![]() We serve the same God who said: “And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. Joshua had the confidence and courage to lead God’s people into the Promised Land because He believed in God’s promise and presence. As our lives center on God, giving priority to hearing His voice and reading His Word, we become bolder in sharing our faith. God’s Word is a powerful litmus test for our souls and actions. How can we remain steadfast in our faith and avoid the pressures of this ever-changing world? By devoting time each day to the study of God’s Word.Īs we read the Bible and immerse ourselves in God’s truth and character, our lives are changed-we become more like Him. The church in Corinth was an undisciplined church, and he was letting them know that even though the culture around them was in flux, their faith in Jesus Christ needed to remain focused and sure. Paul’s letter to the people at Corinth was an exhortation to remain steadfast. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. The creation is both a monument of God’s power, and a looking-glass in which we may see his wisdom. When you see opportunities to care for creation-nature or your own body-do so as a way of glorifying the Creator. Paul writes that we belong to God and we are to glorify Him with our care and use of our body. And that mandate extends to our personal life as well. When God’s mandates go unfulfilled on earth, God’s glory is diminished. Though mankind was given the mandate to “have dominion over” (that is, to care for) all of creation, we have not done a good job. Such images are in stark contrast to the pristine beauty and glory of Eden as presented in Genesis. Fish become entangled in discarded fishing nets and lines, with bellies full of plastic debris they have swallowed. Many countries’ coastlines are littered with plastic and debris, and there is an “island” of plastic more than the twice the size of Texas in the Pacific Ocean where currents have accumulated the debris. Marine litter is a huge ecological problem. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply fill the earth and subdue it have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” In one of his books on leadership, Ted Engstrom advised: Peter Drucker, founder of the Drucker Institute and esteemed leadership guru, wrote that effective executives are not overly impressed by speed in decision-making. Proverbs 13:16 adds, “A wise man thinks ahead a fool doesn’t”(TLB). Prudent give thought to their steps” (NIV). Understand his way.”And Proverbs 14:15 says, “The simple believe anything, but the Time so you can mull over issues long enough to understand them. Us another lesson about big-decision thinking: Whenever possible, take your You will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety Plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are establishedĪnd receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days (Proverbs Is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise (Proverbs 12:15).Ĭonflict those who take advice are wise (Proverbs 13:10, NLT). Guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers (Proverbs Proverbs repeatedly reminds us to seek godly counsel before deciding what to do. We also need the wisdom of those we trust. Your Best Decisions Heed Wisdom From Others His successor, King David, was just the opposite, earnestly seeking God and inquiring of the Lord before every decision. He didn’t make His decisions in prayer or with a view toward God’s glory. Why? He was alert, intelligent, and charismatic, but he lacked internal character and intimacy with the Lord. When Saul was faced with a crisis, he invariably made the wrong decision. Think back to Israel’s first king-King Saul. Prayer is our lifeline to finding and fulfilling God’s perfect will in all we say and do. Prayer is the incubator of our best ideas and the source of our freshest creativity. Prayer is our way of asking God for His proffered wisdom, given liberally and willingly to those who ask for it. ![]() Very often, God’s Holy Spirit uses prayer to bring conviction or new ideas.īig-decision thinking recognizes God as a partner in the decision-making process, and prayer is our way of acknowledging our Heavenly Father in all our ways. I’m talking about living in an atmosphere of prayer so that our hearts are constantly pondering the choices that represent God’s will for our lives. ![]() ![]() Your Best Decisions Are Birthed in an Atmosphere of Prayerīig decisions are birthed in an atmosphere of prayer-and I don’t mean muttering a quick prayer just before a decision is made. ![]()
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