CLEAR SIGNS BEFORE BAD DECISIONS

SATURDAY JULY 4

“Let us choose justice for ourselves; let us know among ourselves what is good.” Job 34:4 NKJV

When you make a mistake or a bad decision, if you’re wise, you’ll learn from it by asking, “Where have I gone wrong?” Here are three ways to avoid making a bad decision: (1) Don’t get involved where you don’t belong. “Helping” without an invitation is called “meddling.” No matter how well qualified you are, no matter how badly other people may be messing things up, stepping in where God hasn’t called you to go never turns out well. Ask yourself, “What am I trying to avoid in my own life that makes me want to take over somebody else’s life?” (2) Stop, think, and pray before you decide. “He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him” (Pr18:13 NKJV). If you’re an achievement junkie—someone who thinks that doing something, anything, feels better than waiting—you can make kneejerk choices that make things worse rather than better. Include key people in your decision-making and listen to the counsel of the Holy Spirit before taking action (see Jn 16:13). (3) Don’t wait too long to decide. If you’re a perfectionist, you’re at risk here. You become so concerned about making the wrong choice that you make none at all. Making no choice is actually a choice. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (Jas 1:5 NKJV). Best case? You’ll show courage and concern for others and improve things. Worst case? You’ll make a mistake and grow wiser because of it.