By ROBERT FIGUEROA

Decisions, Decisions

What kind of decision have you made lately? Are you still suffering from the consequences of your past, bad decisions? I want to encourage you today and get you ready so when the next big decision comes your way, you'll be ready and you'll know the will of God for that moment.

"Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil." - Proverbs 4:25-27

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First of all, it is absolutely necessary to look for God's will in our decisions. We can try to make many decisions and be successful for a while, but in the end we will see that it was not God's will for our life. Sure, God can make a good thing out of bad, but in order to fully please God we need to seek His will first. In this great Proverbs, King Solomon begins to speak as of an experience father: "Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding". To know understanding is to know the will of God. In return when decisions are knocking on your door you will be ready to respond by doing the will of God.

5 points to discuss
Here are some practical pointers from the Word of God when it comes to wise decision making.

●  The right decision is found through prayer
Matthew 7:7: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you". There's no way around praying to find God's approval in your life. The very first thing to do is began to talk to God. Ask, the Word of God says with confidence and humility. Seek, with care and application. Knock, with earnestness and perseverance. Christ promises us in the next verse 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. It shall be done. Many times we might be asking, seeking and knocking and nothing is happening. This is why. We show disrespect to the Giver when we ask and walk away before receiving what we ask. We show our gross insincerity when we seek once or twice and stop. We leave any resident questioning when we knock once or twice and walk away before He comes or has time to open. Sometimes I have to remind myself of that verse in the book of Psalms 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God". Just relax and be sincere with the Lord.

●  The right decisions are found in obeying The Word of God
Psalms 119:24: "Your testimonies also are my delight; And my counselors." The Bible contains counsel in the area of family, marriage, education, friendship, business, religion, love, faith, money, etc. We need to consult the bible more often. Rather than the things of this world to make wise decisions. Many times the right and Godly decision that were looking for is already written in the Word of God for thousands of years. Yet, we do not take time to search the scriptures and find the answer. In Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God."

●  The right decisions are found in getting counsel from others
Ask Godly friends for advice (God has given some the gift of counseling), their advice can determine our failure or success. In the Old Testament, Jethro's advice to Moses was a great turning point for him. Just from listening to Godly people the Lord can answer your prayers. Exodus 18:19: "Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God." Take counsel from others.

●  You need to wait on God to make wise decisions
Psalms 46:10: "Be still, and know that I am God" (Wait upon the Lord). When you have prayed, read the Word of God, have taken counsel and they've still not produced immediate results, we need to simply wait on the Lord. We so used to getting what we want in an instance: we can nook food to our desire, we can receive full page views with great internet bandwidth; and when it comes to doing the will of God we except the same results. Let's just remember what the psalmist says, "Be still, and know that I am God ".

●  Waiting on the Lord brings valuable results
First, it avoids problems. 1st Samuel 28:6,7 King Saul was a very impatient man. He couldn't wait for the will of God. So he consulted a medium (exorcist) and he lost his kingship and fellowship with God. Secondly, a Godly man's steps are measured (considered with care). Proverbs 3:6 says, "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths". If you have God present in your plans and decisions he will guide your paths.

I encourage you to try this step by step program that's completely centered around God, you will make the right decisions. Best of all, we will be doing exactly what God has prepared for us. So, the next time you are confronted with a decision, I pray that you will use these Godly guides!