Warrior EncouragementSample

One of the best days I had in Afghanistan was getting to ride in a Blackhawk and fly over the mountains as part of a training mission. When I arrived that morning, I sat in multiple aviation briefings on every small detail of the mission: the purpose of the mission, the flight plan, the time of departure, where we’d land, refueling information, the duration of the mission, safety precautions, etc. There were so many decisions that went into planning that mission. But can you imagine if the pilots and crew just decided to wing it on their own and hope for the best?

That sounds kind of crazy, but it’s essentially what we do every day when we make decisions but don’t talk to God about them. It’s like we’re relying on our own best judgment when we could be seeking the one person who is all-knowing and has all the details we need. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Jesus was telling us the best way to get direction and keep from worrying is to go to God first in every single decision you make, no matter how small.

Think about it! God knows every detail about your life, your past, your present, and your future. Don’t you think you’d want to know what He thinks before you do something? It’s easy to get all spun up worrying about something without going to the one person who has all the answers.

And once we go to Him, look what happens! “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5–6

Who doesn’t want to go on the straight path instead of the curvy path that sometimes leads to dead ends? I don’t know about you, but I hate wasting my time or having to re-do something because I didn’t ask the right person. Remember, God sees the big picture, whereas you and I can only see what’s in front of us.

Let’s start getting into the habit of bringing God into everything we do. Believe me, we’re not bothering Him by doing that. He loves you and I, and wants what is best for us, so just ask Him! He’s ready to direct your path!

Questions:

1. How do you typically make decisions?

2. Is it normal to ask God what He thinks about your situation?

3. Is there a decision you’ve made on your own that you wish you would have consulted Him?