Decisions Decisions

Decisions Decisions

God is giving instruction regarding Aaron and his clothes that would be required to enter the tabernacle on behalf of the people.

Exodus 28:15 (NASB95)

15 “You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, the work of a skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make it: of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen you shall make it.

Exodus 28:30 (NASB95)

30 “You shall put in the breastpiece of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the Lord; and Aaron shall carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the Lord continually.

Exodus 28:15 (NIV)

15 “Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions—the work of a skilled craftsman. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen.

Exodus 28:30 (NIV)

30 Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.

We’ve been teaching the last couple of weeks on the “prophetic edge”….Or being under it which is basically the definition of the word “prophesy” in the O.T…(being under the influence of the Holy Spirit) whether teaching, preaching, worshiping…

Last week we spoke on hearing God and testing it.

My devotionals over the last week included the Exodus reading and it really had me pondering “decisions”…

The word here translated most of the time is judgment. The NIV translation made me shift in how I was applying the same word….

Many and most times “judgment” and “decision” is interchangeable….The “thought” of how you use it however is different, at least to me.

It caused me to pray more about the “means to make decisions”….

Expound on how much pressure there is on our lives to make decisions.

Joel 3:14 (NASB95)

14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

• Our decisions affect others around us…Expound

Proverbs 16:10 (NASB95)

10 A divine decision is in the lips of the king; His mouth should not err in judgment.

• We face decisions to be righteous, or to be in sin!

Isaiah 10:1 (NASB95)

1 Woe to those who enact evil statutes And to those who constantly record unjust decisions,

(address “falling into sin”)

Every day we face decisions. Some are easy, some are harder!

I’ve been around people who just seem to make poor decisions every time they turn around.

I’ve also been around people who just seem to make correct decisions most of the time!

What is the process we use for making decisions?

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB95)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

1. Trust in the Lord

Trust=Betach to attach, be secure, be confident=careless….

Speaks of solidity….

Seems there is always the option to trust in ourselves, which we do easily!

Proverbs 28:26 (NASB95)

26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered.

We can be “attached” to our own will…our own selfish desires that can be a road bed of bad decision making…

I think that God can teach you how to make good decisions by the things you suffer making bad ones. He can use the past experience, the education etc to culminate in a life style of making decisions….

Important to note however that the Word does not say trust in your experience, your education, or most certainly yourself! I think you consider those things as part of the equation but….Trust in the Lord!

2. Do not lean on your own understanding

Our own understanding is limited! Partial information!

Expound on looking for a new vehicle….google, edmunds, etc…

But ultimately I don’t know how it was taken care of or if it’s a lemon!

I need to commit the process to God and trust that He will guide my/your decision!

Ultimately we make decisions with limited knowledge but God does not!

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 (NKJV)

3. Acknowledge Him in ALL your ways

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:6 (NASV)

Expound on all….We tend to compartmentalize things.

If you want to make good decisions in your life that will not only affect you, but others around you….

All your ways…All aspects of your life etc….