Have you taken a road trip lately? We have recently gone on road
trips to Texas and Eastern Arkansas and I had some time to notice all kinds of street and interstate signs. These signs are suppose to create order about traffic rules, hazards, where you are, how to get where you are going, and where services are located.
How do we interpret and make decisions on these signs? We look at each sign and think about its meaning. How do we make decisions in our lives? Do we complicate decisions, often factoring in information that isn’t really important, relying on our own wisdom while failing to specifically seek God and His wisdom. When you find yourself stuck over a decision, do you choose to go with the flow of traffic, merge like the rest or do you seek council from God’s wisdom?
I found myself in this situation recently in which we needed to make a decision to set forth guidelines for our family going forward. It was a tough one for me because I enjoy sports. I am of the competitive type that enjoys the focus, rules and battles of sporting events especially when I am participating in the competition. I entered my daughter into soccer camp this summer to introduce her to sports. The schedule had them practicing on Wednesday evening which conflicts with us going to church as a family. That is where the dilemma started, should I let her go to soccer camp or attend church as usual on Wednesday evening?
On my own the thought, “What does it really hurt, missing a few Wednesday evenings isn’t a big deal and we spent money for her to learn.” Then the conflict and restlessness began. I just didn’t have peace with decision. I had to admit, I needed God’s guidance and asked in faith for His direction.
James 1:5-6 says, “If you want to know what God really wants you to do, ask Him, and he will gladly tell you, for He is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask Him; but … if you don’t ask in faith, don’t expect the Lord to give you any solid answer” (TLB).
I was actively listening for God through his Word, his people and 
impressions. God was speaking to me as He reminded me the priority of laying a spiritual foundation for my daughter. Is sports or learning and worshiping God the priority for our family? Although I don’t understand the impact on this decision immediately, I am reminded that sometimes I can’t figure out everything on my own.
Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (NIV).
Going forward from this point on, we choose that Wednesday evening and Sundays are set aside worshiping God as a family. Sports activities will have to take a back set. In the adventure of parenthood, this was just one of the many decisions that God has set before me. It was a tough one as I considered my love and enjoyment for sports but in the end God gave me peace and understanding that sports will not take God’s number 1 place in our lives.
Have you had to make hard decisions in your life? Do you need to get to back to including God in the process? Will you bless us by telling us about it in the comments below?