What is the deciding factor?

It's going to cost a lot of money. I don't want to spend the time doing that. It might not be fun.

What drives your decisions? Summer approaches. It's time to plan for vacations and summer jobs. Perhaps there is an opportunity for a mission trip or volunteer work. How do you decide what to do? What determines the final choices?

These last few days have been tough decision making ones for me. As I sought the Lord for wisdom, I became aware of some thoughts that were making it difficult to determine what God wanted me to do. Despite many hours of prayer, God seemed to be silent.

I asked myself three questions:

1. Could something be blocking His answer?

Many times our thoughts travel through our minds like elevator music. There's a 'song' playing in the background that influences our thoughts on an unconscious level. Indecision frustrated me until my inner ears focused on the 'lyrics' influencing my emotions. 'Lyrics' like, It might be a lot of work, I don't think I can do it, or I really don't want to.

Becoming aware of the thoughts that preceded my prayers was the first step to unblocking God's answer.

2. What was driving my decision?

Was God's will my number one priority, or had I allowed money, time, abilities or personal pleasure to usurp His lordship over my choices? Money warned me about possible lack. Fear eroded confidence in my abilities. Anxiety whispered it really wasn't something I would enjoy doing. I decided to silence them all. I saw them for what they were - idols or strongholds that were dictating my decisions. They were squeezing out God's still small voice and clamoring for my attentions. Indecision and lack of peace were the fruit of listening to the wrong messages.

3. Was I willing to do whatever God asked me to do?

Once those competing thoughts were identified, confessed and silenced, I waited peacefully for God's answer, unhampered by fear and anxiety. My unfettered commitment to obey His plans brought a quick answer. I am excited about that plan because those other voices are now silent. The next time I face a tough decision, I plan to tune in to the 'lyrics' in my mind, silence those written by my flesh, and commit to doing whatever God wants.

What drives your decisions?

Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to be agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed (Proverbs 16:3)