Millpond Ink Musing, 2015 – Of Our Choices, Steps and Preparation

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

This verse applies to everyone, but in verse 25 there’s a warning too for everyone, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but it’s end is the way of death.”

With these two verses in mind, the question becomes how does God establish our steps. He first does so by providentially setting the choices we are presented in life. Those choices limit us in our decision making. Of course, there’s no question what influences our choices; e.g., physical environment, education, ethnicity, upbringing, family wealth and social status, and physical constraints. Again, these factors were God-planned and designed from eternity for each of us. Thus, we live in a world that may offer many choices or few in planning our way. Those with many choices often suffer anxiety over what choice to make. For those with few choices, they often resent their lack of opportunity and blame God or other men who seem advantaged. This is true for everyone – those who believe in God – as well as, those who don’t. It doesn’t matter to God in your daily decision-making whether you believe in him or not. God is no respecter of men, and his decisions regarding us were made long before we were born. 

It’s also interesting to consider that everyone acts in faith. Faith may include a choice among choices, but faith is merely the mode that we proceed. The believer’s faith is vested in Christ, knowing that even if a bad decision is made, the ship can be righted for it was intended given that God foreknew the choice and he promised to work all things together for good. As for the one who does not believe in Christ? Their faith is placed in what ‘seemed’ right – which may benefit them on earth, but has no sway in heaven. God brings sunshine and rain to those who do good and those who do evil.  What matters in the heavenly realm, and eternity? He that has the Son has life, and he that doesn’t have the Son has not life. Here, the greatest decision and choice a man or woman will make will be made. Unlike the common grace of God which brings sunshine and rain upon those good and evil, it is the elective (or special grace) of God that – working through the Holy Spirit – inclines a man or woman in their decision-making to either accept or reject God’s offer of salvation.  

nonbeliever’s faith is placed in himself in going with what ‘seems’ right. Yes, of course, nonbeliever’s may rely heavily on others: e.g., family, friends; the government. Christians too may count on these, but I advise their caution lest they depend primarily on ‘others,’ and not on God.

So, what is the best choice? Well, if you’re not a Christian, that’s the eternal and foremost question that you must consider at this point. If you’re not heart-inclined towards Jesus, the rest of this post doesn’t apply.

For Christians though, young people especially, whatever the number of choices we have in planning, consider all after a plain reading of the relevant passages in God’s Word. Eliminate any choices that are not ‘obedience positive and sin neutral.’ Then, pray and follow the inclination of your heart.

If you are not heart inclined after that first round, reconsider only those choices that are ‘obedience positive and sin neutral.’ Then, pray and present those again to God as your living sacrifice and reasonable service. First, God might know that what you asked was not really a concern to you in choosing. Sometimes we think we need something but then move on. (Besides,does God produce fruit from a vine that abideth in Christ and that He knows won’t be harvested? He may do so from any, but of the one who abides? God does not nothing on a lark; although He wonderfully works through a dove.)

However, if God knows you are sincere, He, Who is honored by such humility and persistence, will certainly answer you; whereby you can step out in faith in whatever choice it is even hints of being your heart’s delight; even if God knows that is not His end for you. Why do I say that? Even as the Apostle Paul intended, with good reason, to go to Spain, God had a different plan. Thus, I say to hold your heart’s desire and choice loosely.

Be prepared! For the process that you went through in coming to a righteous choice; although it may not be embarked upon, might have been what was necessary for God to establish His true steps for you as part of your learning for later application.