Gary & Linda Brownlow
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Translations:
Everyone is a composite, a tapestry, of life experiences that include books you have read, victories and defeats, education, culture and environment, job experiences, role models and mentors, and relationships to other people. All of these things come under the heading of decision and choice. Dr. Frank Boram says, “ We make decisions, and our decisions make us.” With our decision-making comes risk. Any vision or dream involves risk. By its very nature, faith includes risk. Anything with life has risk. We can never eliminate risk completely, but wise decisions minimize risk as much as possible. If you don’t like your life now, you will have to make some different choices. There’s not much risk in doing nothing, but the results will be the same old same old. 8 principles from Proverbs (the book of wisdom) for good decisions. 1) Pray for guidance. Begin by getting God’s perspective. Proverbs 2:6- For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 28:26- He who trusts in his own heart is a fool; but he who walks wisely will be delivered. There’s an old saying that it’s easier to get forgiveness than permission. But make no mistake. In the long run, it will cost a great deal more. Proverbs 14:12- there is a way which seems right to a man, but it’s end is the way of death James 1:5- but if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 2) Get the facts. Proverbs 13:16- Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays folly. Don’t operate out of ignorance. Proverbs 18:13(amplified)- He who answers a matter before he hears the facts, it is folly and shame to him. Proverbs 23:23- Buy truth and do not sell it, get wisdom, instruction and understanding. Get the bible and do a word study. Read a book, go to a seminar, get tapes and CDs, or get on the Internet. This is the information age and it is insane to rush into anything blindly and uninformed like a horse charging into battle. 3) Get good advice and counsel. Proverbs 24:6- For by wise guidance you will wage war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory. Proverbs 20:18(amplified)- Purpose and plans are established by counsel, and only with good advice make or carry on war. Talk to someone who has been successful and knows the pitfalls. You may, and probably will have to get out of your little group. In fact, if you are the smartest one in the group, you need a bigger group. Proverbs 18:15- The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. Proverbs 20:5(amplified)- Counsel in the heart of man is like water in a deep well, but a man of understanding will draw it out. Draw out wisdom and counsel by asking good questions of the right people. 4) Set goals. Proverbs 17:24(amplified)- A man of understanding sets skillful and godly wisdom before his face, but the eyes of a self-confident fool are on the ends of the earth. One translation says, “ a fool runs in many directions.” In God’s kingdom, as well as life, you must focus. In spiritual terms, you can’t be a jack of all trades. If your call from God is to be a communicator, don’t try to divide that vision to include equal focus on music or singing. If you have more than one vision, you have di-vision. Know where you are going, and have clear purpose. 5) Count the cost. Is this risk necessary? Is it worth it? Does the potential profit or benefits justify the cost? Proverbs 20:25(amplified)- It is a snare to a man to utter a vow of consecration rashly, and not until afterward inquire whether he can fulfill it. We live in an impulsive generation. Men are often worse in getting things without considering the long term. It is easier to get into something than get out of it. Don’t cheerfully volunteer for 12 jobs in the church. And don’t get intimidated into overloading yourself with church work either. But, if you make that decision, then unless God clearly releases you, you then fulfill that obligation, even to your own hurt. To say it another way, pray before you say! And don’t be afraid to say no if you don’t have peace from the Holy Spirit. Never make decisions when you are mad, tired, or depressed. In Luke 14, Jesus says you had better count the cost. 6) Plan for problems. Proverbs 22:3- A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it. Don’t be naïve. We live in a fallen world. Jesus said that in this world there will be tribulation. Don’t ignore problems. They’re coming. Ask what if ahead of time. What about life insurance to protect the family? What about disability insurance if you can’t work for a period of time? How about making the house payment if mama gets pregnant and can’t work. No one can see everything coming, but problems can be minimized by good planning and counsel. 7) Face your fear. Operate on faith, not feelings. Feelings will lie. The fear of man and rejection becomes a snare. Proverbs 14:26-In the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is strong confidence, and His children will always have a place of refuge. Fear must be acknowledged, faced, and defeated. God will sometimes require us to step out. Bible teacher Joyce Meyer says we have to sometimes step out and just do it afraid. Faith is the antidote for fear. 8) Stop talking and do something! Proverbs 6:3(amplified)-Roll your works upon the Lord-commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will and so shall your plans be established and succeed. You’ve prayed, gathered the facts, gotten wise counsel, counted the cost, foreseen potential problems, and faced the fear. Now, get up, get engaged with life, and move forward on God’s vision and purpose for your life. Stop saying, “you mean me?” and start saying, “why not me?” Philippians 4:13- I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. You can’t do just anything you want to. But you can do all things God has assigned you and He will open doors, and uphold you with the right hand of His power. Gary Brownlow, PhD |
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