Simplify Decisions

I made a decision almost three decades ago that has taken the difficulty out of a lot of other decisions since. I decided to marry Linda. Since that decision, most of my other decisions in and around the house are pretty well taken care of. I only need to ask myself, what would be better for our marriage?So, even though my desk may be cluttered at work, I’m neat, clean, and organized at home. Why? Because Linda doesn’t really care what my desk at work looks like, but she likes it neat and clean at home, so that’s how I like it as well. All week long, dozens of decisions are easy for me because I know what Linda likes and I want her to be happy. When I said, “I do,” that meant spending my life thinking about what she wants more than what I want. She does that too.In the same way, I don’t fret over a lot of decisions I see many other Christians struggling with. I made most of those decisions when I was 17 and gave Jesus charge of my life. So now I just ask, “What does God think about this?” “What does the Bible say?” “What does Jesus want?”I don’t have to stew over moral dilemmas. I know he doesn’t want me to lie, steal, badmouth others, or have sex outside of marriage, even if it seems like a unique situation and I think I’d be better off by doing those things. No, I already made the decision to do what God wants when I said, “Yes” to Him. I’m tempted just like everybody, and I fail sometimes. But I don’t have to fret, “What should I do?” I know what to do. Whatever God has said, or whatever would be pleasing to Him. Those decisions were made when I became a follower of Jesus decades ago.I know, we face a lot of other dilemmas that are not in the Bible. But it’s not those things that get us into trouble. If you do what God wants, where it is addressed in Scripture, secondary quandaries take care of themselves. Wisdom in life begins by living it in light of what God has said.Maybe you are having trouble with decisions because you are not serious about the most important ones. Get serious about what you said in your vows, and your marriage will get easier. Get serious about Jesus being Lord, and situational questions will provide their own answers. When you simply do what you know God wants, the rest of life comes together.“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3 NIV).