Dealing With Difficult Decisions Part 4 by Martin Wiles

My wife was in a jam. Rather we were. If she paid the full balance on her sales account so her customers could receive their products on time, we’d be broke the remainder of the week. We could borrow money designated for another bill, but robbing Peter to pay Paul is chancy.

Financial decisions can be tough, but so can spiritual ones. And Daniel was facing one. His peers were jealous over his promotion and asked the king to issue a proclamation forbidding citizens to pray to anyone except him for thirty days. Disobeyers would join the lions for lunch and be the main course.

Daniel was in a quandary. Would he relinquish his normal practice of praying three times a day or keep up his custom? Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room…. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed… just as he had done before (Daniel 6:10).

Daniel demonstrates how to distinguish God’s voice from the enemy’s. Satan probably said, “Go ahead this once. After all, it’s only 30 days. God will understand. If you get eaten by lions, what good will you be to him then?” But God would respond, “Obey and leave the consequences to me.” Which is exactly what Daniel did. Programming our consciences with God’s Word makes them reliable guides when facing tough decisions.

Practicing worship also helps determine the right decision in challenging times. Prayer is an act of worship, and Daniel did it regularly. As he did, God re-affirmed his decision to disobey the king’s decree.

When you’re not sure which decision is correct, listen to your conscience and practice worshiping.

Prayer: Merciful Lord, use our consciences and worship to help us make wise decisions.