Following Peace to Make the Right Decisions by Joyce Meyer None of us like discomfort too much. An itch keeps us from sitting still. An uncomfortable mattress keeps us from sleeping. The threat of rejection can lead us to make some really stupid decisions. My Unpopular Decision When I decided to go into ministry, I think some people didnt like it because they were uncomfortable being associated with some silly woman who thought she was going to preach the Gospel around the world. A lot of family even turned against me. I was asked to leave my church. I lost most of my friends and my reputation. It was a terrible time in my life. And all I was doing was teaching a Bible study! Now, what if Id given up my calling for their comfort? I wonder where Id be right now…and how Id feel about my decision to waste all those years wondering: Was it really God? The Guidance You Need Think about your own life for a moment. When you have a decision to make, do you normally go with the flow—or do you pray for wisdom and weigh your decisions on the Word of God? Every decision we make not only affects us, but the people around us. Even future generations are affected by the choices we make today. So we need to seek Gods Word for guidance, and we need to heed the promptings of the Holy Spirit in our heart. I think one of the main reasons some people let others make decisions for them is they dont really believe they can hear from God. They wish they could or hope they can. They wonder if they can but theyre afraid they dont. The Bible says we can. When it comes to the responsibilities and the life God has called you to, theres an anointing permanently within you. This means that the Holy Spirit will lead you and guide you. Its your blood-bought, God-given right to follow the Holy Spirits leadership. I encourage you to trust yourself with God and tell Him, God, I want to hear from You. I dont want to do anything outside Your will. So Im going to trust that You speak to me, and I am going to trust that I can hear from You. How to Know Youre Hearing from God Colossians 3:15 clearly tells us how. It says, And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds.... “ If you follow Gods leadership, you will have peace, joy and righteousness. ” If you follow Gods leadership, you will have peace, joy, righteousness, and youll bear good fruit. What you wont be is confused and frustrated. God never leads us to busy ourselves so much that were stressed out all the time and have no joy. And He wont try to confuse your mind—thats the enemys job. To find where your peace lies, simply ask yourself: Is there a scripture that applies to my situation? What does the Word say I should do? For example, if theres something you want to buy but you dont have enough in your bank account to buy it, its probably best to wait because God doesnt want us to be in debt (see Romans 13:8). Many times, Gods Word sounds a lot like common sense. I encourage you to let the peace in your heart decide with finality every question that arises in your mind. When Is It Wise to Get Counsel from a Friend? The Bible does say theres safety in a multitude of counselors (see Proverbs 11:14). But you could ask 10 different people about your situation and end up with 10 different answers. One thing you should ask yourself is, Am I seeking wise counsel? A lot of times, we end up asking people who dont even know what theyre doing. Or they may have a selfish motive. Keep this in mind: True counseling leads you to God; it doesnt try to run your life. When to Follow Your Heart If you feel something strongly in your heart, youve prayed about it and it goes along with Scripture, then follow your heart. If you feel led to make a decision that others dont like, you shouldnt have to give an unreasonable amount of explanation for what you feel led to do. Maybe you dont know why—you just sense thats just what youre supposed to do. God has a plan, and you are part of that plan, but you wont live it if you live with the fear of man. What do you think God is saying to you? What are you sensing from God? Ultimately, you need to take responsibility for making the decision that brings peace to your heart. If you make a mistake, its not the end of the world. But being true to what God has put on your heart is the key to your happiness.
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 01:58:30 +0000
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