What To Do When You Don’t Know What To Do

 

By Andrea Merrell

We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, 

but we’re not demoralized. We’re not sure what to do, 

but we know that God knows what to do.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 MSG

 

Decisions, decisions. We face them all day, every day. Some choices are huge while most seem small and fairly insignificant. Many can cause an unstoppable domino effect.

This continual what-do-I-do situation can become discouraging and completely wear us out—especially when we try to make the decisions all on our own.

The apostle Paul faced challenges on a continual basis, many of them life-threatening. The Bible says he was “surrounded and battered by troubles.” He had to make choices, and we know they couldn’t have been easy. But Paul said, “We’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows.”

God is a good and loving Father who is with us continually. He desires to guide and direct us even down to the smallest, everyday, ordinary situation. He tells us throughout the Scriptures to pray. To ask. To call out to Him. He is concerned with everything that concerns us.

So, what should you do when you don’t know what to do? Ask your heavenly Father. He is always ready to answer when you seek Him.

 

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.)

 

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Do I Really Have a Sound Mind?

By Andrea Merrell

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, 

but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

If you’re anything like me, sometimes your mind seems anything BUT sound. The cares of this world press in on us, and we can find ourselves operating in confusion, frustration, and fear … without a trace of love.

According to Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, sound can mean anything from timber without defect or decay to a deep, undisturbed sleep. So, what does it mean to have a sound mind? Webster’s goes on to define it as healthy, solid, firm, and stable. The original Greek word indicates a mind that operates in a rational, reasonable, and logical manner. It is not controlled by outside forces—especially people, circumstances, and emotion.

In other words, a sound mind is focused, discerning, and in control. No matter how difficult things become, it enables us to make wise decisions and keep our priorities—and thinking—in order.

So, the question is: where and how to we obtain this type of mind? For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16 NKJV). If, as Christians, we have the same mind as our Lord and Savior, why do we have so much trouble with our thoughts and attitudes? In Philippians 2:5 we are told: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. The NIV puts it this way: Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

Wow! That’s a tall order and puts the ball squarely back in our court. It’s like any other gift the Lord offers; we must believe and receive. It all begins with a choice.

If you’re struggling today to keep your thoughts in order and under control, let’s pray this prayer together:

Father, today I choose to allow the mind of Christ to be in me. Give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand in the same manner as my Lord. Thank you for these wonderful gifts: love, power, and a sound mind.

(Photos courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.)

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Forgive AND Forget

By Andrea Merrell

 And I will forgive their wickedness,

and I will never again remember their sins.

Hebrews 8:12 NLT

“I might forgive them, but I’ll NEVER forget what they did!”

How many times have you heard someone say this? Maybe you’ve said it yourself. I know there have been times in my life when people and situations caused me to think that way.

Mental and emotional wounds go deep. Betrayal—especially by a trusted friend—cuts to the core of our being and lodges there. The Bible says we are to forgive in order to be forgiven. Yet, even when we can manage to offer forgiveness, sometimes the memories of the pain float to the surface when we least expect it. So, what’s the answer? How do we “forget” the offence?

God says, And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins. Never? Seriously? Does God have a bad memory? Is He forgetful? Is His mind so full—trying to keep up with all the messes His kids have made—that He just can’t keep track of everything?

NO! Absolutely not.

God tells us He will forget our sins. It is His decision. He chooses not to remember, dwell on, or rehearse our failures and shortcomings. He chooses to put those things securely under the shed blood of Jesus … which is where they belong. When we refuse to forget the sins of others—and our own sins—and continue to rehash the gory details, we are actually questioning God’s mercy and the truth of His Word. We also give the enemy ammunition to attack us with guilt and condemnation. One writer says, “When you keep rehearsing your past, you not only keep it alive; you empower it. What you keep on deposit, you’re more likely to withdraw and act on in a moment of weakness.”

When we mess up or someone offends us, we must make a choice to forgive. The good news is that we can also choose to forget.

Bottom line? Forgive others. Forgive yourself. Don’t hold on to the past. Make a decision to forget and let it go—once and for all. You were created to walk in God’s mercy, grace, and freedom. Why not start today?

(Photos courtesy of Freedigitalphotos, Stuart Miles, and jesadaaphorn.)

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Too Many Choices

I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life.

Deuteronomy 30:19

“Let’s see, what pharmacy shall I visit today—Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, or Walmart?” In my small hometown, these four businesses sit in a tidy little row within the same block. Makes no sense to me, but that’s what competition is all about.

In this corner of the Bible Belt, just like the pharmacies, there seems to be a church on every corner. You can try them on for size and, if you don’t like the music, doctrine, or décor, you simply move on to the next. These days, “shop ‘til you drop” applies to more than just the mall. Some people call it church-hopping.  People jump from one place to another looking for an emotional high, a handout, or a platform. These individuals usually shy away from both instruction and commitment.

We have become a society with a buffet mentality.  We want a wide variety from which to choose, taking only what we like and ignoring or discarding what we don’t. That mentality can choke the life out of our spiritual growth if we’re not careful. When we accept only the words from the pastor that make us feel good, read selected Bible passages that promise blessings, and give only when we feel like it, we are surely missing the boat.

We are free moral agents. God created us with a mind and will of our own. We have been given the power and authority to choose. But here’s the rub: we have more freedom and experience a more fulfilled life when we surrender our will to Him.

Choices are inevitable. They’re a part of life. Secular humanism tells us there are no absolutes, but the Bible is full of absolutes. Jesus said it best in John 14:6: I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. God’s Word is truth. It is forever settled in heaven—every Word—cover-to-cover. You can count on it.

 (Photos courtesy of Bob Bell and freeimages.com.)

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Having trouble making choices? The Bible says to "choose life." via @AndreaMerrell (Click to Tweet.)