Decisions, Decisions, Decisions…

Decisions are such a daily part of our lives. We make them all the time. We make big decisions and small decisions. We decide when to get up, what we are going to do, what we are going to say and how we are going to act and respond to those around us.

“So how do you lead a successful life? You lead a successful life by being successful each year. How are you successful each year? By being successful each month. How are you successful every month? By being successful each week. How does one ensure success for every week? By being successful every single day. How are you successful each day? By being successful each and every moment. And how are you successful every moment? Be making the right decision.”

Decisions are very important. The fact is routine decisions that we make today will affect our tomorrows, our futures. A decision that is made on a consistent basis, good or bad, becomes a habit. Much of what we do is based off of habits that we have formed from making decisions. For example, if I allow myself to complain, if I make the decision to allow myself to complain, then each time after that the decision to complain becomes easier and soon forms into a bad habit. The key here is choosing not to complain initially and the chain reaction will be avoided.

When King Darius issued the statute that he was to be the only one to be petitioned or prayed to in the kingdom for thirty days, Daniel immediately knew that he could not follow it. He had a commitment to God that went deeper than the loyalty to King Darius. This was a difficult decision because of the dire consequences that he faced if he broke the statute. However, he had formed a good habit and thus it was much easier for him to reject the deceitful law. There are many men in the Bible who made good and bad decisions, but they got to that point by making small choices along the way. The little decisions dictate the big ones.

 Think about a decision you make every day that will affect you five years from now. How about “Am I choosing to spend time in the Bible and in prayer?” Or “Am I choosing to waste time through frivolous activities that do not strengthen me as a person?” “Am I choosing to respect my authorities?” Am I choosing to take good care of my body, the temple of God?” The list could go on and on.

The point is small decisions that we make daily really do affect the big, important decisions we make through prayerful consideration.  But also keep in mind that a decision is merely a by-product of the amount of fellowship a Christian is currently experiencing with Christ. The closer we are to Christ, the more natural good decisions become. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true.

1. 
   
2. I have decided to follow Jesus;
   I have decided to follow Jesus;
   I have decided to follow Jesus;
   No turning back, no turning back.
3. Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
   Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
   Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
   No turning back, no turning back.
4. The world behind me, the cross before me;
   The world behind me, the cross before me;
   The world behind me, the cross before me;
   No turning back, no turning back.
5. Though none go with me, still I will follow;
   Though none go with me, still I will follow;
   Though none go with me, still I will follow;
   No turning back, no turning back.
6. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
   Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
   Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
   No turning back, no turning back.