Thinking
Another Day Along the Way
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Another day,
What determines our decisions?
We think, we feel, we wonder, we decide. But why? Why do we do the things we do?
I've written often the importance of knowing "the voices we hear" and how they influence "the choices we make."
Think about the voices: thoughts, fears, past mistakes, self-doubt, opinions of others, expected opinions of others, risks of failures, risks of success, deep wounds, friends, enemies, desires, expectations. The list goes on. The voices continue. It helps decisions when we know why we think the way we think.
Now, consider the choices: yes, no, wait, never, not yet, tomorrow, pursue with caution, pursue with courage, receive confirmation from a key person, see if the pieces fall in place, what happens if you do, what happens if you don't, why, why not, move forward.
What decisions should you be making soon? Do you often avoid decisions, hitting delay in hopes of having a clear sign from heaven? Do you fear failure so strongly that you rarely view yourself as a decision maker who has God's strength inside you?
Choices aren't always easy. To make correct decisions, we need to identify the voices - or thoughts - speaking into our minds. As we detect reasons we feel particular ways, we can gain a greater grasp of true motives, correct choices, and possible outcomes.
Students and their schedules. Couples and their conversations. People and their expectations. Workers and their possibilities. Writers and their words. Humans and their hurts, their doubts, their scars, their fears. Life and its pain.
We live in this. We know much about what has hurt us, though we often hide it or place blame incorrectly. Help comes when we locate the voices and make the right choices.
Rather than expecting one more failure, we can move forward and take risks. Silence the voices of you-cannot and replace them with the truth of you-can. Kick aside the voices of not-you and replace it with the assurance of yes-you. Accept normal fears as guides for caution, but detect and defeat the lies. Replace them with wisdom, knowledge, advice, and courage.
And take the next step. The decision. The opportunity. The agreement. The deal. See the step, make sure it is correct, and take it.
Years from now, you will be grateful your choices were not controlled by voices which did not belong.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Statement: I think God wants to know whether we really want the wonderful gift of His Dream in our life. (Bruce Wilkinson, The Dream Giver)
Add your comments on the blog...
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Another day,
What determines our decisions?
We think, we feel, we wonder, we decide. But why? Why do we do the things we do?
I've written often the importance of knowing "the voices we hear" and how they influence "the choices we make."
Think about the voices: thoughts, fears, past mistakes, self-doubt, opinions of others, expected opinions of others, risks of failures, risks of success, deep wounds, friends, enemies, desires, expectations. The list goes on. The voices continue. It helps decisions when we know why we think the way we think.
Now, consider the choices: yes, no, wait, never, not yet, tomorrow, pursue with caution, pursue with courage, receive confirmation from a key person, see if the pieces fall in place, what happens if you do, what happens if you don't, why, why not, move forward.
What decisions should you be making soon? Do you often avoid decisions, hitting delay in hopes of having a clear sign from heaven? Do you fear failure so strongly that you rarely view yourself as a decision maker who has God's strength inside you?
Choices aren't always easy. To make correct decisions, we need to identify the voices - or thoughts - speaking into our minds. As we detect reasons we feel particular ways, we can gain a greater grasp of true motives, correct choices, and possible outcomes.
Students and their schedules. Couples and their conversations. People and their expectations. Workers and their possibilities. Writers and their words. Humans and their hurts, their doubts, their scars, their fears. Life and its pain.
We live in this. We know much about what has hurt us, though we often hide it or place blame incorrectly. Help comes when we locate the voices and make the right choices.
Rather than expecting one more failure, we can move forward and take risks. Silence the voices of you-cannot and replace them with the truth of you-can. Kick aside the voices of not-you and replace it with the assurance of yes-you. Accept normal fears as guides for caution, but detect and defeat the lies. Replace them with wisdom, knowledge, advice, and courage.
And take the next step. The decision. The opportunity. The agreement. The deal. See the step, make sure it is correct, and take it.
Years from now, you will be grateful your choices were not controlled by voices which did not belong.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Statement: I think God wants to know whether we really want the wonderful gift of His Dream in our life. (Bruce Wilkinson, The Dream Giver)
Add your comments on the blog...
7 Comments:
Good stuff .... way to cut loose...
I have often failed not because I made the wrong decision but because I was afraid to make any decision and therefore allowed opportunities to pass me by or worse, allowed others to make decisions for me. Thanks for the encouragement to take a risk even though I may fail. By not deciding, I have already failed.
The battle of the mind is a strong force and will certainly take us down the wrong path if we hesitate or dwell on the negative. Deep thought can be a good thing if God is in it. Too many times we procrastinate for the fear of failure, thus doubting God's ability to see us through. Thanks for the reminder of pressing on.
Ah, the dreaded Decision. I hate 'em...for the aforementioned reason of being afraid to make a mistake. But along those lines, in the words of Henry Blackaby, "When you believe that nothing significant can happen through you, you have said that God is not capable of doing anthing significant through you." Ouch. Thanks for your words.
decisions, decisions, decisions. not always easy stuff.
thanks.
I think the first "anonymous" snuck into my house and read my mail! maryd
Making decisions with only my brain has not allowed My Heart to feel the Love of Others. I have to start using my Heart to feel the love of this world the way I use My Heart in my Faith of Our Lord.Thinking too much can be a heart ache for a long time.
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