to remain under one category:
1. Select a category. The page will refresh and list only the posts that pertain to your selection.
2. After reading a title, click back to blog
category selections
is this for you?
Jack Nicolson put it brilliantly in the road-trip scene from the 1999 movie As Good As It Gets:
Not everyone has a terrible story to get over. Some people have great stories, pretty stories that take place at lakes with boats and friends and noodle salad. Just no one in this car. But, a lot of people, that's their story. Good times, noodle salad.
If you're riding with me, know that I speak from personal experience. If you can relate, scroll down. More than anything I want you to know, YOU matter to God. IT--whatever it is, matters to God. But no one can make that discovery for you. I count it a blessing to encourage you along the way.
the story behind the category selctions
How to Make Wise Decisions
Here's one of my favorite Proverbs:
"Listen to wise counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days. There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the Lord's counsel--that will stand." (19:20-21 NKJV)
This is how I apply it to my life:
First and foremost, I seek counsel in the Bible and through prayer. If I don't have peace or I'm conflicted in my decison making, I listen to the counsel of someone I trust and receive their instruction. To receive instruction doesn't necessarily mean that I must do what they suggest, but I commit to the prayerful consideration of it.
And in the end--the Lord's counsel stands. This is important because there was a time in my life when I received conflicting counsel. One pastor gave me his blessing to leave my marriage and another reminded me of my wedding vows--both are godly men who I have a tremendous amount of respect for. I learned that in the end, the Lord's counsel stands. And that means, we do what He tells us to do. For me, it meant remaining in a marriage that at the time, no one would have judged me for leaving. God said, "Stay." Thank God, I didn't give up five minutes before the miracle. Today, I am a blessed wife.
How about you? Is this a new concept or one that needs to be developed in your walk with God?
If you're new at this, or if you're up to your eyeballs in a healing process, don't worry so much about making bad decisions. Pray, listen, seek wise counsel, pray again, and trust God with the outcome. He's faithful to make crooked paths straight when we screw up. Take it from a redeemed major-screwer-upper. God delights in our baby steps and blesses our sincere efforts to mature in Him.
Published on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 @ 8:24 AM CDT
0 comments
