Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. Joel 3:14
More and more we are moving into this ‘valley’. As the pressure grows for us to make a decision in so many ways the need to make a correct one … gets even more intense. Where do I find the answers? Who do I get advice from? What information is what I need to make the right decision? How do I step out of the situation that confronts me? Where do I find the courage?
You’d think it would get easier.. but most of the time it doesn’t, because usually the stakes are higher and more impacting. Decisions are what make our life what it is, and can cause us the most regret in our life. Our enemy of our souls likes to remind us of our many mistakes. The enemy likes to get us into fear for making the wrong decision. The enemy likes to play the “what if” game with us, getting us in an endless loop of fear and indecision.
This is why the discipline of learning how to listen to His Voice is so crucial for the followers of Jesus Christ. It becomes a learning process to identify the Voice of the Holy Spirit in our minds. We have to have established great filters to know where each thought comes from. This is why to know the written Word is important, for the Holy Spirit can use it to our benefit in that moment and at the time of our ‘decision’. He brings to our memory the Words of Jesus. He brings the wisdom of the Word for the appropriate moment through the fruit of His Spirit. This process and discipline is the disciple’s task to lead them into spiritual maturity. This process will be happening throughout our lives. We continually must push ourselves in this pursuit of knowing Him. Because our decisions will only get tougher as this world continues to degrade into chaos. And the need for us to fulfill our calling in Christ grows with each day we are given here in the shadowland.
So do you self sabotage in this process of decisions? Has the enemy gotten you into the habit of avoiding any decision that scares you? Or when the going gets uncomfortable beyond what you think you can handle? What is the anchor for your soul? What we believe may not be what our actions proclaim. Do you bring your thoughts before Christ? Do you bring all your decisions before Him as well? Does the Holy Spirit bring certain scriptures to your remembrance when you are facing certain decisions? Have you learned to be able to hear the Voice of the Holy Spirit when the noise of the chaos and need is really loud and intense? Have you learned to obey Him ‘in the moment’?
If these questions are difficult to answer it might be that they are hitting too close to home. This is where the discipline of pouring it ALL out before Him in prayer needs to be employed in your life. Being honest to the smallest detail — make your heart be known to Him. Not that He doesn’t already know — but often it is revelation to ourselves — to express our deepest needs, and heart issues. He wants us to come to Him with all those things. The present is always the correct time. It is the present in which we live. Leave the past behind, and push away the fears of the future and connect with Him in the ‘now’. Learn to keep that ‘prayer conversation’ with Him going throughout your entire day.
Listen closely.