Have you ever gotten just what you wanted, then realize it didn’t satisfy you like you thought it would? Have you thought you were doing what you were meant to do only to realize it really didn’t suit you? What do you do when this happens?
We often think we know what we want. We see something that looks nice and we pursue it. In many cases, we don’t know much about it, we simply know it looks nice. Or, worse yet, it is a popular thing to desire so we desire it, too.
It can be especially bad, if what we desire is a job that doesn’t fit us. That can turn out very bad if we give up a good job to take it. It can also turn very bad for us if the change costs us lots of money. We become dissatisfied even more. We see all it cost us in money and perhaps in prestige. The cost can be high.
How can we ensure we are making the right decisions? How can we ensure we want to make the right decisions? We can research the item we want to purchase, and we can research the job we want to apply for. Yet, that will only happen if we truly want to make the right decision.
It may be harsh to think and more so to say, but if we aren’t desiring to make right decisions, we are being foolish. Making the wrong decision will cost us. It is only when we realize these truths that we are able to desire making the right decision for our lives.
This is not only true for making decisions about purchases and jobs, it is also true when it involves our eternal lives. It is only when we come to the realization our lives will come to an end one day and there are only two options for spending our eternal lives, that we decide to investigate those options.
There is a cost to everything. That includes the cost on our eternal life. The wise person will count that cost. Making a decision one way will have one cost while making different decision has a different cost. To make an educated decision, we need to spend time looking at the options. We need to look at both short term and long-term costs.
Our best guidance will come from God. As we look to make decisions, we need to spend time in prayer. Through prayer God speaks to us. Prayer must be a two-way conversation. We are to lay out our requests, yes, but we are also to listen.
I pray we all decide to make the right decisions for our lives. I pray we do proper research to educate ourselves. I pray each of us will spend time in prayer, both requesting and listening. Count the costs. Do your research. Educate yourself. Spend time in prayer. Listen for God’s guidance. God will guide you down the right path.
Luke 14:27-28 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?
Marty Pressey 