Decisions

• Pray before making decisions (Nehemiah 1: 4)
• Decide to do things that honor God (Job 1: 8)
• God's word helps us make decisions (Psalm 119: 105)
• Get good advice before making decisions (Proverbs 18: 15)
• Ask God for wisdom before making decisions (James 1: 2-8)

We should pray before making decisions.  In Nehemiah's concern for Jerusalem-In late autumn of the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes' reign, He was at the fortress of Susa.  Things were not going well for those who'd returned to province of Judah.  They were in great trouble and disgrace.  The wall of Jerusalem had been torn down, and the gates burned.  When he (Nehemiah) heard this, he sat down and wept.  In fact, for days he'd mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.  The reason we pray before making decisions is so that God could give us the right direction to take under any circumstance.  If we do not pray, we leave ourselves vulnerable to making wrong or rash decisions that could hurt us further.  We must decide to do things that honor God.  In the story of Job, we read of a servant who was perfect; blameless before the eyes of our God.  When we look into scripture, it describes how one day the angels (Sons of God) came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan the Accuser came with them.  "Where have you come from?" the LORD asked Satan.  And Satan answered the LORD, "I have been going back and forth across the earth, watching everything that's going on."  Then the LORD asked Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job?  He is the finest man in all the earth-a man of complete integrity.  He fears God and will have nothing to do with evil."  We know that it is possible to reach a certain level of perfection before God's eyes.  When we decide in our hearts that we will do things that honor God, we are seeking and obtaining His perfection through our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.  God's word helps us make decisions.  Psalm 119: 105 reads: Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.  We see that His love and direction will guide us in the darkest most difficult situations we have ever had to face.  He teaches us how to act; what to say and do.  His word is true; and never fails.  When we follow it, we are blessed and prosperous.  We should get good advice before making decisions.  Intelligent people are always open to new ideas, and knowledge.  In fact, the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.  It's very important that we are fully aware of what the ramifications or consequences are to any of the decisions that we are planning to make.  We need to explore what could happen once a decision is made, and how it will affect us and those we love.  We should be asking God for wisdom before making any decisions.  St. James 1: 2-8 shows how St. James a servant of God and the LORD Jesus Christ wrote a letter to the Jewish Christians and the nations.  It is about faith and endurance.  He wrote: whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy.  For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.  If you need wisdom-if you want to know what God wants you to do-ask Him, and He will gladly tell you.  He will not resent your asking.  But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect Him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.  People like that should not expect to receive anything from the LORD.  They can't make up their minds.  They waver back and forth in everything they do.  We know that God loves us, and will give us the wisdom we need to help us make decisions, because our lives and loved ones will be directly affected by those decisions.  Blessings to the readers of today's study; peace and prosperity to you all!  Until next time..