subject: Making Wise Decisions [print this page] Making Wise Decisions Making Wise Decisions
Life is all about choices. And these decisions we make determine our destiny. God has given each of us the ability and power to choose the path we will take in life. We must decide what we will become, what we will and will not do and how we will behave. With this ability to choose comes tremendous responsibility, because some of our decisions can be both costly and final. So we need to learn and develop the habit of thinking things through.
In order to properly think things through, we must ensure that we receive trustworthy information and knowledge about whatever it is we have to make a decision on. We need to make informed choices, not based upon mere feelings alone, but characterized by certain bedrock principles, which have been proven over time and will never steer us wrong. Here are a few of them:
1. What does the Word of God say concerning the decision you are about to make? If you do not know what the BIBLE says about it, then do yourself a favor and do not make that choice until you find out. (This principle is actually NUMBER 1. It is a must and vital for true and lasting success).
2. Will your decision violate any moral law of God or man?
We should always evaluate both the short-term and long-term results of our choices. Ensure that you are not going against moral principles, because of the law of sowing and reaping. You will reap what you sow. There is no escaping this principle.
3. Do what is right, do it because it is right and make sure you do it right.
4. Do not hurt and destroy the character of others to get where you want to go.
5. Always choose responsibility over pleasure.
This key is vital to proper thinking and good decision making. How often have we spent money we should have saved, over a fleeting pleasure, and regretted it afterward. Some things can wait. And sometimes in order to really get the most out of life, we have to delay gratification for the moment, and put responsibility first, so that we can experience all the pleasure we need and want later.
6. Learn from informed people.
Do yourself a favor and become an avid reader of good books, written by those who have already been where you are trying to go and have written down the principles which got them there. Quit saying that you do not like to read and develop the habit. It will change your life.
7. Be prayerful.
Whether we like it or not, we need God. We need His help, wisdom, knowledge, guidance, counsel and strength to reach our true purpose in life. So, as the writer of the Book of Proverbs says in Proverbs 3: 5-6; "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths."
Ask Him to show you what you should do,and should not do, the kind of friends you should have and the kind you should leave alone. He is wiser than us all, so make sure you seek Him. It would be an excellent thing to read a chapter from The Book of Proverbs DAILY.
Today, it is so important to make good and wholesome decisions. So learn these principles and practice making good choices from this day forward.
