Be Decisive!

In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Years ago, I learned that being decisive is sometimes one of the hardest things we will ever be asked to do. It’s much easier, especially for me, to be one of the “whatever everyone else wants to do” or “it doesn’t matter to me” group of people. The trouble with that is many times we end up doing something we don’t really want to do or lamenting the decision that was made. I envy the people who seem to have no problem making decisions and moving ahead with the plan.

Decisiveness is defined as settling an issue or producing a definitive result. Making decisions or knowing in which direction we should head on things is difficult. It is said that when Christopher Columbus set out on his voyage in 1492, he didn’t know where he was going. When he arrived, he didn’t know where he was, and when he returned home, he didn’t know where he had been!!

We all need help at times knowing in which direction we should go. As my neighbor likes to say, “There are many squirrels lying in the middle of the road because they couldn’t make a decision“.

We sometimes don’t make decisions because we are afraid we will make the wrong one. The scripture says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all liberally and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith with no doubting. The doubting man is double minded, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8) In other words, ask God and then take His wisdom without doubting. Take the wisdom with confidence.

Good decisions should reflect our mission in life and highlight our potential. God has created each of us with our very own mission in life. It’s a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Our responsibility is to seek Him for guidance as we navigate the decision, and remember that nothing can take the place of knowing that will. If we don’t know it, we are likely to spend our lives doing the wrong things.

Finally, if we don’t make our own decisions, somebody else will make them for us. President Reagan liked to tell the story of how he learned to make firm decisions. It seems that when he was a boy, his aunt sent him to a cobbler to have a new pair of shoes made for him. When the shoemaker asked if he wanted a square toe or a round toe on the shoe, he couldn’t decide. The cobbler asked him to come back in a few days and tell him what he wanted. In a few days, Reagan admitted to the cobbler that he just couldn’t make up his mind. The cobbler replied, “Well then, your shoes will be ready tomorrow.” When Reagan came in to try on his new shoes, one had a round toe and one had a square toe! It pays to be decisive!

God would have us to be decisive about His kingdom and our faith. It’s amazing that most of us Southerners have no problem deciding on our favorite team. We display the flags, banners, shirts, and spirit wear proudly, but we have a problem letting people know where we stand on our faith. If we aren’t decisive about it, rest assured others will take that privilege away from us and make the decision for us! Standing in the middle on decisions never helps anyone.

In The Message by Eugene Peterson these words from Revelation 3:15 say it plainly. Jesus said, “I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You’re not cold, you’re not hot. It’s far better to be cold or hot. You’re stagnant.”

The worst case in decision making is that we get it wrong, and we learn what NOT to do next time. The best case is that we pray for wisdom, make a decision, and stand by it.

I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus; No turning back, No turning back. I Have Decided to Follow Jesus Anonymous