Pamela L. McQuade - Letting Go and Trusting God: 180 Devotions for Lifes Tough Decisions

2016 by Barbour Publishing

Print ISBN 978-1-63609-003-0

eBook Editions:

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Every day, we women make decisions that affect our lives, the lives of families and friends, the companies we work for, and the world. We are powerful people, even if were sometimes unappreciated. We do everything from rocking the cradle to ruling the world.

I cannot know what decisions you face, nor, at this distance, can I advise you on how to solve thorny issues in your life. But I can share scriptures that help with making choices and offer some inspiration to encourage you along your decision-making way. I can tell you about the Lord who can do all the things I cant do in your life.

How do we make choices that honor God and enrich our lives? We turn to the Lord who controls our world and days, even the parts of them we have yet to experience. For He has the advice and wisdom we lack, and He knows every day of and bump in our lives.

Finally, with the inspiration here, I hope youll be able to share Gods truth [that His] word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path (Psalm 119:105 niv) and help others discover the best decision-making plan out there: Talking to the Lord on a day-by-day or even moment-by-moment basis.

Gods Spirit doesnt make cowards out of us. The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control.
2 T IMOTHY 1:7 CEV

Here is the stuff we need for decision-making: courage, power, love, and self-control. Making good choices isnt for the faint of heart.

Decision-making often requires us to make many choices at a time, and that takes courage. That kind of decision overload can come when we get married, move, take care of an ailing family member, or lose a loved one. Lots of choices to make all at once; its hard to know where to start, even when theyre happy choices.

Simultaneously we may face relationship decisions with their own set of challenges. Sometimes they fall on top of other choices, making each more difficult. But God asks us to deal with all people and situations with love, no matter how burdened we feel or how hard the challenges seem. And instead of rushing into decisions or responding with unbridled emotions, He calls on us to use self-control.

Decision-making is often a balancing act in which we weigh one part of our lives against another, while constantly keeping the whole in mind. Only the Spirits power, love, and self-control can provide us with all the necessary decision-making tools.

Though God gives us courage and strength for every choice He puts in our paths, its up to us to seek His power, love, and self-control.

Theyre just waiting for us, in His hand.

For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.
P SALM 48:14 NIV

Some choices are ephemeral, only affecting a day, a week, or maybe even just a few minutes of our lives. But important choices have lasting impact: Where will we live? What kind of job will we have? Whom will we marry? Or will we stay single instead?

Sometimes those choices seem to easily make themselves for us: We leave school and a job just seems to turn up. But we still decide to take whats offered. When we walk into something easily, it could be a plan God has had for us all along or just a temporary stopping place. In time we may choose to move on, or we may be tempted to remain where life is comfortable. Decisions may not last forever, or they may be serious choices, the start of a lifetime of good things.

But whether things come to us easily or we struggle, we can be certain of one thing: God will be our lifelong guide.

When we come to a crossroads, we dont need to make a quick choice based only on our own experience. God offers us His immense store of knowledge and understanding. All we have to do is ask our Guide. Tapping into Him, we need not worry that one small choice will damage our lives unnecessarily: decisions made with Gods wisdom are never failures.

But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is Gods throne. But let your Yes be Yes, and your No, No. For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
M ATTHEW 5:34, 37 NKJV

Often we dont take our promises very seriously. We tell a friend or coworker well help, but if life gets in the way, its no big deal if we shrug off our commitment. We rearrange things to suit our needs, apologize, and never think twice of it. Promises dont mean that much, and we figure people will understand.

It wasnt that way in Jesus day. The Jews back then knew that God had said they should keep any vows made in His name (Deuteronomy 23:23). To show they were serious, when they made a vow, theyd swear by various things of spiritual significance, like heaven or Jerusalem, but theyd leave His name out and think their unkept oaths avoided heavenly disapproval. Despite these verbal games, their track record was no better than ours.