One Way. Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "One Way. Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)"

Vivien Simmons
6 years ago
Views:

1 One Way Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)

2 3 Reasons Why Making Right Choices in Life is Important A choice by definition is an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities. 1. They affect our future Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV) Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

3 2. They will affect your daily life Our lifestyles are determined by the choices we make We can change our lifestyles by changing our choices Joshua 24:15 (NIV) But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

4 3. They affect the lives of those we love Our choices will not only affect us but also the lives of our children and grandchildren Joshua 14:7-10 (NKJV) I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God. 9 So Moses swore on that day, saying, Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children s forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.

5 5 ASPECTS THAT INFLUENCE HOW PEOPLE 1.Peer Pressure MAKE CHOICES IN LIFE Peer pressure is the influence exerted by a peer group, encouraging individuals to change their attitudes, values, or behaviors in order to conform to group... (wikipedia). Galatians 1:9-10 (NIV) As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God s curse! 10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

6 2. Feelings Making decisions/choices based on how we feel can keep us from living according to God s Word Don t wait to feel good to do the right things; decide to do the right thing whether it feels good or not Galatians 5:24-25 (NIV) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

7 3. Personal Values a) Belief system The fundamental beliefs we live by Established code of ethics that one uses to determine right or wrong b) Traditions There are many good traditions however some that do not add value in our lives and may hinder us from making wise choices Most often the reason why we do not want to let go of some traditions even though they are not helping us is because we fear change

8 Points on Traditions & Values We need to ask ourselves; do our values line up with God s word? If they don t they will lead us to make decisions away from God s will Matthew15:1-3 (NIV)Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don t wash their hands before they eat! 3 Jesus replied, And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?

9 4. Circumstances a) Past experience It is quite unfortunate when one settles to use his past unpleasant experiences to determine his future b) Present Learn not to make decisions based on your present circumstances because circumstance do change Instead make decisions/choices based on God s plan and promises for your life. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

10 5. Perception Perception has to do with how we see things How we perceive things determines how we respond to them A change of perspective will change the decisions you make Isaiah 43:13 (NIV) See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

11 5 STEPS TO MAKING WISE CHOICES IN LIFE Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV) This is what the LORD says: Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.

12 5 STEPS TO MAKING WISE CHOICES IN LIFE 1. Know what the Lord says 2. Stand at the crossroads 3. Look at the options 4. Ask the Lord for direction 5. Walk in it

Galatians 4:1-7 1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a

Galatians 4:1-7 1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the