WISDOM FOR LIVING DEVOTIONAL
NOVEMBER 7, 2020
TOPIC: BEWARE OF INDECISION
BY T. O. BANSO
“ I hate those who are undecided about you, but my choice is clear — I love your law” (Psalm 119:113 New Living Translation).
Decision making is something you have to do every day. Some decisions are not as crucial as others. The consequences also vary. Nobody can claim to have achieved a hundred percent success in decision making. However, everybody will live with the consequences of his decisions.
As much as wrong decisions are painful, and, therefore, not desirable, indecision is not the solution, because it could also have grave consequences. Indecision is double-mindedness, hesitancy, wavering, or vacillation. Yes, there are times when indecision is right and wise because you don’t have enough information or facts yet to make an informed decision. But in most cases, indecision is a weakness. The Word of God is clear on many issues and there should be no indecision on them.
The psalmist said, “I hate those who are undecided about you, but my choice is clear — I love your law” (Psalm 119:113 New Living Translation). You are either born again or you’re not. You’re either for Jesus or not. Vacillation is not helpful. You cannot sit on the fence.
There are some people like that scribe who came to Jesus and asked Him which was the first commandment. After Jesus had answered him and he summarized what Jesus said, Jesus, seeing that he answered wisely, said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34). But not being far from the kingdom of God is not the same as being there! Those who are not far must seek to be there.
Joshua told the Israelites to make up their mind on whom they would serve. But as for Him and His house, they would serve the LORD (Joshua 24:15). Indecision has plagued the lives of many people. They needed to say yes or no, but they were wavering.  Pilate said Jesus was innocent but lacked the courage to release him. Instead, he gave asked them to choose whether to release to them Barabbas, a notorious prisoner, or Jesus. Of course, they preferred Barabbas (John 18:38-40).
At Mount Carmel, Elijah told the Israelites, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him” (1 Kings 18:21 New King James Version). But they couldn’t answer him a word. That could mean indecision. James 1:8 says a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. “They can’t make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do” (James 1:8 New Living Translation).
Deborah, Israel’s female judge, and Barak led Israel to war, but some tribes failed to join them, including Reuben, a tribe accused of indecision. Judges 5:15 says, “The princes of Issachar were with Deborah and Barak. They followed Barak, rushing into the valley. But in the tribe of Reuben there was great indecision” (New Living Translation). The Bible goes further to say in verse 16: “Why did you sit at home among the sheepfolds — to hear the shepherds whistle for their flocks? In the tribe of Reuben there was great indecision” (New Living Translation).
The price we pay for indecision could be high on matters that require decisiveness or resolution. Lot’s wife was supposed to escape with the family from Sodom but she looked back. She failed to decide whether she wanted to stay back in Sodom or flee. She was double-minded. Because of this, she became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26).
Roman governor, Felix, should have taken a decision on Paul who had been brought before him for trial. But he didn’t. After listening to Paul’s defence, he was afraid and told him to go. He said he would call him when he had a convenient time. But he was hoping he would be given a bribe so that he would release him. He kept Paul in prison in Caesarea for two years (Acts 24:10-27).  Indecision!
Some people are overly indecisive even on the simplest matter. You have to discipline yourself to make decisions. When you doubt, you’re like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind (James 1:6b). Jesus said no one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24).
As I’ve said, sometimes indecision is unavoidable. But generally, don’t have a reputation for indecision, perhaps because of fear. To make the right decisions, pray as much as you need to, especially for wisdom; study the Word of God and obey; trust God to help you to make the best decision; listen to the Holy Spirit; consider the facts; get all the counsel that you can get from spiritually mature people and experts; rebuke the spirit of fear and, finally, make a decision. Having taken a decision after being convinced, trust God to help you deal with the consequences.
May the LORD help you to be able to make up your mind easily. May you say yes to what you need to say yes to, and no to what you need to say no to. May you not be paralyzed in life by indecision.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The LORD be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, deliver me from indecision; help me to make the right decisions always. I overcome the spirit of indecision that wants to paralyze me in life. Whatever loss I have suffered through indecision, Father, have mercy on me and bless me. Holy Spirit, help me not to rush to make wrong decisions.
(For over 300 in-depth and powerful messages by T.O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
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