SEVEN DECISIONS THAT WILL DETERMINE YOUR FUTURE You may have heard the phrase, “Little hinges swing big doors.” Likewise, small keys open the largest of doors. Those little hinges and small keys are the decisions we make! Wisdom King Solomon, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, pointed to wisdom, one of the keys that can open up your life to great things: "Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her" (Proverbs 4:4-8). Wisdom gives us the ability to see the difference between wrong and right. Wisdom provides the ability to discern differences quickly. It helps us see what others cannot see. And above all, wisdom gives us the ability to make good decisions! But where do we get wisdom? We get it from God: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). So if wisdom is given liberally from God, and wisdom helps us make good decisions, what are those decisions that will decide our future? Mike Murdock, on a recent This Is Your Day program, offered seven critical decisions that can determine your future. Decision # 1: Build Your Faith Mike Murdock sometimes shocks people with statements like this: “God doesn’t react to your pain. He doesn’t react to your tears. He doesn’t even respond to your cancer or a heart attack. God doesn’t react to any problem in your life. He only reacts to your faith, and it is impossible to attract divine favor without using your faith!” Scripture tells us, “Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). How do we build that kind of faith? Faith expands when we hear God talk. That is why the Word of God is so important in our life. Listen to the Bible on your CD player or iPod. Read His Word aloud. His Words contain strength: “When he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me” (Daniel 10:19). Decide to build your faith by hearing God’s Word. As your faith grows, you create your future! Decision # 2: Excel in Your Present Assignment Everything and everyone was created to solve problems. You can know what your assignment is through what you love to do. What do you love to think about, to hear about, to be around? Your assignment may change, but it is critical to do whatever you were created to do at that moment. Abraham moved his entire clan to a foreign land, simply because God told him to. Joseph was assigned to work for the pharaoh so his people could be saved from famine. Moses was assigned to help deliver the children of Israel out of Egypt. Aaron was assigned to help his brother Moses. Our Lord Jesus accepted the ultimate assignment: death on the cross. Excel in your present assignment—whatever it is. And if you are corrected, as everyone is, invite that correction as a means of being a better problem-solver in your present assignment, for correction is one of the seeds of excellence. Decision # 3: Honor the Scriptural Chain of Authority The divine purpose of authority is provision, protection, and promotion. Blessing doesn’t flow up—it flows down. It goes from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob. That is why we are to honor those in authority over us. One of the best decisions you will ever make comes down to who you choose to honor. Mike Murdock said, “One of the greatest life-changing revelations in my life came when I realized that when God wants to bless me, He often uses a person to give me instructions and grant me favor. Blessing comes through the chain of authority. There was only one person capable of promoting Joseph, and that was Pharaoh.” Joseph didn’t rebel against Pharaoh. He acknowledged him as the leader of the country where he was imprisoned. As a result, God used the young man mightily. Honor is more than just an attitude. It is more than just the way you posture yourself around others. It involves action. You honor God with your life, not just your words. If you want to honor Him, you obey. You tithe. Then God gives favor because of our ongoing decision to honor the scriptural chain of authority. Decision # 4: Pursue an Uncommon Mentor Blessing flows when we make the choice to not only acknowledge and honor authority in your life, but also to seek out the people who can help us grow in wisdom. Seek out a mentor. Mentorship is the impartation of knowledge, information, and favor. It means learning through the experience of another person. That’s why Elisha accepted the mentorship of Elijah, even though it meant years of washing the prophet’s hands and serving him before moving into the double portion. In the New Testament, Timothy pursued Paul as his mentor. Reach for someone who can train and teach you, especially in the midst of battle. Your future success depends on the mentor you choose to pursue and honor! Decision # 5: Look for Divine Rewards in Every Battle “Friends create your comfort,” Mike says, “but your enemies decide your rewards. You see, battle is the seed for territory, and without an enemy, you don’t have a future.” David couldn’t get to the throne until there was a Goliath. And he wouldn’t have been successful in overcoming Goliath if there hadn’t been a bear and a lion preceding the giant. There are divine rewards in every battle! If you are facing your own Goliath, realize that that he is a signpost that you are closer to your throne than you have ever been. Don’t run from an enemy. Don’t panic. There is a divine reward in the adversary as you choose to follow God into battle! Decision # 6: Listen to God’s Voice People often say, “God just never speaks to me.” I’ve found that God speaks often. In fact, the Bible makes it clear He rules His universe through conversation. He made us for conversation: “Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire” (Deuteronomy 4:36). Instructions are the seed for success! In fact, the difference between success and failure can be following instructions. The difference in where you are and where you want to be is listening to God’s voice. Decision # 7: Sow Seed with Expectation of a Specific Harvest On This Is Your Day, Mike Murdock told this story: “One time when I was in my thirties, I was driving around Tulsa with Dr. Oral Roberts. I asked him, `What is the greatest secret of your ministry?’ He said, `Sowing seeds into God’s work for a divine result, for a specific response.’ It changed my world when he explained to me that everything runs through the seed.” That knowledge (and your decision to sow seed with an expectation of a specific harvest) can change your life, too! Decide to plant your seed now toward a specific harvest. Impact Your Quality of Life In Scripture, God says 331 times, “If you do this, this is what will happen!” The Bible is a book about decisions. God rewards obedience and right decisions! Do you need a miracle in your life? Do you want something better for yourself and your family? Consider the decisions you’re making. Are they right with God? Praise reports are pouring in from around the world from people who made good decisions in faith and are reaping the rewards: “God solved my financial problems about three debts that were remediated and another that I’m paying. Thanks to God, thanks to all who are praying for us.” (Paulo, Brazil) “I prayed that the Lord would lower my mortgage payment and I would not lose my home. Praise God, my mortgage company lowered the payment and the rate. Praise God.” (Zena, United States) “We prayed for my sister a better job. She got it, and there is a small cleaning business which she is starting. It’s only the touch of Jesus that can do this.” (Christa, South Africa) “I requested prayer for my nephew Jaime for suitable employment. Jaime was tracked down for a job by a set of circumstances only God could arrange and offered the job. Well paid, rent-free housing, and a perfect match for him. Thank You, Lord.” (Angie, New Zealand) Click here to read more exciting praise reports . . . As you invest in the kingdom of God, His Word promises He will watch over your needs, and surely He will never fail you. Thank you for all you are doing for the kingdom of God, for we know it is “not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). Preaching the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ, teaching the unchanging Word of God, and expecting the mighty and miraculous power of the Holy Spirit, by Benny Hinn
Posted on: Sat, 03 Aug 2013 21:36:08 +0000
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