GOD, Your Wise Partner

by Michael Corthell

Decisions are like shirts they come basically in small, medium or large. Our lives are shaped by these decisions. Some decisions may even have life-or-death consequences. These are extra-large shirts. How can a positive person of Faith make the best decisions?

''Leadership requires the courage to make
decisions that will benefit the next generation.''

—Alan Autry

Every day we face multiple small decisions about what foods to eat, whether or not to exercise today, and how to use our time. Over the course of years these daily decisions become our lives—they become habits, and we don't even think about them after a while. If we have guided these small decisions well from the start, we never have to worry about bad habits.

It's is never difficult to make wise decisions and choices when you know and practice the right values. However, when we haven't made good choices in our lives it is soon became very apparent that even small decisions can bloom into serious difficulties.

Let's make good choices with a supremely wise partner: God. The Infinite Intelligence of God is always at hand to guide us, but like any guide He has to be accessed and listened to:

God, the director. A positive person of Faith knows that the overall direction in one's life is determined by their relationship with God, and they know that to stay properly focused they must always remember to ask Him in prayer, ''what is my best choice in this matter?'' ''Trust in God with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path.'' —Proverbs 3:5-6

The problem/opportunity must be clearly defined. Just like your definite purpose and chief burning desire each items of opportunity that comes along must be made clear in your mind and mind's eye. When an item seems unclear it can be very hard to come up with a firm set of solutions. Look at all angles.

Dig and drill. Ferret out all relevant information. From Google to your public library and back. It is very important to know what you do not know. Find who knows what you don’t know.'' Do you due diligent research. ''Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.'' —Proverbs 11:14.

Get out the scale and weigh the alternatives. After you have all the facts in hand, you can 'mastermind' and brainstorming the options that will solve the problems or capitalize on the opportunity.

Deliberate and decide. Weigh all the options. Use a pros and cons list. Weed through all option assigning relevance and weight. ''For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it.'' —Luke 14:28  and ''A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished.''— Proverbs 22:3

Take action, ''Faith without WORKS is dead.'' (gleaned from James 2:14-26) Do not procrastinate. Put your plan into action decisively with faith knowing you got the best advice possible.

God says to all of us who have Faith: ''I will never leave you nor forsake you.'' Therefore: ''The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'' When we make a decision to have Faith follow God and His way of doing things, you won't have to look back. His way of 'doing things' is very simple by the way. Go back and click that link!

Don't fall into the trap or be led down the rabbit hole of looking for God in one name only. He is big, He is everywhere, His advice and guidance are everywhere. It is free. Jesus Chris (God incarnate) said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'' That statement is, of course, is true and it applies to all Truth as well, never forget it. That is because Jesus was God incarnate and is God.

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Go with your gut feeling

by Magnus Walker

Porsche collector Magnus Walker has the name and looks of a Viking, but once he starts talking about his life story and what drives him, he's an absolutely fascinating guy. Walker recently gave a Ted Talk at a Tedx conference at UCLA and claimed he didn't really understand the idea behind the speeches. You would never know it, though. Walker is as gifted a speaker as he is a talented restorer of some seriously cool Porsches.

Walker's talk is titled "Go with Your Gut Feeling," and it amounts to his autobiography. He recounts his birth in England, dropping out of school at 15 and moving to the US at 19. Once in Los Angeles, he started selling second-hand clothes and grew it into a fashion business.  MORE