HOW GOOD ARE YOU AT MAKING WISE DECISIONS?

SCRIPTURE:
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, 
love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust 
of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the 
Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever 
does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17)

MEDITATION:
Isn’t it nice when everything is going just the way you want it to go?
Each day is predictable and you are not burdened with making choices.
However, we do not live in a utopia, so we often have to make decisions.
One of the greatest decisions we will ever make is how our life will be ruled.

There are really only two choices – being controlled by the world (aka Satan)
or being ruled by the Lord.
The choice we make is based on which one we love the most.
If we love the Lord, then we will have issues with worldly things.
However, if our love is more toward worldly things, then we will not 
enjoy righteous things and consequently, we will have less time for the Lord.
As the attendance continues to drop in many of the churches, 
we know that many people have chosen the world over the Lord.

There are certain elements of daily life that are not sinful in themselves,
however when they steal time from the Lord, they can open the door to sin.
When we spend less time with the Lord, 
it creates a void that will be filled by other things.

There are requirements for the necessities of life that can get control of our lives.
For instance, making money is essential for daily living, but without 
a constant relationship with the Lord, it can degenerate into loving money.
When this happens, the deceitfulness of riches can enter our thoughts 
and spoil our spiritual life.

Love of riches and acquiring “stuff” can introduce anxieties, 
worry and sleepless nights into our lives.
These things can impact our health and relationships in a negative way.
So our most critical decision should be a firm commitment 
and love for the Lord and not for worldliness and all of its problems.

Worldliness is actually a type of spirit, and an influence that permeates 
all of human life and should be guarded against strenuously and constantly.
It requires a constant awareness of its existence and influence as we rely on   
the Lord to give us a mind that cannot be penetrated by worldliness.
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)

ACTION:
Which choice have you made?
Have you made a conscious choice, 
or are you living a life of turmoil for lack of choosing?
You have the choice to choose, but if you fail to choose 
then you have made your choice.

At the core of every person is the battle of pleasing ourselves, 
or yielding to the Will of God.
Try to imagine earth as preparatory training for Heaven.
What things are stealing your time with the Lord and other believers?

The scriptures tell us, 
“If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.”
How do we know if we love the Father?
The scriptures tell us that when we love Him, we will "do His Will".

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, You know how attractive the things of this world can 
be for me. You know which ones I can be easily attracted to and which 
ones steal my time with You. I want You to control my thoughts and actions 
and for others to know that my love for You is real. More importantly, I want 
to know that my love for You is sincere and You are more important to me 
than the things of this world. Help me to realign my priorities so that other 
things (even non-sinful things) will no longer take precedence over spending 
time with You and other believers. Keep me sensitive to Your Spirit so that I 
will not fall into the spirit of worldliness and its lusts.”