Every decision we make without involving God, can bog us down with guilt, shame and regret. This is a lesson am learning over and over again. We rarely see the consequences when we make a choice, for we’re so obsessed with the temporary gains that we’re blinded to the permanent effects it could bring about in our lives and in the lives of those around us.
After a series of such foolish choices, we suddenly realize we are struggling in a miry clay, where we’ve lost our joy and peace, where we’ve lost sense of our purpose. As I reflected upon the times I felt in such a messy place, the pattern was the same: I had left out God in the decisions I made, for some of them (I thought) were too petty to be brought before Him. And after such decisions, another pattern followed: self-justification. I knew I had not done the right thing, but I was so focused on making it look right (by blaming the circumstances or trying to justify with other unreasonable reasons) that I hardly came towards God with a repentant spirit. But here’s the good news: God’s never done with us; and we can never get too far for His reach. He loves us too much to leave us prey to our own foolishness. He will gently convict us and lead us towards genuine repentance and reconciliation. Oh, what a God we serve! ☺
I’ve noticed that my decisions tend to be controlled by one of two things that make up the soul: the mind and the heart.
- Using the mind - Rational decision:
- We tend to always lean on our own understanding, overthinking the situation and giving space for the enemy to build strongholds in our minds that can keep us captive to his lies. (Proverbs 3:7 - Do not be wise in your own eyes). But, there’s hope for us, for the Bible says in II Corinthians 10:4,5: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ”.
- We need to identify those strongholds (mental ideas that are not from God) and pull them down in Jesus’ Name by declaring and believing the Word (Truth) of God. If what God says sounds irrational and impossible, we should remember that that’s what walking in Faith is all about; knowing it doesn’t make sense and yet believing the Word because the One who uttered it never lies. (Numbers 23:19 - God is not a man, that He should lie)
- We tend to always lean on our own understanding, overthinking the situation and giving space for the enemy to build strongholds in our minds that can keep us captive to his lies. (Proverbs 3:7 - Do not be wise in your own eyes). But, there’s hope for us, for the Bible says in II Corinthians 10:4,5: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ”.
- Using the heart - Emotional decision
- We tend to be swayed by our emotions sometimes, and make quick decisions that seem to temporarily soothe our emotions.
- We ought to fix our eyes on Jesus, and build our lives on the solid Rock of Salvation, asking God to lead our hearts into His will, and ask Him the strength to stop living based on the whims and wishes of our deceitful and self-obsessed heart (Jeremiah 17: 9 - The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked;)
- We tend to be swayed by our emotions sometimes, and make quick decisions that seem to temporarily soothe our emotions.
Wherever we are right now, if we think we aren’t as close to God as we desired, let’s remember that we’re just a prayer away from His beautiful presence and comforting arms!
Here’s a beautiful song “One step away” by Casting Crowns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hktP9LHaRI0
