Make Up Your Mind Romans 7:14 - 25 It is said that in a given day a person will make 35,000 decisions a day of which 226 are on food alone. When it comes to making up your mind there are certain styles or strategies involved that reflect what structure goes into our making up our minds on a matter. Impulsiveness – Leverage the first option you are given and be done. “Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” “I told you that I am he.” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servants name was Malchus) John 18:7 – 10 “When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” All the people answered, “let his blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.” Matthew 27:24 - 26 Compliance – Choosing with the most pleasing, comfortable and popular option as it pertains to those impacted. With positive potential - “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourself this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the god of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14, 15 With negative potential - “Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down form the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, “ Come, make us a god who will go before us, as for this Moses, the man who brought us up form the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” Aaron said to them, “Rear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives (which came from the Egyptians) your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. He took from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf, and they said, “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” Exodus 32:1-4 Delegating – Not making the decision yourself, but pushing it off to trusted others. “Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. He chose capable men form all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundred, fifties, and tens. They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.” Exodus 18:24 - 26 Avoidance / deflection – Either avoiding or ignoring decisions in an effort to avoid responsibility for their impact of just simply preventing them from overwhelming you. “The Lord said to him, “Who gave man this mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” But Moses said, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.” Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron, the Levite? I know he can speak well.” Exodus 4:11 - 14 Balancing – Weighing the factors involved, studying them and then using the information to render the best decision in the moment. “He (Saul) came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’ “Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.” I Samuel 24:3 – 4 “Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it. But he men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” Numbers 13:30 Prioritizing and reflecting – Putting the most energy, thought, and effort into those decisions that will have the greatest impact. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” Luke 22:44 Regardless of which style or strategy you use to make a decision there are certain key ingredients that need to be present in your life on a consistent basis so that when called upon to make a decision there are guiding core values that go into the decision you make. Basic components found in the Bible for making wise decisions: Know that making foolish decisions you make will have its consequences: o “The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen – the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea, Not one of them survived.” Exodus 14:28 o “So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.” Matthew 27:5 Know that making wise decisions will have its benefits: o “And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and the king’s administrators helped the Jews, because fear of Mordecai was prominent in the palace; his reputation spread throughout the provinces, and he became more and more powerful.” Esther 9:3 Know that making the right decisions is not easy but rewarding: o “When they heard this they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.” Know how to recognize harmful counsel: o “But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me.” Nehemiah 6:11 – 13 Know what the Bible has to say about the subject matter you’re having to make a decision on: o “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” Provers 2:6 o “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Phil. 4:8 o “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Prov. 3:5,6 Know all the issues surrounding the matter you have to make a decision on: o “He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.” Prov. 18:13 o “The first to please his case seems right, until another comes and examines him.” Prov. 18:17 Know the value of listening to wise counsel: o “Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in an abundance of counselors there is victory.” Prov. 11:14 o “He who separates himself seeks his own desire. He quarrels against all sound wisdom.” Prov. 18:1 o “A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own mind.” Prov. 18:2 Know that there are decisions of the mind and decisions of the heart, Proverbs 3:5 o “Trust in the Lord with all your heart….” . “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he…..” Prov. 23:7 . “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 . “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9 . “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Prov. 4:23 . “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts (formulated in the mind) and the intentions (driven by a love for God) of the heart.