many thanks to you Lord.

Amen