Faithful Man: Devotions for Living in Faithless TimesSample

BE THE MAN WHO DOES GOD’S WILL

The will of God is perfect. His plans cannot be thwarted. Nothing can happen without His approval. If only we could be that certain about our own desires and plans. Or if only we knew for sure what He wants for us. Should we find a new job or stick with the one we have? Do we take our relationship to the next level or cool things off for a bit? What should we make for dinner? Do we invest in the market or pay down our mortgage? When faced with too many options, we quickly fall victim to decision fatigue. Scientists have discovered a correlation between the number of decisions a person makes and that person’s likelihood of making poor or uninformed decisions. After a certain number of choices, we become incapable of wise decisions. While we might ponder what to make for dinner, we don’t need to waste any mental energy figuring out God’s will for our lives. He tells us exactly what to do in 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 niv: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Joy, prayer, and thanksgiving are to be the hallmarks of our lives. Being a faithful man means actively choosing to rejoice in God’s goodness, praying for God’s wisdom, and giving thanks regardless of the circumstances. When we trust God, joyfully putting our lives in His hands and thanking Him for whatever happens, He is free to perform His will through us. No decision fatigue required.

How can you rearrange your schedule so that your biggest decisions are made early in the day? Do you tend to make bad choices late at night when your willpower is low?