Choices, Choices Everywhere!
by SusanAs I read Lewis’ blog on putting on the Armor of God, he said something like, “children are given little, if any, say in what they wear.” That reminded me. . .
When my kids were young, a friend told me that one of the hardest things for kids to learn was how to make choices. Everyone faces choices, and in our culture, the choices are myriad. (Another acquaintance from a Soviet bloc country hated shopping in the States because he felt paralyzed with indecision over the selection of dozens of cereals, t-shirts, watches, and so on.) I resolved to train my kids from their earliest moments to make choices. For example, when D was an infant, I’d hold up two outfits and ask her to make a choice. When she appeared to point to an outfit, I would use that outfit and praise her for making a choice.
In life, I think a lot of our choices (from God’s perspective) are similarly inconsequential. Why would he want to control which outfit, job, or road we take, as long as our eyes are fixed on him and our desire is to serve him?
If we sense that God is nudging or calling us in a certain direction, by all means we should go that way. And of course we should continue in prayer about everything.
But when it’s time to make a decision, make one!
Tags: control, crossroads, decisions, prayer
June 4th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Hmmmm…. I have some thoughts about all that, but I just can’t decide what to say.
So should I just make a decision and say something (because it doesn’t really matter what I say), or is this a decision I should ponder?
June 4th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Your first statement is usually my reaction to each of our blogs. Over time (minutes, hours, days), my thoughts often crystallize into something I decide is worth expressing. You’ll notice, too, that there are many blog entries I haven’t commented on; the thoughts never coalesced.
I’m not recommending impulsivity, but movement. “[W]hen it’s time” implies that you’ve done your homework, prayer work, pondering work, or whatever other work is necessary to get you to the point where you can *decide* to take concrete action or let it all go.
Just don’t stand there and then blame God that you haven’t moved.
June 5th, 2008 at 10:12 am
I remember my first back to the States after having spent 5 some years in Japan. I was overwhelmed by the choices….it took 20 minutes to just look at all the choices of cereal, then bread, then…In the car, suddenly there were so many channels to choose from, I couldn’t decide. Cable TV, I’d find something that was interesting but then channel surf to see what else might be watchable. By the time I decided, the program was over. Frustration!
I agree with Susan…yeah, I’m surprised to hear myself say it, too…it is easier for God to change our direction when we are moving. If we just stand still, He can change our direction all day and what we end up with is becoming dizzy.
Pray…Act…Pray