How Can You Make That One Choice?
By Olga Hermans
You are very special to God and He gave you the freedom of choice. So, since God created you and me to make decisions, then we can be sure that He has also given us the proper way to make those decisions.
The gift of free will is one thing that characterizes God as a Father. He gives us His guidelines for life in His Word and then allows us to make our own choices. We have the power to choose a life of blessings or curses. Our future is completely in our hands.
God can’t and won’t make us do anything, and the devil certainly can’t force us into anything we don’t willingly agree to. For this reason, the responsibility for the direction of our lives is in our hands.
Have you ever been in a situation where you wanted to make a choice to do something, but knew deep down in your heart you should be doing the other thing? What do you do in a situation like that? How do you know which choice to make and know that, that is the best choice?
Let’s picture the scales in an old grocery store that were used to weigh out how many ounces of candy were in a bag or something. Both of the scales have a balance point in the center. If the objects on both sides are the same weight, then the sides will balance. If one side is heavier, then that side will go down and the other side will go up. A seesaw on a playground would give the same picture.
If you want to make a quality decision, you must determine the weight or value you will give to those objects you are choosing. Only after doing that, can you decide between the choices. Only then can you say no and choose between the different options that you have, right? You are giving weight or value to the things on the scale. This is a very important step to making a quality decision.
Many times people make important decisions without judging the options, without weighing the positives and negatives, without determining what that decision will mean to them in the long run.
This is a process that goes on all the time even when we might not be aware of it. Let’s have a look at this example of a woman buying a pair of shoes. Her decision to purchase a particular pair of shoes will be determined by what is important to her. It depends on the situation; some determining factors might be color, comfort and style. She might be looking for a color to wear with a particular outfit that she already has.
If she finds shoes in the correct color, she may buy them even if the fit bothers her a little. On the other hand, she may be looking for high heels for a formal occasion. She might try on a pair of shoes that are very comfortable but have low heels.
No matter how comfortable they may be, she will tell the clerk, “No, that’s not what I want.” Even in this ordinary, routine action, she will think the situation through and outweigh one or the other.
It is not difficult to make a decision if one choice greatly outweighs the other. Sometimes though, each of the choices has great value and you have to choose between them.
God told Moses in Ex.3:10 to go to Pharaoh and bring the people of Israel out of Egypt. Moses valued the situation which meant that he honored the situation. He put the choices that he had to make in the balance. His desire to obey God was much greater than the treasure he had in Egypt.
Just because you know what you should do, does not make it easy. And certainly this was not a simple decision for Moses to make. As “The Son of Pharaoh’s Daughter,” Moses held a position of great wealth. He was in the royal line and entitled to an inheritance. He probably knew he would become king himself some day.
Have you ever had to consider giving something up – something you knew you should give up – then you began to think about how much you liked that thing, or how hard you had worked for it or how long it had taken you to get in that position?
Has God ever given you a dream that has caused you to be so excited that you were not able to sleep at night? Then, as time passed without the dream becoming a reality, you may have lost your enthusiasm in pursuing that dream? Perhaps you even questioned whether it was from God in the first place.
Many times our dreams do not become reality because of the decisions we make in our lives. Your course in life depends on the decisions you make. Don’t let your God-given dreams fade away. It is time to dust off your unfilled dreams and go for it!!
Today is a great day to start weighing your choices and to determine to make quality decisions.
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I don’t make any kind of decision without:,1. Talkin to God 2talkin to,my husband 3 gettin feedback from my Godly Christian friends.
That is awesome Carrie, keep it that way and you’re well on your way!
Love the new look its refreshing
Your course in life depends on the decisions you make….so true. Our decisions definately take us to the goal or not! thanks Olga!
Yes Penny, our decisions are that important!
Just establishing a goal is a decision in itself. I always ask God for direction, but sometimes He is very quiet. Those are the times He is watching to see what we will do, and to see if we really belong to Him.
Thanks Mary, God watches us indeed what we will do with the freedom of our choice/decision.
Hi Olga,
A friend and I recently had a chat in Facebook and she asked me to pray about a relationship with her husband.. he had divorced her and gone off with another woman, but she was having trouble letting go. I wanted to comfort her but not offer false hope.
So I suggested she let go of her husband, just cut the tie. I suggested that God had a GOOD future for her and her husband, for restoration of their marriage. But i also suggested that God had a GOOD future for her without her husband. It’s all because we have choices, and in marriage, it’s not just up to one person to make the right choices – it takes two.
She wrote back that God had given her the same word!
it really all boils down to choices…. God has GOOD plans to prosper us and to give us a GOOD future! But we do have to make our own choices every single day, as you so well challenge us, Olga!
Awesome Susan, I think you gave your friend some wise counsel; that’s what friends are for!
Olga, great words you are putting out today. “Don’t let your God-given dreams fade away. It is time to dust off your unfilled dreams and go for it!!” Everyone has a potential to fulfill our dreams.
Yes Claudia, we all have the potential to fulfil our dreams; absolutely!
First of all, Olga, I LOVE your site! Beautiful colors and great set up!! And of course, secondly, you’ve written another great article. I’ve had to make some very weighty decisions lately, so I can very much relate to this. Thanks again for another wonderful post.
Thanks Jessica for the awesome compliment about my site; it’s great to know that this helped you in your weighty decisions!
I always talk to God before I make my decisions. He may not talk back but there are signs that are usually not far away that He gives to help point you in the right direction. Listen to your heart and you will know! Let go & Let God!
great article!
God has definitely His ways to point you in the right direction; deep down in our heart we will always know.
“It is time to dust off your unfilled dreams and go for it!!” I needed to hear that today. Thanks Olga!
Yes, let’s dust of those dreams Helena and go for it; I totally agree!
“Many times people make important decisions without judging the options, without weighing the positives and negatives, without determining what that decision will mean to them in the long run.” This is so true Olga! I love giving support to help people make & keep a decision, that’s why I love your blog so much!
Great post Olga. I love depending on God and HIS promises. It may look like things are moving slow, but I know I serve an “on time” God who can do miraculous things. I keep trusting in HIM. I want it now or catch up but I have peace knowing HE is all I need!
inspirational as usual Olga. I loved the way you used scales and weight to illustrate how we all make decisions . And I concur with everyone else, the site looks great!
Thanks Ron for your comment and I am glad you like my new site 🙂
Thanks Ron!
Every decision is a fork in the road, and brings with it consequences. We can see this best when we look back from where we are today … to moments when we made decisions, large and small. A different choice, even on a small decision, could have taken us down a totally different path. So your suggestion to weigh our options carefully is powerful advice!
Thanks Sharon, every decision is a decision that we make and it will impact our future, whether we realize that or not.
So true, that when we look back, we can see clearly where we missed it and how our life has come where we are today!
Wonderful post. I love the uplifting reminder that God is in Control!
I’m big on making a “pro and con” list when faced with a huge decision. And, of course pray about everything! The answer usually comes to me within a few days.
That is something good to do Martha; I believe that we should make it too complicated as well. If we have peace about it; it is a go ahead!!
Gosh, everything I’m reading at the moment is about decisions and making the right choices! Last night I was led to scriptures about ‘doing what I don’t want to do and not doing what I ought to do’ and I was praying about it. Clearly God is trying to lead me in the right direction and not my direction!
I believe you will make the right decision Carolyn; your heart desires to please God!
Olga, you have shared with us such a beautifully laid out decision making process.”Many times our dreams do not become reality because of the decisions we make in our lives”. This is such a powerful statement about how important that decision making process is and how we are indeed responsible for our lives and dreams through the decisions we make. Love it!
Yes Sherie, our decisions can keep us from our own destiny! Think about that!! 🙂
“Your course in life depends on the decisions you make.” – isn’t that the truth. Awesome and inspiring as always, Olga.
By the way, love the new look on your site. 🙂
Thanks Lorii for your nice comment and telling me that you like the new look of my site!
I love that! It’s so hard to decide the right thing to do even if you give a great deal of thought and prayer. I always know I have done the right thing when I have a peace about it!
That’s it Elizabeth, when you have peace about beyond your own understanding, you know it’s ok!
Olga–I like the way you bring in everyday situations to make your point. Every decision we make has its own consequence. I sometimes tell my clients that I have a choice about almost everything, including if I want to overeat or not. If I choose to, I pay the consequences–upset tummy and/or weight gain. It is always a choice.
Great article. I’ve had some things “weighing” on me lately and have some choices to make myself. Very timely advice. thanks for the talkin’ to! 🙂
Awesome, God brings us to the right place at the right time.
God shows me my future and I hold on to that image when times are hard. I know it is coming because God has planned it for me.
Olga, I totally agree with this – It is not difficult to make a decision if one choice greatly outweighs the other. Sometimes though, each of the choices has great value and you have to choose between them. I love the new look of your website too.
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Olga, I am so happy and feel blessed that God has given us the free-will to make choices. However it grieves me when I have made the wrong choice and when I do not seek God’s direction in weighing the value of each choice I have. When I make a bad choice God is always faithful to forgive me and by the Holy Spirit send me a message to help in future choices. It helps create the desire & habit of following God’s nudging’s when I am faced with decisions. Thanks for your insights from above.
Now that will Preach!!!
Wonderful post, Olga. Thanks for sharing.
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great article, Olga.. It’s so hard to decide sometimes!
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I love the way you put that ” Dust off dream” Thanks Olga, You are such an inspiration to others!
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Wise words about decision-making, Olga. I love “If you want to make a quality decision, you must determine the weight or value you will give to those objects you are choosing.” Absolutely true! It has to align with values and many other factors as well. Love the new look to your website, too!