Pray Before Making Decisions
Pray Before Making Decisions | June 17th
According to Researchers at Cornell University, we make approximately 35,000 daily decisions. No wonder we sometimes suffer from "decision fatigue" by the end of the day! The same report from Cornell listed some typical decision-making strategies:
Impulsive: Leverage the first option you are given and be done.
Compliant: Choose the most pleasing, comfortable, and popular option for those impacted.
Delegate: Not make the decision yourself, but push it off to trust others.
Avoidance/deflection: Either avoid or ignore decisions to avoid responsibility for their impact or just simply to prevent them from overwhelming you
Balance: Weigh the factors, study them, and then use the information to make the best decision.
Prioritize and Reflect: Focus your energy, thought, and effort on the decisions that will have the greatest impact.
While the list covers some intriguing decision-making methods, one important strategy was left off: PRAYER. See, praying before making decisions is an intelligent and strategic plan to have in your pocket. Whenever you pray about decisions, you reflect the very strategy Jesus used.
Remember, Jesus prayed the night before he chose the apostles. Luke 6:12-16 states, "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor."
By seeking the Father for His covering in this decision, Jesus showed both humility and prudence. Therefore, we need to do the same. Let us bring our choices and decisions before the Lord so we can choose wisely. The Living Bible Translation of Proverbs 28:26 says, "A man is a fool to trust himself! But those who use God's wisdom are safe."
Knowing this, let us pray before making decisions of any size!
Impulsive: Leverage the first option you are given and be done.
Compliant: Choose the most pleasing, comfortable, and popular option for those impacted.
Delegate: Not make the decision yourself, but push it off to trust others.
Avoidance/deflection: Either avoid or ignore decisions to avoid responsibility for their impact or just simply to prevent them from overwhelming you
Balance: Weigh the factors, study them, and then use the information to make the best decision.
Prioritize and Reflect: Focus your energy, thought, and effort on the decisions that will have the greatest impact.
While the list covers some intriguing decision-making methods, one important strategy was left off: PRAYER. See, praying before making decisions is an intelligent and strategic plan to have in your pocket. Whenever you pray about decisions, you reflect the very strategy Jesus used.
Remember, Jesus prayed the night before he chose the apostles. Luke 6:12-16 states, "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor."
By seeking the Father for His covering in this decision, Jesus showed both humility and prudence. Therefore, we need to do the same. Let us bring our choices and decisions before the Lord so we can choose wisely. The Living Bible Translation of Proverbs 28:26 says, "A man is a fool to trust himself! But those who use God's wisdom are safe."
Knowing this, let us pray before making decisions of any size!
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