Date: 5/15/2023

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to Him be the Glory, Power, and Dominion forever and ever and to the Holy Ghost that is yet abiding in the body. This week’s key phrase is Wisdom in making Good Choices.

When God tells us in Deuteronomy 31:19  to “choose life,” “ I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live”. He’s actually showing us what wisdom looks like, it’s life-giving. And when we follow wisdom, we live deeper than “I want, I think, I feel…” Because wisdom always chooses to do now what it will be satisfied with later on, while foolishness means “without common sense.”

To begin this journey in Christ, we have to understand that nobody can change themselves. Whatever change we need to make,  we must pray and ask God to change us and help us.  We must study the Bible in the areas where we are struggling, like anger, selfishness or unforgiveness. And be serious about it, we have to really study the Word to get what we need from God. It’s so good to know we can do something to choose life, not just have an existence full of misery and death. We can seek wisdom, pray every day and renew our commitment to do what He wants us to do. We can live with integrity and do what’s right – even when no one is watching us but God. That’s when we know we’re really living for Him and not for ourselves or to please others.

How can we change and what could our life be like if we made better choices right now? Don’t put it off any longer. There won’t be a more convenient time, and we don’t have to waste another day missing out on the good life God has for us. There are 5 principles for biblical decision making. (1). Our Best Decisions Reflect Our Values: These are all big decisions because they reflect our desire to glorify God in everything we do. (2). Our Best Decisions Are Birthed in an Atmosphere of Prayer:  Prayer is our way of asking God for His proffered wisdom, given liberally and willingly to those who ask for it. Prayer is our lifeline to finding and fulfilling God’s will in all we say and do. (3). Our Best Decisions Heed Wisdom From Others: We also need the wisdom of those we trust. The book of Proverbs reminds us to seek godly counsel before deciding what to do. Proverbs 24:6, “ For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety”. (4). Our Best Decisions Take Time: Proverbs also teaches us about big decision thinking. Proverbs 14:8 tell us, “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.” And Proverbs 14:15 says, “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.”  The final principle (5). Our Best Decisions Are Committed to God: You and I have decisions to make every day. We’re fallible people, and we’ll make mistakes along the way. But we earnestly base our decisions on our unseen values, pray over them, make them thoughtfully, base them on wise counsel, and commit them to God.

In closing, if we make a wrong decision, God knows how to correct our paths or redeem our mistakes. The Lord needs men and women who know how to make wise choices, who are growing more mature day by day, and who can commit their decisions to the Lord and press on. Until next week let us remember, “… with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26b).

In His Service,

Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem

General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop