Judges: Choosing God's WayMuestra

Commit to Doing God’s Will

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

One of the identifying characteristics of our postmodern, post-Christian culture is indecision. Many people today refuse to accept that life is made up of either/or decisions. Today’s generation wants to keep all options open. They consider an all-inclusive tolerance to be a virtue, and they often reject the notion that some actions, attitudes, and beliefs deserve to be excluded.

The word decision comes from the Latin decidere, which means “to cut off,” from de- and caedere (“to cut”). Once you make a decision to go in one direction, you cut off all other options and possibilities. If you decide to marry this person, you cut off the option of marrying anyone else. If you decide to go to a Chinese restaurant for dinner, you cut off the option of having pizza.

We must learn that to decide is to cut off all other options. Many people who say they have “made a decision for Christ” live no differently than the unbeliever. A key step in spiritual maturity is developing the ability to make firm, righteous decisions – and to commit ourselves 100 percent to keeping those decisions. Perhaps there are crossroads in your life right now for which you must make a decision. It is time for us to pay the price of authentic discipleship and commit to doing God’s will.

As a young woman once said, “It’s wonderful to do the Lord’s work, but it is far greater to do the Lord’s will.” It is the will of God for us to be found faithful. It is the will of God for us to be trusting and obedient.

Prayer: Lord, I choose to place You in control of my life once more. I commit myself to You to the exclusion of all else. Be the Lord of my life once again. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).