This is the first in a series of articles on Wrong Approaches/Attitudes in Decision Making.
Wrong Approach #1 Matigas Ang Ulo Ko (I am hard-headed)
A person with this attitude simply says “I will do what I want” or “I will get what I want,” regardless of what God is saying.
Most of us have struggled with this attitude at some point in our life. Deep in our hearts we know what God is asking us to do, but we have a different agenda.
One example of this attitude can be found in 1st Samuel, chapter 8. The Prophet Samuel was getting old and the Israelites did not trust God to provide another leader. They demanded to have an earthly king so they could be like other surrounding nations. God Himself wanted to be their king, but they would not listen. Here is God’s reply to Samuel:
The LORD answered:
Samuel, do everything they want you to do. I am really the one they have rejected as their king. Ever since the day I rescued my people from Egypt, they have turned from me to worship idols. Now they are turning away from you. Do everything they ask, but warn them and tell them how a king will treat them.
-1st Samuel 8:7-9 (CEV)
God allowed their request because they were hard-headed. In the same way, He will not force us to make the right choice. He will guide us and even warn us, but its up to us to make the right decision.
What happens when we are hard-headed?
When we are hard-headed, we end up with something less than God’s best for us. This is what happened to Israel. The Nation of Israel was divided after King Solomon died. Most of the kings led them into wickedness.
We can be sure that God is always acting in our best interest. Listen to Him and follow Him when He tells you to do something. I promise that you will never regret obeying God!
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.
Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
-Psalm 32:8-9 (NIV)
K.Kevin, I know that I’m not in college anymore and that you have a different target audience for this blog – but I like that I can learn through this medium – that sets you apart from my other favorite blogs 🙂 – like this topic, I am way past my Christian adolescence, but I still need to be ministered in this area – aside from basing God’s will from the written Word and the advice of godly people – how do you hear God’s decision on certain “crucial” matters of life? I don’t want to miss God’s best and settle for less – but first things first, how will I know? how can I hear it? how can I obey without first hearing it?
Thanks for reading! Glad you are enjoying and being ministered to.
Aside from God’s word and His people, God’s peace has always been important to me–I sense His peace when I’m making the right decision.
I’ll have more to say on this in future articles. I think if you keep reading between now and Christmas you’ll pick up some good advice.
Blessings!
“sensing His peace” – sometimes I’m confused with feelings – cause yea, on the very first phase of deciding, there could be peace – but just like the Israelites – you become bitter and start complaining right upon embarking on the journey – and it’s sad – I become apathetic at times, like I don’t want to feel anymore so as not to feel suffering along the journey – I lose my focus and start hearing “I told you so, you should have, could have, would have” whispers on my head – but at least, faith remains – it brings me back, there’s this trust that in the end, all will be for God’s glory – God will always let me see the light inside the tunnel 🙂 I’m glad that “sensing His peace”/”being in tune” with God is still considered important in deciding – cause others who will think that my decision is the most impractical and illogical thing will always argue, “HOW CAN YOU FEEL HIS PEACE HURAM?” – but based on my experience, God makes sure that He gets heard 🙂 – there’s God’s peace there – He’ll never ever let you go…never ever let you be apart from His will…but still, it is hard to make decisions just based on those three factors because: “deciding with God’s will” != “no suffering” 🙁 – our decisions should be only all about Him – will it glorify God – not so much with being in tune with our temporal feelings – someone might ask, so if lasting joy/peace can’t be assured, how can you decide then? …K.Kevin’s next posts?
I think when we are following God we are at peace even as we suffer or experience hardships. Somehow deep within God assures us that we are on the correct path.