Decisions

“I Decided”

This is the phrase that people avoid like the plague.

“I Decided”

This is an honest phrase that can show us where we are lacking, and empower us to change, and be the best of what God created in us.

First let’s look at the seemingly negative ways that people avoid using “I Decided”.
I Decided not to pray today.
I Decided not to read my Bible.
I Decided not to put God first today.
I Decided not to make my spouse a priority.
I Decided not to do my very best at work.
I Decided to allow other people to dictate my emotions.
I decided to eat things not healthy for me.
I Decided to blow up on my kids.
I Decided to let that relationship in my life, knowing it’s not edifying my marriage.

All of these are true statements that we easily can pick out in others, but may not see them in ourselves.
And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? Matthew 7:3 NLT

We “Decide” to not be fully honest with ourselves and that decision to not to be honest, keeps us from being the best “us” that God has intended.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  Galatians 5:16 NIV

The first and foremost important step is raw honesty about ourselves in every way possible.

I am going through Financial Peace University. Learning to utilize a budget shows me where I’m making bad decisions with my money. Until I see where, and bring light to where every penny is going, I cannot make the appropriate changes to do what’s best with money.

Now let’s change things around. Let’s make “I Decide” statements and be proactive.

I Decide to pray today.
I Decide to read my Bible.
I Decide to put God first today.
I Decide to make my spouse a priority.
I Decide to do my very best at work.
I Decide to not allow other people to dictate my emotions.
I decide to eat things that are healthy for me.
I Decide to not blow up on my kids.
I Decide to keep healthy boundaries in relationships to honor my marriage.
For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! Ephesians 5:8 NLT

After being brutally honest with yourself, using the “I Decided” statements you can now “Decide to” change them and are strengthened to be God’s best for you.

Father,

Help me to be brutally honest and self-reflect. Using this to mold me into the very best that you have for me. Help me to deny myself and act in the Spirit, making your voice louder than my own. Thank you for opening my eyes to the decisions I have made. I thank you for being able to Decide to change and follow your will, not mine.

Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.
Romans 6:17-18 NLT

 By Norm Bender

Norm Bender and his wife Mary live in Greencastle, PA. Together with a whole lot of grace from God are raising their four kids — 3 boys and a little girl.  Norm is a Supervisor over Data Recon for United Healthcare. They are members of LCBC Church, Waynesboro.