Some decisions are easy to make; others can be complex. Experts say to make a good decision, first clearly define what you are trying to decide. Consider possible alternatives with their pros and cons; narrow them down to no more than three. Pick one of the three, develop an action plan, and follow-through. Evaluate the outcome to see if it is satisfactory. Choices are a fact of life. God created us with the capacity to choose and wants us to make wise decisions. When we do, we can expect good outcomes. In 1 Kings Chapter 17, we read about the prophet Elijah who asked a widow in the town Zaraphath to bring him a cup of water. As she left to get it, he asked her to also bring him a piece of bread. She told him she only had enough flour to make a single meal for her and her son. Elijah told her to fix him bread first—a test of her faith. If she did so, he promised she would have enough flour to last until the famine ended. She had a choice to make. She could believe the prophet and live, or ignore the prophet and die. She chose to believe and the outcome was a miraculous supply of food for two years. Today we can choose to trust and obey God or choose to ignore him. Our choice will decide our destiny.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
