Life is full of decisions! We often find ourselves confronted with a major life decision. Should I relocate? Change jobs? Marry this person? Get out of this relationship? Invest in a venture? How often have you made a decision that you regret? Have you taken advice from the wrong people? Have you been impulsive without having all the facts? Maybe you are still living with a regretable decision. Decisions not only alter our immediate situation, but often they direct the course of our future. Decisions made at the beginning of any “new” venture, conquest, opportunity will determine the future to a high degree. So, it is imperative to have a decision-making process that involves consulting the right people at the right time and not being influenced by those who do not have your best interest at heart. 

Scriptures

Da 6:3, 6-7, 13, 16, 20-22, 28

Verse 

Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. (Da 6:3)

Thought

King Darius conquered the Babylonian empire, and ransacked a city thought to be impenetrable. As he established his reign, he sought wise counsel and guidance. He became aware of Daniel, who had advised previous kings, Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. Daniel was known for his “exceptional qualities,” and he had quite a resume. Darius’ planned to place Daniel over all the administrators of the new government; however, this news was not well-received. Daniel was an outsider to this hierarchy, and the powers-that-be decided he had to be taken out. The administrators approached Darius and proposed that he issue an edict that all the subjects of his kingdom worship only him (Darius) for 30 days. Any who refused would be thrown into the lions’ den. Darius was flattered, and being unaware of their true agenda, he impulsively agreed. Once the edict was issued, the law didn’t allow for a recall, or repeal. The advisers knew well that Daniel prayed 3 times a day to his God, the one true God, and that he would not bow to any other. It didn’t take long for Daniel to be discovered in his regular daily routine of prayer. The news quickly made its way to King Darius and at that moment he realized he’d been played, used to fulfill evil motives. With great trepidation, he ordered Daniel to be thrown into the lions’ den. Darius couldn’t sleep; although he was a pagan, he prayed and fasted all night. At dawn Darius rushed to the den to see if by a miracle of God, Daniel could possibly have survived. What a joyous moment when Darius heard Daniel’s voice and realized that God had delivered Daniel intact, unharmed! Darius’ bad decision didn’t end in disaster, as it could have. Like Darius, we live in a crazy world, surrounded by people whose motives and agendas are not Godly. We can only make God-honoring decisions by patiently seeking wise counsel and God’s help.

Questions

Who is your #1 adviser when it comes to a serious life decision? What is your process for making a major decision? What decision have you made without good counsel or impulsively that has cost you? Darius was a smart leader, yet he was fooled. How does pride get in the way of good decision-making?

Response

Consider who you seek for counsel. Are they Godly? Wise? Do they have your best interest at heart? If you don’t have anyone who is able to give you wise and Godly counsel, decide how you can change this situation. 

Prayer 

Dear God, thank you that your word is a guide for living and for making good and Godly decisions. Thank you for the people in my life who have my best interest at heart and are always for me. Give me patience and wisdom in the decisions I make, that they may be pleasing and acceptable to you. In Jesus Name I pray, amen.