Power in choice

We are to be decided people with made up minds:

As the man thinks in his heart, so he is….

We aren’t to be irresolute (uncertain how to act or proceed) but to be resolute people of faith, and to put that faith into action. We can be certain and  confident because of Whose we are, knowing that God is with us! We can also be certain that we are human and imperfect, bound to make mistakes - but also certain that God is guiding us. So certain that if we do mess up or go the wrong way, trusting that He will redirect us. God doesn’t punish us for using faith, He rewards it! It pleases Him that we trust Him and are willing to use our faith.

God can’t steer or turn a parked car.

Faith without works is dead and whatever isn’t of faith is sin.

The Bible says that a double minded man is unstable in all of his ways! Not some, but all! You will swerve all over the road (life) until you have a made up mind which way you want to go. Reasoning is sin because it doesn’t require faith! You’re either going forward, backward or you’re stuck!

Remember when the Pharisees and teachers of the law were questioning Jesus? They didn’t do it out loud but Jesus knew their thoughts and heart and ask them why they were reasoning in their hearts. They were thinking to themselves. Over Thinking and reasoning can be dangerous because it will talk you right out of what God ask you to do.

What do you truly believe In your heart is the next right thing to do, and what are you convicted to do? That’s what you should act on! One step at a time. As we take the necessary steps, He will begin to unfold the plan. He can’t do that if we stall. Faith is active.

Of course we all have questions, fears, worries and concerns - but the problem is: when we act on them instead of faith. Faith doesn’t make sense and when we trust God, we act accordingly, even when we question it. Faith doesn’t come without questions, that’s a fact! But it doesn’t let those questions talk us out of the task or act at hand.

Do or don’t? A Dubious (hesitating or doubting; not to be relied upon!) nature will get you in trouble rather than what you want! If you’re always unsettled in your opinion then your always unsettled and in spirit.

God is looking for a people full of faith and therefore faithful to do the work that He’s called them to do. Not that anyone is perfect but rather He can perfect one who is willing! He isn’t waiting on you to be perfect or have all your ducks in a row. It’ll never happen and even if it did, it be too late to use faith in action. After you’ve reasoned it all out, there’s nothing left! You’ve dissected it to death. Listen, it is wise to be wise and pray for direction- we aren’t to live haphazard! That’s not my point at all, but all my life I have been an undecided and indecisive person who can’t make a decision. Guess what? It don’t work! Don’t be afraid to make a decision, BE AFRAID NOT TO! It’s no way to live life.

I can remember being a child and always having to choose between two. It could have been two of anything that was set before me, whether a purchase or a meal. Now as an adult, the decisions are a little more complicated. This kind of indecision sets us up to question and reason with everything in our lives, even God! It don’t work and it’s not stable. I do know that we are to be people of decision and that requires faith!!!

MAKE UP YOUR MIND.

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD beGod, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. 1 Kings 18:21

When we doubt God, we aren’t trusting God. And when we lean more towards fear rather than faith, we are truly serving it, not Him. We may say we trust and follow Go, but are we really? We follow what we fear most. So, Fear God and keep His commands!

James also tells us to let our yeses be yes and our no’s to be no! Simply that! Because anything other than that leads to sin! We will begin to condemn ourselves and won’t use faith! Stop questioning everything! You’ll drive yourself crazy and won’t do anything great. There’s nothing wrong with saying let me think and pray about that. It’s actually wise to but after you have, it’s simply a yes or a no! Otherwise you confuse the matter, others and yourself. I’m not proud to say that I’m notorious for this. Again, it don’t work!

It’s grey when it’s supposed to be black or white! Plain as day. You then get entangled in things you were never supposed to or wanted to do! Believe me, I know! You don’t have to swear, in fact, we’re commanded not to! Your word should be good by a simple yes or no! Don’t make empty promises! This is part of making decisions and power in choice. There’s no power in the in-between.

Another thing that causes indecision is anxiousness. The Bible tells me that we aren’t to be anxious about anything but instead to pray about everything. Prayer will take the edge off! So once we become anxious, It’s because we are worried and cannot decide, or we think about the what if’s. We must decide to trust God and stop pleasing man or worrying over that which we cannot change. We must have faith in God or we cannot exchange that worry for the peace that He promises when we pray. Ease your mind, give it to God.

Ecclesiastes 5

2 Do not be rash with your mouth,
And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth;
Therefore let your words be few.

3 For a dream comes through much activity,
And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.

4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools.
Pay what you have vowed—

5 Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.

6 Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands?

7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.

It’s pretty simple! Don’t do it! Don’t just utter things out unless you mean it, you can’t take it back it, so don’t say things you’ll later regret! Otherwise you won’t follow through… Don’t be so rash and hasty, but also don’t be so slow! Be stable and be committed. It all starts in the mind, with a made up mind and a decision.

First off, know that you must have vision and know your why! Where are you going and where are you headed? When you have a destination in mind, you’ll know better what to say yes and no to, because now you know where you are going! Does it lead you closer to your purpose and vision, or does it distract you from it? Does it align with Gods vision for your life?

In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
But he who restrains his lips is wise. Proverbs 10:19

Our mouths and commitments can get us in trouble faster than anything. God wants us to be wise and to follow through.

Most are wondering around aimlessly so they jump at this or that. Know where you’re going, Know where your headed! Without vision, God’s people perish! Where’ there’s no aim, we cast off restraint and just do whatever we want to do. Seek God, your Maker. Ask Him for direction, clarity, peace of mind and fresh vision. He holds the Master Plan.

I love the story about David and his men who were committed to one common purpose so they would win the fight that was ahead of them. The easiest way to lose is to not be committed; to have a divided heart and a doubtful mind! If the enemy can conquer you in your mind, then he’s already got you before you’ve even started. That’s why it’s important to have a made up mind!

These men, they knew their why!

Read 1 Chronicles 12:22-33

You must have a made up mind and a right heart like these men did. These men were strong, mighty men of courage who came to help David and formed a great army! It was because of their heart and mind set. I don’t know about you but I don’t want anyone on my team or praying for me that’s double minded, weak minded or of a divided heart. They had one single mindset and one single purpose. They were willing to fight for it. God wants team players of the same mind and accord not divided or to divide! I believe He can do more with a weak, unseasoned, inexperienced player willing to learn than a divided heart and mind not open to Him!

These men understood the times. They not only had what it took, but they were wise and had eyes to see and know what to do. Be prayed up and ask God for His eyes so that you will know when and what to do. They were fitted out with all kinds of weapons. The artillery that God supplies is great but we must first know what these weapons are in order to use them. We must study to show ourselves approved everyday. We must wake up and put on the full armor of God, having a made up mind and put on the mind of Christ!

KNOW your why! It’s powerful. Like a news channel a lot of us use to watch, may your slogan or mantra be: “dedicated determined and dependable!” What are we doing it for? All for the cause of Christ and the life He died to give!

Bottom line, they came with a perfect heart, not perfect behavior - but a heart that was after it all and minds set to do just that. David was a man after Gods own heart and we know he wasn’t perfect. God is perfecting that in you if you are open to and have your whole heart set on Him. The behavior will follow the heart! Make sure it’s right! You must be committed, all in, and sold out. The little toe dip won’t do, that’s dangerous. Head first or not at all!

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. 2 Chronicles 16:9

Where is your heart at? Where do you spend most of your time, money and talent? That’s where you’ll find your heart, where your treasure and priority is. What kind of condition is it in? Is it torn, well then, it’s torn in between two! Or is it whole and steady set on Him?

Where is your mind? What does it wander to? Is it stayed on Him or is it all over the place? We steer where we stare, we go where we focus.

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whosemind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3

This faith walk, well it requires trust..

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Again, All in. Don’t you dare lean to your own understanding or it’ll lead to a divided heart and mind and to overthinking that’ll cause reason! It gets me in trouble every time. Of course you have questions but don’t be anxious, instead choose to pray. Ask God to lead. Where do you want me to go God? Then follow what you feel is truly best and what He’s prompting you to do. Don’t wait for a lighting bolt that’ll never come! His voice can be small and still. We must be quiet and still long enough to listen. God can and will confirm, sometimes more than once but it’ll always require faith on your part to step out.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

We must not let fear rule where faith should lead. I’ve lived with fear my whole life and it’s accomplished nothing but a lot of stress, unnecessary worry and hampered steps! My momma always said: God is not the author of confusion! So who is? Yeah, the enemy of your soul who don’t want you to win, accomplish your purpose or see it through to the end!!! We are fighting a fight but we must fight the good fight of faith and trust the unanswered questions, leaving them to God, and doing our part BY FAITH. It probably won’t make sense but a made up mind is powerful.

A double-minded man is unstable in all he or she thinks does or feels. Do it anyway! The only way to get pass the fear is to face and press against it.

John Wayne says it best:

“Courage is being scared death, but saddling up anyway.”

It’s become one of my favorite quotes because it’s not a sin to feel angst or worry, but it is to give into it. You can’t escape fear because the truth is, as long as we are on this earth, we will be faced with it. It’s also a choice to not succumb to it. Fear is a liar. Fear is real but fear is not truth! The truth is what sets us free. God and His word is truth. It’s a lamp unto our feat and a light unto our path, and we must follow it by faith. Fear lies, the devil does too. He is the father of all lies so fear comes straight from Him. God hasn’t given us that spirit. We must choose Faith over fear or we feed the fear, and what we feed with grows. What we starve, dies.

Be Holy Spirit led. Stop goin’ back and forth being rocked to and fro. A rocker rocks but it goes nowhere!!!

You’ve come to far to come back now!! A decision is just that— to be decided in all you do! Become a person of purpose; become a person of action. Just choose!  To do nothing is sin! (Matthew 25) Faith based will lead you the right way. Worry based will always lead you the wrong way. Let peace rule and the lack of peace is telling you something too! Listen!

Don’t trust yourself, Trust the God in you.

Lord forgive me for doubting,

I’ve got a made up mind I’m following through….

Study Joshua 1:9

And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. Hebrews 10:38-39