Rebecca Davis  Ranson, West Virginia

The decision making struggle began when Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden. Not all of those decisions were good ones. Think about it. In Genesis, Adam was given instructions. When Eve handed off the fruit to Adam, he had a decision to make. He could follow God’s instruction or eat of Eve’s forbidden fruit. Decisions that go against God’s warning and wisdom of the Holy Spirit can have catastrophic results. Adam and Eve’s choices were definitely the wrong ones. It determined pain and suffering for a long time. In fact, we are still suffering from their choices. Now, man must work to enjoy the fruits of his labor instead of enjoying the lush fruits of The Garden. Even with modern medicine, women bear the pain of childbirth. The decisions that you make either make you or break you. It is not only you who may suffer, but your future generations might endure hardship as well.

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From the beginning of time, everyone faces choices. Matthew 4 recounts Jesus being tempted by Satan after fasting for 40 days and nights. Jesus had choices. Walking with His Father, the Heavenly Father, was the ONLY choice He would make. Choices are hard for everyone. Often times for one reason or another, the choice that is made is not even the one that is desired. In Romans 7:19-20, Paul says, “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do-this is what I keep on doing…but it is the sin living in me that does it.” Sin holds a powerful grip and pulls in directions that you do not want to go. It tries to lure you in a way that you should not go. Sin makes poor decisions appear great and feel good. How can you possibly resist the temptations? The answer is easy; the action is a challenge. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 The best part is when you are tempted, God gives you a way out. You do not have to follow through you can always choose a different path. 1 Corinthians 10:13

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Your choice begins in the heart. The heart can be deceiving and the mind plays tricks. What the heart feels, you yearn to have. The heart desires the good, the bad and the ugly. Your heart wants what feels good. “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9 If it moves the heart; it moves the mind. “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6 That’s why you have to be careful. You have to be vigilant to care for your heart and protect what enters the mind. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:5 As children you sang the song, “Oh, be careful little eyes what you see…” Once you see, hear, think, or witness something it is hard to undo. This battle is a heart, mind, and spiritual battle. It is also a battle that can be won. Satan is a liar. You already know that Jesus wins in the end. 

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God has given free will to choose. When you seek God and all His righteousness, you stay in God’s will. It makes following the plan that He has laid out for you in Jeremiah 29:11 easier to follow. “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord; Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” When you make your plan according to your own desires, you may end up needing a plan B.

 

Plan B may still end up working out. After all, God is good and desires a hope and a future for your life. When He has a plan and He has a call for your life, you WILL end up following His plan. After all, man makes plans, but when they are not according to God’s plan, they may be foiled. “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9

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Imagine how difficult the choices that you need to make are for you. The choices and peer pressure the children are facing today sometimes outweigh the adult’s. The decisions of today are immense. Students are trying to fit in and sometimes do anything to be a part of the “in-crowd.” As students go back to school and are reunited with peers, pray for their decisions. Pray for angels to encamp around them and the Holy Spirit to guide their minds and hearts. Let them stand and be the leader, the light, and the example instead of following. Let them know that God has called even the children to stand out, to be His light and His witness and His Disciples. “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” I Timothy 4:12 

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The greatest decision of all is to choose salvation. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that you may have life, and live it to the full.” John 10:10 The choice is ultimately yours to make. Become a new creation in Christ Jesus. Leave the old behind and become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 God is forgiving. He forgives the mistakes you have made. He wants you to turn away from sin. Choose the ways of Christ and not the ways of the world. Amen~ 

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Memory Verses: 
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 4:23
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Philippians 4:13

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Precious Lord, Lead me in the way that you should have me to go. Show me your path. Light my way. As I pray, Lord, enlighten me to the decisions that I should make. Make known the way out of temptation so that I may live a life acceptable to you. I live in the world. Allow me to have blinders to protect me from the ways of the world. Direct me to the ways of life. I am striving to find the plan that you have for me. I desire to work in your Kingdom. Clarify my gifts and talents so that I may use them to build. Send your spirit to remind me to pray before making decisions. Give me a spirit of discernment to see what I should do in any given situation. Move me out of my own way. Block the arrows the devil sends to distract me and sway my choices. Protect my heart and mind so that I can focus on You and not of things of the world. Cover the students with your wings. Let them see that they are enough in You. They do not need to be accepted in a group to be ok. They are already ok. Give them the strength to stand out and not blend in and look like the world. Send them a role model who will show them the way to stand up for what they believe and help keep them strong when they feel weak. I put my trust in You, Lord. In Jesus Name, amen.