So you find yourself in a situation and it’s go time, decision time, how do you know what to do? Your circumstances are heating up and you are facing decision time, how will you know what to do? Should you do it? Shouldn’t you do it? What are the risks of doing it? What are the risks of not doing it? Do you consider the rewards of doing it? Are there rewards if you decide you shouldn’t do it?
Seeking Wisdom Through Prayer and Scripture
In crucial decision-making, turning to prayer and Scripture for guidance is paramount. James 1:5 encourages believers to seek wisdom from God: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” Through prayer, we can lay our concerns before the Lord, trusting He will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). Practical application: Make it a habit to begin every decision-making process with prayer, asking God for clarity and wisdom. Regularly immerse yourself in the Bible, allowing its teachings to shape your choices and perspectives.
Decision Time: Evaluating Motives and Intentions
Understanding the motives behind our decisions is crucial in determining whether we should proceed. Proverbs 16:2 states, “All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.” Examining our hearts and aligning our intentions with God’s will leads to more righteous decisions. Key takeaway: God’s Word urges us to act with pure motives, seeking to glorify Him rather than pursuing selfish ambitions. Practical application: Before making a decision, reflect on your intentions. Ask yourself if your choice is rooted in love, humility, and a desire to honor God.
Decision Time: Seeking Counsel and Wise Counselors
Godly counsel is invaluable when navigating tough decisions. Proverbs 15:22 highlights the importance of seeking advice: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers, they succeed.” Surrounding yourself with wise, godly mentors can provide clarity and different perspectives you might not have considered. Key takeaway: God often speaks through the counsel of mature believers who can offer biblical insights and encouragement. Practical application: Develop a network of trusted advisors grounded in Scripture. Regularly seek their input when facing significant decisions, weighing their advice against the truths found in the Bible.
Decision Time: Making Decisions with Confidence and Faith
In moments of decision, grounding ourselves in prayer, examining our motives, and seeking wise counsel can guide us toward choices that honor God. As we rely on Scripture and the Holy Spirit, we can confidently approach decisions, knowing that God is faithful to lead us. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” By prioritizing God’s wisdom and aligning our decisions with His will, we fulfill our roles as godly fathers, husbands, and community members, ultimately glorifying Him in all we do.
Today’s Devotional:
This year, I am utilizing the 365 Daily Devotions book I received for Christmas, applying its teachings specifically in the context of fatherhood. It’s called WALKING WITH GOD by DAVID JEREMIAH. It’s exciting to learn from a new resource this year as we have tried different options the past two years and will keep working through this for 2024. For more information about the author and his ministry, visit DavidJeremiah.org.
Topic: RISKS AND REWARDS
Verse: Hebrews 11:31
‘By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. ‘
Decision Time requires faith
Today’s Devotional highlights the importance of having details and data while emphasizing the need for faith in evaluating the risks and rewards of making a decision. The verse speaking of Rahab speaks to how “Rahab took a great risk when she had hid two Hebrew spies from the king of Jericho and his army.” Today’s Devotional shares how Rahab wasn’t being “impulsive or foolish” but rather how “she had hear the stories of Israel’s citories and the works of their God.” Rahab was working in faith, believing “that God would indeed destroy the city of Jericho” and realizing that “her risk would result in a great reward.”
Faith requires risk or else it wouldn’t be faith
Today’s Devotional points to how important it is to walk by faith and trust God. It speaks to how “God honored Rahab’s risk” saving “her and her household” as “the only ones spared from destruction.” It shares an interesting fact about how this act of faith plays into the genealogy of Jesus as she later married a Jewish man. In Matthew 1:5, we read “Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,”
Decision time – measure the risk vs reward
Let’s be the dads who consider the risk and reward of what we will think, say, or do in perspective to God’s Word and move forward in faith. If you haven’t received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, could today be your day? Curious what to do or how to proceed? Feel free to email me at [email protected].
Today’s Devotional shares how we as dads when we invited Jesus into our lives as our Lord and Savior took a risk like Rahab because of our belief and faith in Jesus to rescue us from the destruction of sin. Today as we prepare for whatever comes our way, let’s be the dads who invite Jesus into our lives to help us make good decisions even if or when they feel risky to others. Today’s Devotional highlights how our “decision to follow Christ might have been considered risky by some.”
In closing, let’s reflect on this question and challenge from Today’s Devotional. “Was the risk worth it? Yes! Unlike other risks in life, God always delivers on HIs promises.” Will you take the challenge to “thank God for the gift of your salvation?”
“For without risk there is no faith, and the greater the risk the greater the faith.”
Søren Kierkegaard
