The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. - Psalm 116:5 (NIV)
Is it just me, or does it feel as if bad decisions come in multiples and fire at a rapid pace? I think the worst part of a bad choice is the domino effect which leaves a trail of frustration and regret. Have hope! Don't let them tear you down.
Poor decisions do not have to define you. You aren't alone. We all make poor decisions. Remember, Adam and Eve kicked off the cycle of bad choices, and humankind has certainly had no problem keeping the streak alive. Does that mean God walks away from us when we choose evil over good? No!
God responds to us the same way He responded to Adam and Eve who were hiding in the garden after biting that apple.
- God calls for us
- He seeks us
- He runs toward us
- He forgives us
- He gives us a way out
Facing the consequences of a bad decision can feel like the 5th round of a prize fight - with our hands tied behind our back, but we must at least try to fight back. We can take a knee and ask God to stand in our place... like He did with Christ.
He will graciously do it again and again for us. It's called grace and forgiveness. (Thank you, Lord.) The more we line our lives up with God, the more we want to fight with both hands! Which is a very good decision.
So, we know more bad decisions are coming, right? Our goal then, should be to make fewer of them as we go through life. How about a process that helps us get there? Try this:
- Take a breath before that next critical decision and ask God to fill you with His spirit
- Ask God for wisdom to make the best decision.
- Act on it.
And remember... it doesn't matter what we do or how far we stray... we can never outrun the arms and grace of God. In the face of the worst action possible, God's grace is sufficient.
There is nothing you can do to make God love you less. So let's get on our knees, own up to our mistakes, and allow God's grace to give us a new day.
THE RIGHT NEXT STEP:
- Tell one friend about A recent bad decision.
- Pray together for strength to shake it off.
PRAY: God, I've made some mistakes. I've chased some poor ideas and decided to run to them rather than to You. Forgive me for trying to do this life on my own. Give me the desire to let go of the frustrations and strength grab on to your glory. Amen.