Monday, June 20, 2016
Because of the particular situation, some of our decisions must be made on the spot. For the most part, however, the majority of our important decisions require prayer, careful thought, and consideration. That includes time. If you remember last Friday’s blog, Stephen Curry’s wife decided to immediately express her opinion on Twitter after he fouled out of last Thursday night’s game against Cleveland. Big mistake! Even as you read this blog today, one, two, or more of you are seriously considering taking action on a decision you have been contemplating for some time. I trust you have gone through the steps I just mentioned and have given the matter the sufficient time it required. If you haven’t, you and others could be hurt as a result of your action.
The answers we seek regarding which direction to take on a particular matter don’t always come quickly. One thing I have frequently advised others concerning decisions they must make is to not move at all until they get a clear answer on the matter. Assuming you have already acknowledged God and have diligently sought His response, doing nothing at all is better than doing something you are not totally convinced about. I have lost count of the many times in the past I have delayed taking the action I had been leaning upon because I was not completely sure it was the right thing or the right time. Perhaps I waited much longer that I should have in some cases, but in most of these, the Lord intervened and took care of the matter and spared me a lot of anxiety and worry in the process. Besides, when the Lord takes action on our behalf, it is always far superior to anything we could have done.
In a biblical account in the 25th Chapter of 1 Samuel, David almost acted upon a hastily thought decision and the Lord used a wise woman named Abigail to convince him not to. Realizing what she had done, David said in response: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.”(verses 32-33) Apart from benefiting from today’s blog or heeding it’s biblical message, perhaps you may be the Abigail in the life of someone who has announced he or she plans to take action on a matter. The Lord may use you to ensure they have already taken the required steps in the process, or else to intervene if you feel they are making a mistake. You may be sparing some folks you may or may not know plenty of grief, sorrow, or heartache.
Memory verse for the week: (James 5:20) “Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”
