"SUCH AND SUCH" AND "SO AND SO"

Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel to do such and such, but I have advised them to do so and so. – 2 SAMUEL 17:15

Decisions, decisions, decisions. According to some sources, the average person makes 35,000 decisions a day. That is 2,000 decisions an hour!

This includes things like:

When to get up?
What to wear?
When or if to shower?
What to eat?
Turn left?
Turn right?
Speed up?
Slow down?
Say hello?
Be kind?
Smile?
Ignore?
Exercise?
Take a nap?

The need to make decisions adds up quick! Our brains are constantly in decision mode.

Most of our everyday decisions are not critical, but the choices we make add up over time. This can be good or bad. Sometimes we know the outcome of our decisions in an instance, while some of the results aren’t revealed for a lifetime.

How do you make decisions?

I believe there are at least three ways to consider what is best. On a scale from 1-10, with 10 being very confident, ask yourself:

1. What does my GUT say about this decision?
2. What does GOD say about this decision?
3. What do OTHERS say about this decision?

Rate each category from 1-10. Add those numbers up and divide by three to get the average. If the average is greater than eight, then you are probably on the right track. If your average is less that eight then you might need to wait and gain more insight or look for a better solution. Beware of too much self-talk and people-pleasing in the process. Be honest with yourself.

There is a great passage in the ancient scriptures that demonstrate the importance of getting the right advice.

Absalom was seeking to overthrow his father’s dynasty. He received good advice from a bad person and bad advice from a good person. Talk about confusing! One adviser said, “such and such” and the other adviser said, “so and so”.

Don’t get caught in the paralysis of analysis. Learn to discern! Be selective when it comes to the voices you allow inside your head.

Eventually you will need to move from discussion mode to decision mode. Second-guessing yourself will only slow you down. Make up your mind and go for it.

Think and pray
Choices matter. Learning to live with the choices we make can bring great satisfaction or lingering regret. Which you decide is up to you!

Father, my first and greatest choice is to choose You! Be first in my life, and guide my thinking and decision-making. Help me to both seek and discern wise counsel, and use me to be the same for others. Amen.