2 Samuel 11:4 Then David sent messengers, and took her, and she came to him and he lay with her for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.
We can make wrong decisions when we are ruled by our appetites rather than godly discernment. As a Christian we should not make snap judgments when feeling:
hungry----> H
angry ----> A
lonely ----> L
tired ----> T
Take time to weigh a situation's merits and drawbacks. Don't give Satan a toehold. Keep yourself fed, rational , in good company and rested.
Read Psalm 51
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice, O God, is[b] a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
18 May it please you to prosper Zion,
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
From me:
Decisions can be hard. I do not have the greatest decision making track record. Like David, I've made mistakes. Things I wish I could change or erase. When we do that we need to, like David, go to the Lord for forgiveness and then move on in our service to Him. Some decisions are small, the consequences mild...like overeating for a day...other decisions are life altering, the consequences and results are major, and not easily fixed, if at all. Life has no delete key! It's times like that we have to refer to and remember God's Word. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. And Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword. Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor powers,nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor death, nor any other created things, shall be able to separate us from the love or God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
I make probably a hundred decisions a day. You probably do too. What to eat, what to wear, what chore to do first. Most decisions aren't life changing in nature. Some are more profound. Do I get angry over what so and so said or did, or do I forgive and extend the hand of friendship? Then there's the biggies....what job do I take, do I buy this house, who do I marry....life changing. Or the biggest of all...Do I give my life to Christ. This one is life defining and eternity determining. We've all heard it said..."just follow your heart." God says the heart is deceitful above all things. I am learning...and trying to follow peace. What option do I have a peace about? Do I feel the need to persevere in the face of opposition (as I did on a recent large decision), or do I sense disquiet and unease. A leading away from one thing or another. Peace is from God. And the closer I stay to Him, the easier I am led in the right direction. Will I still make mistakes, and go off on my own path? Probably. But I also know that God's hand will be right there to lead me back onto His road.
I am praying for all of us, that we make good, godly decisions. Help us hear Your voice Lord, see Your visits to lead and guide us on the path of righteousness. And Lord, I pray especially for those facing the biggest and most important decision of all, "Do I follow Jesus, take Him as my Savior and Lord?" Lord, help them to say "yes." It is in Your most holy and precious name I pray. Thank You.
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