Good Thinking

Good Day To You,

Have you ever been puzzled about what to do or what decision to make, and you chat about it with a friend or a coworker who asks a good question that seems to reveal the answer or the proper perspective that you haven’t seen before? What follows is an aha moment when you declare, “I think that’s it!” or “That makes real sense to me now.”  Good questions help bring insight. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus used questions in many of his interactions with people as we find in the Gospels. Last week and this week are looking at four good questions to help us make really good decisions. 

Last week we unpacked the following two questions: 

1. Am I being honest - really?   2. What story do I want to tell? 

Here are the last two questions we will cover on this practical subject.

3. Is there a tension that deserves my attention? 

Am I sensing a check or a pause in my spirit that I need to pay attention to? Should I check the fear or doubt in my mind about this decision, and make sure it is not affectingme negatively and should be replaced with an affirmation of God’s truth?  Ask these questions when you have a check:  Where is this coming from? What’s the fruit? Is it fear based? Then let me hear from the King of my heart, remove it with his peace, and follow faith. It could be that you just need to pause and pray. In making good decisions you should come to the place that you are willing to act and you are also willing to not act. Then listen and allow God some time to confirm the choice through the following: 

A. The Word of God and your devotional life 

B. His peace ruling in your heart

C. Family, friends, the local church

D. Circumstances

In that order - not the other way around. 

4. What’s the most loving thing to do?

Asking this question takes courage and discipline, for the answer will cost you something. When you are honest and ask what is the most loving and wise thing to do, you will most often need to deny yourself, discipline your emotions, and act from selflessness. If the most loving thing is to keep short account with your spouse and make things right anytime they go sideways, then you will need to step out and be brave often. If getting out of debt is the most loving thing for your family, it’s going to take some tough choices and steady courage. Know this, when you choose the most loving thing, it will be difficult, but you will find great reward. For God so loved the world that he gave his only son. And look at the reward. Look at the outcome of that loving act, providing salvation and eternity for you and me and millions more.  

Take your time and the discipline and ask yourselves these good questions, and you will find good decisions are the outcome that foster life and freedom. 

Q: What do you think of the statement, “When in doubt don’t”?

Q: Recall a time when you chose selflessly. What was the outcome? When did you choose the most loving thing and what was the outcome?