Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours? 1 Kings 3:9 NLT
“I’m not moving … especially for five more dollars each month.”
Moving might not be a big thing for some people, but it was for me. When my wife wanted to move three doors down to another patio townhome just like our present one—and when I found out the rent would be higher—I refused. She didn’t understand, but I had already calculated. Another move would constitute twenty-nine moves in my lifetime.
Growing up as a preacher’s kid—and then becoming a preacher myself—meant moving often. When I did the math, I had only averaged staying in one place for just over two years. And in some places, my family had not stayed that long. Dad was a restless kind of fellow, at least until he got older.
I had stayed a little longer at the churches I pastored, but I had still passed through quite a few moves, just like dear old Dad. Presently, we were not living in a church-owned home, so moving from one church to another didn’t require changing residences. My wife just wanted to move because our current landlord didn’t do such a good job of keeping up with repairs.
Nor did the amount of stuff we owned make me balk at moving. We had downsized tremendously over the years. After all, not much room exists in a two-bedroom patio townhome. This time we wouldn’t even have to pack. We could handtruck our furniture down the back sidewalk and into our new home. And we could load a few totes at a time until we had moved everything. No boxes required.
Why my hesitancy then? Bad back, heel aches, arthritis, time, sweat, aggravation, change. All those things slithered into my mind when I thought of moving.
“Just listen to what the new landlord has to say,” my wife pleaded.
So, I did. And as you might imagine, as I write this, I’m sitting in my recliner in my new home—three doors down. The decision wasn’t easy, but in the end, it appeared the best thing to do. We wouldn’t have to worry about our new landlords selling the townhome from under us. It constituted their retirement income—or so they told us. But all this changed later when home prices skyrocketed, making selling look quite attractive. We’d move again.
King Solomon had many decisions before him. God had appointed him as the new king of Israel after his father, David, retired from the throne. But Solomon recognized he needed wisdom to govern God’s people. When God told him to ask for anything he wanted, Solomon asked for wisdom—probably not an easy decision when he could have asked for many other things that would have brought him temporary pleasure.
Decisions are a part of life. Every day. Some we make without much thought at all—perhaps without any. But some are not so easy. Life-changing we might say. Difficult. Thought-provoking.
Whether large or small, significant or insignificant, Solomon’s actions provide a good example. He prayed. Always a good place to start. God really does care about the details of our lives and wants to be involved. After all, He knows the plans He has for us—and we often don’t. God is the author of wisdom—the kind we need to get through life without making a bunch of mindless mistakes. And when we ask for wisdom, God promises to grant our request.
We can’t undo many of our life’s decisions, so after we make the decision we shouldn’t look back—or live with regret. I’ve been able to undo a few bad decisions in my life … but only a few. Once we’ve decided, we need to move forward—good or bad—and make the best of the new normal we have invited, trusting that God will work all things for our good and His glory. Living with regret over past poor decisions only makes us miserable and keeps us focused on the past rather than on the glorious future God has in store.
Trust God to help you make your life decisions. Then, you won’t have to look back with regret.
Father, give me wisdom for every decision I must make in life.
Tweetable: How do you make decisions?
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