ONE DECISION COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER

No one can escape making decisions. Even choosing to do nothing is ultimately a decision.

• For followers of Christ, we rely on the counsel, wisdom, and truth of God’s Word to guide our choices.
• God’s wisdom can carry a person beyond a way of thinking and decision-making that contradicts the common way.
• Proverbs 1:7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
• God encourages Joshua to think differently because if he chooses to think differently, he will act differently.
• Joshua 1:9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Wrong thinking – negative emotions – unwise behavior – devastating consequences. Right thinking – positive emotions – wise behavior – fruitful consequences. Chip Ingram, “Good To Great In God’s Eyes,”

• Philippians 4:8-9 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Many people want to improve their results without altering their way of thinking. 

• We can spend our lives either for the glory of God’s great name or on selfish pursuits. The truth is, we only get to spend it once.
• One decision can change your life forever.
• 1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.
• Three areas of Paul’s life changed.
  1. Speaking
  2. Thinking
  3. Reasoning
• Matthew 12:34-37 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. 36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. 37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
• The words we choose can either lift someone up or tear them down.
• Proverbs 21:23 Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.
• Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

1. The way I speak. Change speech for the glory of God.
   Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
2. The way I think. What you will always see among mature people – the reduced focus on living just for oneself.
3. The way I reason. Reasoning in life should be based on wisdom (viewing life from God’s perspective).

1. Start with a prayer like this: “God, I know you love me, and you are patient with me. Show me what to change and give me a disciplined mind to change.”
2. Create a brief list of what the Holy Spirit reveals.

• • Ask a friend for help.
  • Stop a habit and start a habit.
  • Write down your direction. Think map. “I’m here and I want to go there.”

“We are either preparing or repairing.” John Maxwell

• 1 Corinthians 13:11When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I know that the penalty of my sin is physical, spiritual, and eternal death. I acknowledge that I can’t do anything about my situation. But I know that You came to pay the penalty for my sin. I trust in You alone as the One who died in my place. I repent of my sin and trust in You alone as the only One who can place me in an eternal relationship with the living God. I desire to be Your child. I desire to live as Your child. In Your name. Amen.

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