Dan Daase, Christian New Life Assembly
As I write this today, over in Rome, the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church have entered conclave to begin the process of voting a new pope.
Whether we are Catholics or not, it seems many are quite excited to see who the new pope will be. There are even a few who say that maybe it will be a Canadian! Who it is, we all will have to wait and see.
When I observe all the pomp and ceremony and how carefully laws and traditions are followed, it further demonstrates the importance of this event – after all it is all about electing a new pope. It also demonstrates to me how certain decisions just have to be made carefully and deliberately.
Sadly too often when we make decisions, we make them haphazardly, even carelessly.
I have asked people who were having difficulties in making decisions or who were facing decisions which were particularly difficult, have you prayed before making this decision? Too often I would get an answer like: “No! Why would I do that?”
That in itself is sad enough, but if you know this person, you will often discover that they made their decision quickly, with little or no thought. Then people wonder why things did not go the way they planned, or why things did not work out for them through that decision.
Any counsellor, advisor, consultant, etc, will always advise his or her clients, to take some time when making decisions, especially important decisions. Proceed slowly, use thought and careful deliberation – just like we see happening now in the conclave.
Can you imagine the reaction if the cardinals were found to have made a rushed, careless decision in electing the new pope? The Catholic Church, and many others in the world, would be outraged. This is not a decision to rush! It is all about deliberately carefully, prayerfully, making this great decision. The cardinals know they must seek God’s help and leading to make this great decision.
We often go and make major decisions like choosing a spouse, a job, a major move, etc., without much thought. Then we see how marriages fall apart, people are miserable at the jobs they have, and what they thought was such a good decision, turned out to be one they regret. A lot of these problems could be minimized if we would just spend a few moments thinking about what we want to do.
God also wants to help you make these decisions, if we would only allow Him. But He waits for us to allow Him. I have heard people say, “If God is all powerful then why did He not stop this from happening?”
Because God has given us a choice, the ability to choose and make our own decisions. So God waits for us to come to Him. He waits for us to ask.
Jeremiah 33:3: “Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”
Call on God, ask God, for help to make those decisions – whether they are critically important or not! When we do ask, we will find that God will help us. He will lead us and help us make good decisions.
Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
God has good plans for each one of us. It is when we turn away from God, and think we can do better, that we find that the plans we thought were so good, really weren’t!
Your decisions may never be anything as public, or far-reaching, as the cardinals electing a new pope. But yet in your life, in the life of your family, your decisions are important. That is why you too must consider your options carefully. Make your decisions with thought and with prayer.
As you make your decisions both with thought, and prayer, you will see how you will make better decisions. You will see God will lead you, if you will only allow Him to.
